WILLIAN insists it is still all to play for in the second leg after Fulham went down to a 2-1 defeat in the opening Carabao Cup semi-final clash at Liverpool.
The Brazilian fired the visitors ahead on 19 minutes from close range after being picked out by Andreas Pereira inside the box.
Fulham really should have doubled their advantage just after the hour, but Bobby De Cordova-Reid ambitiously went for goal when it looked easier to tee up Pereira for a simple tap in.
They were made to pay midway through the second half when Curtis Jones’ attempt from 20 yards took a cruel deflection off Tosin Adarabioyo and into the net to draw Liverpool back on terms.
Within three minutes the hosts led as Cody Gakpo converted Darwin Nunez’s low pass, the second time this season Fulham have blown a lead at Anfield.
But the experienced Willian knows there is a long way to go yet, with the two sides set to do it all again by the banks of the Thames in a fortnight to determine who books a Wembley date.
He told Fulham TV: “Nothing is done. The second leg to play is at home.
“We knew that it is always hard to play here against Liverpool.
“I think we played well.
“We could have scored the second goal to give us more stability maybe.
“I think we have to focus now on the second leg and there is nothing finished.”
Willian’s finish to put Fulham ahead was certainly an instinctive one and the experienced star felt it gave the visitors the perfect platform to maybe go on and grab that elusive second goal.
He said: “I have to be quick and to decide the situation and the action – I was happy to score a goal.
“When we scored, for us it gave more courage to play.
“We know how difficult it is to play here.
“Also we controlled more of the game, more of the space.
“As I said, we could have scored the second goal in the second half, but now we have to think about the second leg at home.”
Willian added: “It is not easy to play here against them.
“When they equalised, the game became even more difficult because they pushed more, they put pressure (on), they become more fast and always try to go direct to the goal.
“Then they scored the second one, but nothing is finished, as I said, and we have to think about the next one.”
The second leg against Liverpool is certain to be a memorable one as Fulham look to book their first major Wembley cup final appearance since the 1975 FA Cup final defeat to West Ham.
And Willian believes the home fans can make all the difference by getting behind Marco Silva’s side two weeks from now.
“They are going to be very important for us,” he explained.
“I think they have to go to Craven Cottage and support us.
“Today they were amazing until the last minute, so I just have to say thank you to them.”
