Carling Cup is just the start, says Dalglish
CARDIFF CITY (2) vs LIVERPOOL (2)
LIVERPOOL WIN 3-2 ON PENS (AET)
Liverpool end six-year wait for a trophy with dramatic shootout win over Cardiff and hope to seal cup double
TRIUMPHANT Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish claimed yesterday’s dramatic Carling Cup final victory over Cardiff represented the dawning of a new era of trophy-laden success for the Anfield club.
Anthony Gerrard, the cousin of Liverpool captain Steven, missed the decisive penalty in the shootout that followed an epic duel which swung one way and then the other.
Joe Mason slotted the Championship side into an unlikely 19th minute lead and Cardiff maintained that advantage until the hour mark when Martin Skrtel pounced on the rebound after Luis Suarez’s header had struck a post.
Malky Mackay’s men survived the subsequent onslaught but finally cracked at the start of the second period of extra time when Dirk Kuyt’s unconventional finish flew beyond Tom Heaton, only for Ben Turner to send the contest the full distance when he pounced on Liverpool’s inability to defend a corner in the 118th minute.
But Liverpool, whose previous two trophies had been plundered on penalties, eventually triumphed in the shootout despite misses from Gerrard and Charlie Adam.
Kenny Miller, Rudy Gestede and Gerrard’s cousin Anthony were similarly off target for Cardiff, failing to beat Pepe Reina, and handed the Merseysiders their first piece of silverware since 2006.
“Although we have won something, that is not us finished,” said Dalglish (inset), who was celebrating his sixth major honour as Liverpool manager and first since 1990. “We don’t want to stop here, we want to keep going. It (Liverpool) means an awful lot to a lot of people.
“All we do is try to make them as happy as we possibly can. Today we have been able to do that. Hopefully it makes up for some of the days when we have not been able to.
“I don’t think anyone who has ever won a trophy has come away from it saying they didn’t enjoy it.
“If you do something and you enjoy it, you are going to want more of it. It is logical. The idea six years ago was not to go six years without winning a trophy.”
Liverpool stalwart Jamie Carragher added: “We’re still in the FA Cup and we want to come back to Wembley again. It would be great to go on and do well in the FA Cup, that is what we want to do.”
MATCH ANALYSIS
JAMES GOLDMAN
CITY A.M. VERDICT
It was by no means the most auspicious way to end a six-year trophy drought but Liverpool’s victory over Cardiff, for all the Championship side’s pluck and determination, was deserved.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Liverpool’s Stewart Downing enjoyed the wide open space of Wembley, but with 32 England caps to his name it was not unreasonable to expect an improved showing from the £20m man. Nobody summed up Cardiff’s resilience than Ben Turner, who capped a fine display with the equaliser.
KEY MOMENT
What transpired to be an afternoon of topsy turvy emotion may have been a straightforward procession had Glen Johnson’s early effort, a fabulous curling effort from 25 yards, located the back of the net rather than the crossbar
TALKING POINT
Liverpool will hope yesterday’s victory, whatever the means of acheiving it, will act as a springboard to better things, both this season and beyond. There is still an FA Cup to play for and fourth place in the Premier League is still well within range.
DUGOUT VIEW
“For most of my of the guys in my team it’s the first time they’ve been anywhere near something like this. They are very young. The emotions are running through them. I’m very proud.”
Cardiff manager Malky Mackay