Fulham 1-1 Liverpool (2-3 agg): Player ratings as Reds book spot in Carabao Cup final

Liverpool secured their place in the Carabao Cup final on Wednesday evening, drawing 1-1 with Fulham at Craven Cottage and progressing to the final with a 3-2 aggregate victory.

The Reds took a 2-1 first leg lead to west London and swiftly added to their advantage when Luis Diaz struck just after the ten minute mark. Issa Diop pulled one back for the hosts with 77 minutes played but Fulham couldn't force the game to extra-time as the clock ran down.

Liverpool will face Chelsea in the Wembley final at the end of February after the Blues hammered Championship side Middlesbrough 6-2 on aggregate in their semi-final.

On such a big occasion, there were some understandable nerves from Fulham players in the early stages, Liverpool dominating the ball from the off. However, the best chance of the opening ten minutes fell to Joao Palhinha, finding space from a corner but directing his shot over the crossbar.

Despite the Cottagers growing into the game swiftly, Liverpool delivered a sucker punch at the other end just 11 minutes in. Diaz collected a cross-field pass from Jarell Quansah, before jinking inside and seeing his deflected shot squirm past Bernd Leno at his near post.

The Reds' opener seemed to suck the life out of the Craven Cottage crowd, with Fulham unable to play through Liverpool's intense press. Diaz came close to doubling the visitors' lead on the night after he fired home the rebound following Darwin Nunez's effort, but the flag was correctly raised against the Uruguayan.

The hosts' best moment of the first half came out of nothing just after the half-an-hour mark, Raul Jimenez's powerful low drive from outside the box palmed wide by Caoimhin Kelleher. Willian also saw his 25-yard shot fly straight into the arms