Liverpool did just enough to advance to the Carabao Cup final as they won 3-2 on aggregate against Fulham despite a 1-1 draw in the second leg.
Jurgen Klopp’s side flew out of the traps and increased their first-leg advantage when Luis Diaz’s low shot squirmed under Bernd Leno.
Fulham had never made it to this stage in the competition before but battled away and grew into the contest as the second half progressed.
Andreas Pereira struck the post before Issa Diop’s goal made for a nervy final period for the travelling Liverpool fans.
The visitors, though, hung on and will advance to next’s month final against Chelsea at Wembley.
Relive all the action and post-match reaction below.
CARABAO CUP SEMI-FINAL LIVE
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ANALYSIS: Liverpool vs Chelsea final shows Carabao Cup remains a unique obstacle for clubs outside the elite
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FT: Liverpool squeak past Fulham despite 1-1 to book place in next month’s final
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‘77 GOAL! Diop bundles cross home to give Fulham hope (FUL 1-1 LIV)
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‘53 POST! Pereira hits the woodwork from tight angle as hosts look for equaliser (FUL 0-1 LIV)
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‘12 GOAL! Diaz opens the scoring with scuffed effort (FUL 0-1 LIV)
Fulham FC 1 – 1 Liverpool FC
Liverpool vs Chelsea final shows Carabao Cup remains a unique obstacle for clubs outside the elite
22:20 , Ben Fleming
And so it will be a repeat of two years ago, Liverpool and Chelsea in the first domestic cup final of the season, silverware on offer for two teams rebuilding – albeit from rather different points and in very different ways – and another day out at Wembley for two sets of fans who know that stadium almost as well as their own.
For the Reds, their place in the Carabao Cup final comes courtesy of a second-leg 1-1 draw at Fulham, yielding a 3-2 aggregate scoreline.
Because that’s what Fulham were up against here: not just a team of the calibre of Liverpool, but also the odds and the structure of this very competition. Even if underdogs, mid-table Premier League teams or indeed lower-league sides – see Middlesbrough – reach this stage, the last four, there’s an altogether different obstacle to overcome. Competing with the top-flight’s finest is tough enough, but teams can of course do so. Across 90 minutes, at least. But the more often you have to face them, the less likely it is you prevail on multiple occasions.
Analysis at full-time from The Independent’s Karl Matchett at Craven Cottage:
Repeat final shows Carabao Cup remains a unique obstacle for clubs outside the elite
Bye for now
22:58 ,