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Work-rate. Incisiveness. Nous. I don't ask for much. This is how it's gonna be. Build from the ground up. After coming back to win in the first leg, this game represents a chance for the squad, so shorn of first-team regulars, to claim a place in the final, most likely against Chelsea, who play their second leg the day before. In many ways, the squad have exceeded expectations this season so to not reach the final at least would represent disappointment. That would be the case any time we don't reach a final, but this is a squad very much it its infancy such was the summer rebuild. The last League Cup tie between the two at Craven Cottage was in the 2nd round, 1st leg in September 1993. After a decent start to the league campaign, the wheels had fallen off Souey's side in September as we lost every league game without registering a goal, and we looked no better than in the previous season. As for Fulham, they were in the third tier and would be relegated to the fourth at the end of the season. Searching for goals, Souey handed a first-team debut to a young whipper-snapper from Toxteth, and this fella would write himself into Liverpool folklore. It's hard to think of many footballers who have had such a connection with the ordinary fan, but with Fowler it has always seemed like he was the ordinary fan living the dream of playing for the first team. He played like a street footballer, but his goalscoring instincts rivalled those of his celebrated strike partner. Fowler had a hand in all our goals in a 3-1 win. His deep cross from the right was played back across goal and bundled in by the unmarked Rushie after a defensive mix-up. Fowler's little chipped cross from the left was met by Nigel Clough at the far post, and ball looped into the far corner for number two. In the second half, Fulham grabbed a consolation and may have felt like they had a chance to level things, but Liverpool's 1990s talisman grabbed a debut goal his performance merited, finishing on the half-volley from Don Hutchison's deep cross from the right. It was an eye-catching debut but only a teaser for what he would inflict on Fulham at Anfield two weeks later. Fulham's last game was over a week ago when they lost at Chelsea, so they've had a lot of time to recover and prepare. As far as I know, bar a couple of players away at the AFCON, they don't have any first-teamers out with injury. I would expect that they'll want to go at us full tilt so we have to guard against that. No sluggish starts to give them momentum. Mo and Endo are away on international duty. Jurgen said in his pre-Bournemouth presser that none of the previously injured players would be ready for that game, but I am hoping that at least one or two become available for this one. We might be missing Curtis too as he looks to have picked up a hammy in the Bournemouth game, so it would be very handy to have some more experienced bodies available for this one. It allows a stronger starting XI and some stronger options to come off the bench. Regardless, make sure the players approach the game with no complacency or thinking they are already there. The right levels of motivation, concentration, attitude and application are a must from first minute to last. Complete the job and get to Wembley, and deal with that one once we get there. Get it done!