ļ»æļ»æFulham exhibited a strong performance, but Liverpool overcame the challenge, securing a place in the Carabao Cup final at Craven Cottage. Following a 2-1 loss in the reverse leg two weeks earlier, Marco Silva’s team settled for a goalless draw.
Jurgen Klopp made some changes to the squad that dominated Bournemouth in the previous Premier League weekend, yet Liverpool showcased a lively and inspiring performance, demonstrating their ability to compete on multiple fronts.
At just twenty years old, Jarell Quansah, who spent the previous season with League One’s Bristol Rovers, is rapidly emerging as one of Anfield’s most promising academy graduates in recent memory.
In the recent match, Virgil van Dijk, a towering 6-foot-5 figure, displayed calm command of the backline. He significantly contributed to defensive play by delivering a fantastic ball that Diaz skillfully controlled and converted into a goal.
Quansah, taking 77 touches, successfully completed 82% of his passes and executed a successful dribble attempt. Most notably, he made seven crucial clearances, thwarting potential threats to Caoimhin Kelleher’s goal.
Liverpool World journalist Will Rooney praised Quansah’s performance, awarding him a commendable 8/10 match rating and acknowledging his excellent diagonal ball that led to Diaz’s goal. Rooney described Quansah as solid throughout, highlighting a significant block in the closing stages.
The Athletic’s James Pearce lauded Quansah’s “exceptional” display, emphasizing his seamless integration into Klopp’s system. Quansah’s aerial delivery for Diaz’s deflected strike adds to his impressive record of a goal and three assists in just 16 senior outings for Liverpool.
While slightly unlucky to inadvertently divert the ball that led to Diop’s equalizer, Quansah continues to showcase his caliber as a high-class defensive prŠ¾spŠµct.
His contribution was instrumental in ensuring Liverpool’s progression to the final stage of their pursuit for the first piece of silverware this season.
