Carling Cup Final - Cardiff City v Liverpool

5starpool

vs

No match thread, so I said I'd start one, with only 25 hours to kick off.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

The two clubs have only met once before in the League Cup: Liverpool ran out 2-1 winners in a fourth-round tie at Anfield in October 2007.
Cardiff have won twice as many games as Liverpool in this fixture (18 wins to nine), with two matches drawn.
Their 29 previous encounters have yielded 95 goals - an average of 3.2 goals per game. There has never been a goalless draw between the two clubs.

Cardiff

Cardiff, appearing in their first League Cup final, have become the 16th club from outside the top flight to reach the final, and the first since Birmingham in 2001, who incidentally were beaten by Liverpool.
City's Carling Cup adventure has so far lasted 750 minutes, with four of their seven matches going to extra-time. Two of their victories came courtesy of penalty shoot-outs.
The Bluebirds have beaten one Premier League side, three from the Championship, one from League One and one from League Two to reach the final.
Malky Mackay's men are yet to win outside Wales in 2012 - a run of six matches in all competitions.

Liverpool

Liverpool are the most successful club in League Cup history, having won it seven times (latterly in 2003) and finished runners-up three times.
The Reds have triumphed over lower division opposition in the League Cup final on three occasions: West Ham (1981), Bolton (1995) and Birmingham (2001).
Kenny Dalglish's men have overcome three Premier League clubs, one Championship side and a League One outfit to reach Wembley this season.
Liverpool have found the net in each of their last 11 Carling Cup outings. Their 2-0 quarter-final defeat by Chelsea in 2007 is the only time the Reds have failed to score in 44 League Cup matches.

LEADING GOALSCORERS

Cardiff

Miller: 10 goals (1 in League Cup); Whittingham: 10 goals (1 in League Cup)

Liverpool

Suarez: 10 goals (3 in League Cup); Bellamy: 9 goals (3 in League Cup)

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Mark Clattenburg
Assistant referees: Simon Beck and Mick McDonough
Fourth official: Anthony Taylor

5starpool

Liverpool are rightly favourites for this, but Cardiff are a dangerous team, so nothing is assured at all. Liverpool have a fit squad apart from Lucas. Personally I'd like to see a lineup of:

---

Reina

---

Johnson--Skrtel--Agger--Enrique

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Henderson--Spearing

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Suarez

---

Gerrard----Bellamy--

---

Carroll

---

I think Adam and Downing will start though, with Carroll and probably Henderson from the above not in the lineup with Gerrard in a more central role to the detriment of the team.

ntlbell

Can't wait :pac:

Skid

Cardiff have won twice as many games as Liverpool in this fixture (18 wins to nine), with two matches drawn.

That's a shocking statistic, can't be many teams with a better head to head score against Liverpool than that.

Anyway, Liverpool to win in normal time, 3-1 maybe. Please God.

5starpool

Skid wrote: »

That's a shocking statistic, can't be many teams with a better head to head score against Liverpool than that.

Anyway, Liverpool to win in normal time, 3-1 maybe. Please God.

The last time they played in the league though would have been a long time ago.

monkey9

Wooohooooooooo!! I love this thread already just because it exists!!!

ShamoBuc

Great to have a cup final at Wembley to look forward to. I'd love a 3-0 win, Carroll, Suarez and Bellars. I would expect Casrdiff to be really up for this one, but we should win out over 90 odd mins.

Yakult

I think it will be 3-2 to Liverpool. Bellamy, Carroll and Suarez to score the goals!

Skid

5starpool wrote: »

The last time they played in the league though would have been a long time ago.

That's true.

I had a google for the details (not that I didn't believe you, just curious when the bulk of the games were played )

Almost all in the 1920s and 1950s

http://www.lfcstats.co.uk/2012/02/liverpool-v-cardiff-city-head-to-head.html

monkey9

Skid wrote: »

That's true.

I had a google for the details (not that I didn't believe you, just curious when the bulk of the games were played )

Almost all in the 1920s and 1950s

http://www.lfcstats.co.uk/2012/02/liverpool-v-cardiff-city-head-to-head.html

Pre Shankly. Not surprising!!

Turtyturd

Liverpool



Cardiff 0.

Carroll and Suarez.

kevohmsford

Looking forward to the game now. Impossible to try and predict the scoreline. Kenny Miller could have a great game tomorrow.
Come on Liverpool!!!!

steelcityblues

Liverpool to win on penalties - shades of the 2001 final.

murpho999

Call me superstitious (or pedantic) but I find it a bad omen that the Cardiff crest is larger than the LFC crest in the OP!

meercat

BBC ONE 15:00 Match of the Day Live: The League Cup Final (T)

Liverpool v Cardiff City (Kick-off 4.00pm).

Gary Lineker presents coverage of the showpiece match at Wembley Stadium, where the winner of the first major trophy of the season will be decided. The Reds have defeated the likes of Stoke City, Chelsea and Manchester City to reach the final and go into the match as clear favourites in their first visit to the national stadium since it was rebuilt. However, the Bluebirds, who defeated Crystal Palace on penalties in the semi-finals, have been in good form in the Championship and will fancy their chances of producing an upset. With commentary by Guy Mowbray and Mark Lawrenson, and analysis by Alan Hansen and Alan Shearer. Subsequent programmes subject to change.

