League Cup Final Preview

On Saturday Liverpool take on Cardiff City in the League Cup Final. Will Liverpool finally win their first trophy since 2006 or will Cardiff surprise them?

The teams:

Liverpool have been playing well recently but off-field controversies have let them down. Their emphatic 6-1 win over Brighton will definitely be a great rehearsal for them. 

Cardiff City are the underdogs. This is the fourth time they have reached Wembley - but they have never won.

The managers:

Kenny Dalglish may not be doing as well in the league as many would have thought at the start of the season, but his great cup run has definitely let the pressure down a bit.

Malky McKay is far less experienced. But so far he has done extremely well at Cardiff. Liverpool fans call Dalglish ‘King Kenny’, however Malky is so popular in Cardiff after his work this season the way he is portrayed is closer to some form of God.

The key players:

Craig Bellamy. Last year he was one of Cardiff's key players. But now he's a Liverpool player. Suárez has just come back from an 8 match ban and Carroll isn't on form. Therefore, Bellamy has to step up and will probably be an important player in the fianl.

Tom Heaton. He was the hero against Crystal Palace after the penalty shootout. The goalkeeper is usually a benchwarmer for Cardiff after David Marshall is their top choice goalie. However Marshall is injured. Can Heaton keep the goals out against Liverpool? Or will it be a repeat of the Brighton horror show?

The outcomes:

Cardiff have to be realisic of their chances against a side that is seventh in the Premiership. It will be their toughest Wembley experience after failing against Blackpool and Portsmouth at the same stage. As well as some good ones, Liverpool have also had some dreadful performances this year. How will they play on the day? I think Liverpool will either take advantage of an unexperienced keeper and maybe repeat a similar scoreline against Brighton or not play well at all.

My prediction:

1-1 Bellamy scoring early with Kenny Miller equalizing late on. If it goes to penalties anything can happen. Liverpool are like Germany at penalties - they never lose. But Tom Heaton was the excellent in their shootout win over Crystal Palace.

Or 4-0 to Liverpool of course! :D

 

 Liverpool FC v Cardiff City FC

League Cup Final 2012

Sunday 26th February 4pm

Wembley Stadium