Liverpool head coach Jurgen Klopp credited Joe Gomez for a 'life-saving' performance as the Reds reached the EFL Cup final courtesy of a 1-1 draw with Fulham in the second leg of their semi-final.
Owing to injuries to Kostas Tsimikas and Andrew Robertson, as well as the decision to send Luke Chambers on loan to Wigan Athletic, the 26-year-old has been thrust into an unfamiliar left-back position over the festive period.
During Wednesday's showdown at Craven Cottage, Robertson made a matchday squad for the first time since dislocating his shoulder in October, but Gomez nevertheless reprised his role on the left-hand side of the rearguard.
The England international - who is yet to score his first senior goal for Liverpool - failed to break his duck with a couple of long-range attempts, but his defensive contributions were invaluable, as he made two blocks, one tackle and two clearances to nullify the Fulham threat.
With Robertson fit again and Trent Alexander-Arnold expected to return from his knee injury in the coming days, Gomez is at risk of reverting to his sporadic role again, but Klopp did not have a bad word to say about the defender in his post-game press conference.
© Reuters
"Without Joe nothing would've happened in the last pretty much 13 [or] 14 weeks since Robbo [Andy Robertson] is out," Klopp said. "Yes, because he could play there, but the things we could do with Trent [Alexander-Arnold] when we brought Joey on, I don't exactly [know] how many games [he] played now this year, but I would say 20-something already.
"Not only games, [he] played exceptional today again. He's a real defender and he comes inside. He's doing that really well. He tried a couple of times obviously to finish the discussion about not scoring. I would say for my taste from a bit too far but it's still alright.
"He is a life-saver, to be honest, that he was here, that he could play, and people forget how important Joey was in the best years we had. I don't know how many games he played in the year when we became champions and how many games he played when we won the Champions League. A lot and rightly so because he's a top-class player."
Having earned a 2-1 first-leg success thanks to a trademark comeback, Liverpool travelled to West London safe in the knowledge that they would punch their ticket to Wembley with anything other than a defeat to Marco Silva's crop.
The Reds gave themselves a healthy two-goal aggregate cushion early doors, as Luis Diaz's deflected shot crept in at Bernd Leno's near post, although the Fulham goalkeeper arguably should have done better with the Colombian's tame attempt.
© Reuters
Fulham began knocking on the Liverpool door as the first half progressed, but not until the 76th minute would their endeavours be rewarded, as former Liverpool youngster Harry Wilson teed up Issa Diop to level the scores on the night and set up a nail-biting finale.
One more Cottagers goal would have forced an additional 30 minutes, but Liverpool's rearguard action won out, meaning that the Reds will compete for a record-extending 10th EFL Cup title against Chelsea at Wembley on February 25.
Klopp - whose side are still chasing a quadruple this season - believes that the manner of Liverpool's success showed that the Reds were just as desperate for a place in the final as Fulham, in spite of the fact that the Cottagers are yet to win a major trophy in their 145-year history.
"They want to go for the final and all these kind of things and I know what it means to them. I told the boys I know what it means to us, but we have to show it to the outside world, that we want it as much as they want it. I saw that," Klopp added.
Liverpool now seek a second knockout victory within the space of a week on Sunday, as Championship outfit Norwich City visit Anfield for their FA Cup fourth-round tie.
Ben Knapton
