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Luis Diaz scored in a first half largley dominated by the Reds to send the nine-time League Cup winner into its third such final under Jurgen Klopp. That clash with Chelsea will be played on 26 February.

"It is fantastic," Klopp said after the second leg draw.

"We had the experience before, we know what to expect. Again Chelsea, wow what a story that is. I told the boys, never ever take for granted if you are part of a team who can qualify for trophies.

"What the boys did tonight was exceptional," he added. "This was the full cup experience. Open game, second half they started a bit wilder. We don't score. They got the equaliser. But the boys did really well and I am really happy.

"The only thing that counts in the end is that we are through."

Diaz scored in the 11th minute when he chested down a high ball in the box before cutting inside and launching a shot that took a deflection before nestling in the back of the net.

Issa Diop injected some life into the Fulham fans when he equalised in the 76th minute, knocking a deflected pass from former Liverpool player Harry Wilson in off his knee.

Fulham kept pressing until the final whistle in some nervous final minutes for Premier League leader Liverpool, which also remains in FA Cup and UEFA Europa League contention.

"This was not the night to shine, this was the night to qualify for a final," Klopp added.

Both Liverpool and Fulham will now turn their attention to fourth-round FA Cup ties, the Reds playing Norwich City on Monday while Fulham hosts Newcastle United the day before.

A fired up Fulham came out of the blocks fighting as they looked to overturn a 2-1 deficit from the first leg of this semi-final.

After Joao Palhinha’s first-time volley from Andreas Pereira’s corner sailed over, the hosts continued to push through the overlapping Antonee Robinson whose dangerous delivery failed to connect with a white shirt.

But a moment of complacency saw Liverpool strike the first blow in the 11th minute.

Jarell Quansah sent a long ball forward which appeared routine for Timothy Castagne to claim but the full-back was caught napping by Diaz.

The winger reacted quickly to beat him in the air before he drove into the box and scored past Bernd Leno at his near post.

Diaz had the ball in the back of the net again after Darwin Nunez exploited large gaps between centre-backs Tosin Adarabioyo and Diop but the goal was ruled offside after the striker naively moved too soon.

The Cottagers sought inspiration through Raul Jimenez and the Mexico international’s long-range shot forced Caoimhin Kelleher into action when he tipped the ball wide for a corner.

The galvanised hosts enjoyed a five-minute flurry but despite Willian’s attempt from distance and Tom Cairney finding promising pockets, Marco Silva’s men failed to get the goal they desperately needed.

Fulham’s momentum continued after the break but so did its poor day in front of goal. Second-choice keeper Kelleher failed to collect a high ball, losing out to Bobby Decordova-Reid before Pereira found the post from a tight angle instead of the open net.

Liverpool appeared to have ridden the storm and began to turn the screws. After Nunez’s effort whistled past Leno’s left post in the 63rd minute, powerful midfielder Ryan Gravenberch did well to get the ball out of his feet before producing a driven strike which missed the target, much to the delight of Leno who would have been well-beaten.

Fulham blew the tie wide open with its equaliser. Wilson drove down the left and curved a cross into the area where he found Diop, who had galloped forward from the back and expertly claimed the leveller with a neat finish past the keeper.

The west London side pushed for a dramatic ending and to take the tie into extra-time, but a stubborn Liverpool held on through four added minutes to secure its spot at Wembley.