Self-belief behind Liverpool’s comeback wins, says manager Jurgen Klopp

LONDON – Liverpool’s self-belief has enabled them to fight back from losing positions this season, manager Jurgen Klopp said after his side’s 2-1 comeback victory over Fulham in the first leg of their League Cup semi-final on Jan 10.

Fulham took a first-half lead through Willian, before Curtis Jones and substitute Cody Gakpo scored three minutes apart to turn the match around at Anfield.

It marked the seventh time that the Reds have won after conceding the first goal in all competitions this season, the most of any side in England’s top-four tiers in 2023-24.

“To turn around a game, first and foremost you need quality, and to turn a game around you obviously need belief. That’s the main thing and summing up everything beyond that is mentality,” Klopp said.

“We had that this season where we had to overcome real difficulties very early in the season... nobody knew how we would react on that because you cannot plan it, you cannot train, you just watch it.

“The boys did it against Bournemouth at home, against Newcastle (United) away, so many moments... So, in the situation we are in with a lot of players absent – we don’t go for excuses and stuff like this.”

Liverpool were missing talisman Mohamed Salah and Wataru Endo, who are with Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations and Japan at the Asian Cup, and Trent Alexander-Arnold, who has a knee injury.

Gakpo’s winner was also the 30th goal contribution this season by a Liverpool substitute, 12 more than any other English Premier League club, with Klopp saying it was important to take risks when making changes.

“That’s how it is, but it must be the right moment. When we have all available, the quality we can bring on then is pretty good, I have to say,” he added.

Fulham had threatened to hand the record nine-time League Cup winners their first home defeat across all competitions this season, after Willian scored in the 19th minute.

But Liverpool dominated possession and finally got the better of Fulham’s well-organised backline when Jones netted, his shot from 25 metres in the 68th minute taking a big deflection off Tosin Adarabioyo’s back.

Gakpo, who has scored in all four of his League Cup games, then fired Liverpool in front in the 71st minute to extend their remarkable home record this season to 14 victories and two draws.

“It’s the mentality in the group... just keep going and it doesn’t matter what happens and we showed that again today. If you have that mentality, a lot of things can happen,” the 24-year-old forward told Sky Sports.

Liverpool, top of the Premier League standings, face 12th-place Bournemouth on Jan 21 before travelling to Craven Cottage for the second leg on Jan 24.

“We knew it was going to be a tough one. You can’t play for a final thinking it’s not going to be really hard,” said Fulham manager Marco Silva, whose Cottagers are making their League Cup semi-final debut.

“At home, with our fans behind us, it’s going to be a great night for Fulham Football Club.” REUTERS