Jurgen Klopp repeated history 23 years ago when he selected Fulham and Liverpool in the Carabao Cup semi-finals on Wednesday night.The Reds advanced to the Carabao Cup final after beating the Cottagers over two legs and won 2-1 at Anfield before drawing 1-1 in west London in midweek.
Luis Diaz scored the decisive goal after 11 minutes at Craven Cottage. Fulham were unable to stage a late comeback despite Issa Diop’s equaliser. Despite the importance of Wednesday’s game, Klopp is still prepared to change his side for the trip south, with Caoimhin Kelleher keeping his place in goal, Conor Bradley playing for another game and Ryan Gravenburch replacing Curtis Jones.
Ultimately, his team selection paid off, setting a record that lasted nearly 25 years.Liverpool fielded the youngest team in a major cup semi-final since 2001, with the average age of Klopp’s squad just 24 years and 194 days, according to Opta’s Michael Reid. This is a squad 136 days younger than Klopp’s side in the first leg, making them Liverpool’s youngest side in a major cup semi-final since 2002/03.
Wednesday’sstarting XI included Ryan Gravenburch (21), Harvey Elliott (21), Connor Bradley (20) and Jarrell Kwanza (20), with captain Virgil van Dijk (30) the only player in the squad. Klopp also turned from the bench to a youth player, with 18-year-old midfielder Bobby Clarke coming on after just six minutes of normal time to tie the game.
