‘Rusty’… Liverpool player admits he wasn’t at his best against Fulham this evening

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Liverpool are through to the Carabao Cup final after squeezing past Fulham this evening.

The Reds took a 2-1 lead into tonight’s second-leg at Craven Cottage, meaning a 1-1 draw was enough to see them into next month’s showpiece. It was largely a good showing from Liverpool, despite a few hairy moments at the end.

One of those who showed up was centre-back Jarell Quansah. The 20-year-old bagged himself a lovely assist on the night, firing a Virgil van Dijk-esque long ball towards Luis Diaz.

But speaking to Sky Sports after the game, Quansah admitted that he wasn’t completely happy with his own display.

“It’s all about rhythm. You have to keep playing. I felt a little bit rusty out there tonight, I have not played in a few weeks,” said the defender.

“But it’s all about playing games and doing it with Conor [Bradley] is special for me as well, as I have played with him for almost 10 years now and sharing a pitch with him tonight was a special feeling.”

Quansah holding himself to higher standards

This is fantastic mentality from Quansah. The youngster has been a revelation this season. On the pitch and off the pitch, he looks like a Liverpool player.

For most people, he will have done an absolutely fine job this evening. Turning up at a tough little crowd in a Carabao Cup semi-final, things had the potential to be really tricky for the Reds.

But by and large, Quansah absolutely kept the dangerous Raul Gimenez at bay. He didn’t look all that rusty at all.

There were one or two moments where perhaps he was a little slow using the ball. But as we’ve seen by now, that’s the way Jarell plays the game.

It’s clear by now that he isn’t going to be flustered or panicked, no matter who he’s playing against.

If he is feeling a little rusty though, then it’s perhaps important that Quansah learns to put his foot through the ball a little more.

At some time, that one little split-second longer on the ball may cost Liverpool. Get rid and get back in.

These are minor nick-picks, though. Jarell has had a wonderful season so far and tonight was another example of it. Hopefully it can be topped off by victory at Wembley next month.