Cody Gakpo talks to Sky.“It’s the mentality in the group, the club, the city … everybody has the mentality to keep going, no matter what happens … if you have that mentality, a lot of beautiful things can happen … it’s only the first leg and we have to keep going.”

That’s a result Fulham would have taken before kick-off; it’s a result Liverpool would have taken after an hour.But as it is, you suspect neither team will be wholly satisfied after the full-time whistle. Liverpool will feel they could and should have scored more once they turned the match around with that quick-fire double whammy, so dominant were they during the closing stages; Fulham by contrast had chances to make it 2-0 and perhaps even 3-0 just before the hosts staged their comeback. So there’s plenty of what-could-have-been left out there on the pitch. And that, dear reader, sets up what could be a delicious second leg at Craven Cottage in a fortnight’s time. Both teams will very much fancy their chances. Looking forward to it!

The whistle goes, and Jurgen Klopp smiles widely with relief. He embraces Marco Silva, who doesn’t look quite so pleased.

90 min +4:Wilson’s dismal delivery fails to beat the first man. What a waste.

90 min +3: Robinson goes over Bradley’s leg, out on the left flank. A chance for Fulham to load Liverpool’s box. One last twist?

90 min +1:Wilson is booked for gently rugby tackling Diaz.

90 min:There will be four added minutes.

89 min:Liverpool are pressing hard for a third goal that would change the complexion of the second leg. Gomez wins the ball in the middle of the park and sends Nunez scampering down the left. Nunez can’t find anyone with his low cross. The ball breaks back to Gomez, and the Kop encourage him to shoot. He doesn’t. It would have been a fairytale.

88 min:Jota scoops a pass down the right for Bradley, who rolls across to tee up Nunez. He must score … and doesn’t do too much wrong, steering towards the bottom right from six yards. But Leno, going the wrong way, hangs out a leg to kick clear. What a save!

87 min:Lukic is booked for a late clip on Nunez.

86 min:Nothing comes of it.

85 min:Bradley rolls a pass down the right for Nunez, who hooks a cross into the mixer. Castagne is forced to head behind for a corner. Mac Allister to take from the left.

83 min:Lukic comes on for Reed at last. Then Nunez takes a whack from an extremely tight angle on the right, forcing a strong-armed save from Leno. Nearly a sensational strike. He might not be particularly clinical, but the man’s box-office, you have to give him that.

82 min:Cairney launches a free kick into the Liverpool box from the left. Tosin steers it back across goal. Jimenez shanks woefully wide right from a couple of yards (!) but his blushes are spared when the flag correctly goes up for offside.

81 min:Reed looks kaput at last. He stares at his bench shaking his head. Lukic prepares to come on, though Reed will have to battle on for now.

79 min:Gakpo curls in from the right. Nunez rises and powers a fine header towards the top right from the edge of the box. Leno turns it out for a corner. Great play all round.

78 min:On the touchline, Marco Silva fumes at Cairney’s inability to get a cross into the Liverpool box. He was absolutely lividwhen Decordova-Reid shot instead of teeing up Pereira. You’d pay cash money to hear his post-match team-talk if Fulham aren’t able to turn this around.

76 min:Jota dances in from the right and makes enough space to shoot from the edge of the D. He pearls a rising effort towards the top-left corner. Over the bar. Leno probably had it covered anyway.

75 min:Nunez fancies the free kick. He looks determined. A power stance. The Kop serenade him. It’s all set up for … a dismal floater that sails over the bar.

74 min:Bradley, who has been extremely impressive tonight, one-twos his way in from the right flank and goes over Decordova-Reid’s hanging leg. A free kick just to the right of the Fulham D.

72 min:Fulham respond with a double change. Tom Cairney and former Liverpool winger Harry Wilson come on for Willian and Pereira.

Liverpool swarm Fulham and pour forward again. Nunez is pinged into the box down the left by Jota. Nunez flips a low cross towards Gakpo, on the left-hand edge of the six-yard box. Gakpo flicks into the bottom left, and what a turnaround!

70 min:Liverpool had been pressing for that equaliser, though it didn’t really feel like it was coming. But suddenly Liverpool have some added spring in their step, and the home fans are making noise again. Speaking of which …

The Kop aren’t groaning now! Jota snaffles possession in the midfield. He lays off to Jones, who aims for the top left from 25 yards. The ball pings off Tosin’s back and into the top right, past a rooted, wrong-footed Leno. So unfortunate for Fulham!

67 min:Third time lucky for Mac Allister with a dead ball. It’s a corner on the left. The ball is returned to him and he sends a dipping shot towards the top right. Leno tips over, and the next corner is a waste of time. A few groans from the Kop this time.

66 min:Nope. In fact, this one’s even worse, failing to miss the first man Robinson, who heads down onto his own arm before clearing. Liverpool want a penalty but they’re not getting one.

65 min:Bradley nutmegs Palhinha down the right and is brought down for his cheek. A free kick just outside the box. Can Mac Allister do any better this time?

64 min:Diaz is felled by Decordova-Reid to the left of the Fulham D. Mac Allister sends a harmless free kick straight into the arms of Leno. The Kop suck their teeth in unison.

63 min:Decordova-Reid is once more sent scampering into acres down the right. He enters the box. If he rolls a pass across to Pereira, it’s a tap-in and 0-2 … but he elects to shoot instead. Kelleher blocks, and the rebound falls kindly for Liverpool, ie. nowhere near Pereira. Liverpool are walking a tightrope here. Strange for them to be going for broke with four attackers so early, given there’s still the best part of 30 minutes plus another leg to play!

62 min:Liverpool are all over the shop at the back, and Willian dinks a pass over their ragged back line to release Decordova-Reid, who should tear clear towards the box … but leaves the ball behind. Attack over.

60 min:Decordova-Reid jinks his way down the right and crosses for Jimenez, who stands and waits for the ball, allowing Konate to again intercept and spoil a very promising position for Fulham. From the resulting corner, Jimenez attempts to make good with a rabona cross. Nope! Full marks for ambition, but that’s a goal kick. “Nunez, Havertz, Werner,” sniffs Jeff Sax. “Never has so much been paid for so little.”