Fulham manager Marco Silva has shared his reaction to his team’s 2-1 defeat against Liverpool in the Carabao Cup semi-final first-leg match on Wednesday.
Silva claims that Liverpool were “lucky” in finding a path back into the League Cup semi-final clash against Fulham.
Despite initially taking the lead in the first half with a goal from William, Fulham couldn’t maintain control, and Liverpool secured a 2-1 victory with goals from Curtis Jones and substitute Cody Gakpo within a three-minute span in the second half.
Notably, Jones’ goal included a significant deflection off Fulham defender Tosin Adarabioyo, causing goalkeeper Bernd Leno to be wrong-footed.
And Cottagers boss Silva said: “A bit lucky goal the first goal, a deflection that changed completely the game. The only thing that is disappointing is the way we managed the next 10 minutes.
“It is a big frustration for us. We spoke about it before the game, how we were winning 3-2 (in December at Anfield in the Premier League) and we lost the match in the last five minutes. We know what can happen against these sides and this crowd. It was a big boost for them after that.
“The goal they scored at 1-1 lifted everything. After that, for five or 10 minutes we have to keep the cohesion. We have to be really smart and unfortunately for us we weren’t.
“In a competition where we are playing two legs, we cannot concede a fast attack like that (for the second goal). Liverpool had one or two chances to score the third. The reality is that Leno kept us in the game.”
The second leg takes place at Craven Cottage in a fortnight. And assessing the position of the tie, former Everton manager Silva added: “It’s still tight. We lost the first half (of the tie) and we have to go for it in the second.
“Two different halves (in the first leg). It wasn’t our best performance, even so first half we had a plan. We were ruthless in the first moment we got in their box, really good from Willian.
“Second half was different, we struggled a bit more. When you have players from the bench like Gakpo and Nunez it can to give them more pace and intensity.”
Early in the second half, Fulham had an excellent opportunity to increase their lead as Bobby De Cordova-Reid took a shot at Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher, with Andreas Pereira unmarked in the area.
And Silva said: “It is one of the key moments. We reacted really well after the first 10 minutes of the second half. Bobby didn’t see Pereira was going to be one v one with the goalkeeper. It is what it is.
“We had that moment to score the second goal. We are going to fight for what we want. It is going to be tough. Liverpool is winning the result now.”
In other Liverpool news, Jurgen Klopp Makes “Real Problem” Fulham Admission and Names Key to Semi-final Win on Wednesday Night