Daemonic

meercat wrote: »

BBC ONE 15:00 Match of the Day Live: The League Cup Final (T)

Liverpool v Cardiff City (Kick-off 4.00pm).

Gary Lineker presents coverage of the showpiece match at Wembley Stadium, where the winner of the first major trophy of the season will be decided. The Reds have defeated the likes of Stoke City, Chelsea and Manchester City to reach the final and go into the match as clear favourites in their first visit to the national stadium since it was rebuilt. However, the Bluebirds, who defeated Crystal Palace on penalties in the semi-finals, have been in good form in the Championship and will fancy their chances of producing an upset. With commentary by Guy Mowbray and Mark Lawrenson, and analysis by Alan Hansen and Alan Shearer. Subsequent programmes subject to change.

Mute button will be in effect then.

Ganymede Glow

If Liverpool get an early goal we could run out comfortable winners in the end. The longer we go without scoring the sweatier my ass will get and thats not good.

Hank Scorpio

Liverpool by a goal, 2-1. Lot of great footy on tomorrow!

Jesus Wept

Andy is sticking to the cups of tea ahead of the big game.

Iang87

Liverpool 10 nil or 1 nil. I really am not pushed as long as the King carrys the trophy round the pitch at the end followed by Sir Stevie

ImpossibleDuck

From a neutral point of view, i cannot bloody wait to this one!

Cardiff strike me as a team that'll put up a good fight despite being big underdogs.

Should be a good 'un

Dublin_Gunner

ImpossibleDuck wrote: »

From a neutral point of view, i cannot bloody wait to this one!

Cardiff strike me as a team that'll put up a good fight despite being big underdogs.

Should be a good 'un

Yeah Cardiff should put up a decent fight. I hope they do make a good game of it.

Obviously I want a good confident Liverpool win, but I also want it to be a good game of footy

steelcityblues

Daemonic wrote: »

Mute button will be in effect then.

No doubt about it, whatsoever!

Knex*

Can't wait for this game. Will be absolutely gutted if Liverpool don't win tomorrow but I am confident enough so hopefully we can win without having to go through another 3-3 penalty epic.

YouTookMyName

scudzilla

YouTookMyName wrote: »

ah christ :rolleyes::rolleyes:


I did hear though that Liverpool had asked for permission for the fans to bring flares to the final.


Apparently because the last time they played at a Wembley Final they were all the fashion!

5starpool

scudzilla wrote: »

ah christ :rolleyes::rolleyes:


I did hear though that Liverpool had asked for permission for the fans to bring flares to the final.


Apparently because the last time they played at a Wembley Final they were all the fashion!

That joke is so old at this stage it's also got flares on it. Take your rolleyes to some other thread if you are going to trivialise the reason why those banners exists.

K-9

5starpool wrote: »

That joke is so old at this stage it's also got flares on it. Take your rolleyes to some other thread if you are going to trivialise the reason why those banners exists.

The first S*n on Sunday tomorrow, hadn't really followed the news the last day or so and it just dawned on me. Nice touch Cardiff.

That joke is stupid, Liverpool had a poor enough record getting to Wembley in the 70's, too busy winning Leagues, European and UEFA Cups, when the UEFA Cup was a trophy worth winning! Flares had long gone by the 80's and 90's.

70/80/90's, all the same to the Sky generation.

RasTa

Hopefully Wales win for a second time in England this weekend

Although my prediction is a 3-0 Liverpool win

Dcully

scudzilla wrote: »

ah christ :rolleyes::rolleyes:


I did hear though that Liverpool had asked for permission for the fans to bring flares to the final.


Apparently because the last time they played at a Wembley Final they were all the fashion!

Somehow your location sitting under your name makes sence now.

mike65

A train driver has blocked the line from Liverpool to London, so fans are having to get the bus to Manchester, Stafford Stoke, Chester etc.

stumpypeeps

mike65 wrote: »

A train driver has blocked the line from Liverpool to London, so fans are having to get the bus to Manchester, Stafford Stoke, Chester etc.

I wonder will kick off be delayed?

delw

mike65 wrote: »

A train driver has blocked the line from Liverpool to London, so fans are having to get the bus to Manchester, Stafford Stoke, Chester etc.

I wonder who he supports ,hope the supporters make it on time
can't wait for kick off

mike65

That's what I wondered!

YouTookMyName

Reports from RAWK seem to be the trains are going ahead just taking a 30/40min detour.

dexter647

YouTookMyName wrote: »

Reports from RAWK seem to be the trains are going ahead just taking a 30/40min detour.

Great stuff as we need as many reds there as possible... Anyway back to the game. If we play to our capabilities it could be very embarrassing for Cardiff but as we've seen this season before that liverpool team sometimes don't make a show... Not this time though, 5-1 to the reds..YNWA:):)

stumpypeeps

dexter647 wrote: »

Great stuff as we need as many reds there as possible... Anyway back to the game. If we play to our capabilities it could be very embarrassing for Cardiff but as we've seen this season before that liverpool team sometimes don't make a show... Not this time though, 5-1 to the reds..YNWA:):)

I hope you are right. I have a feeling things will be much closer. This is a cup final. As Birmingham proved last year, the gulf in class narrows in such circumstances.

4-1.

mike65

Xabi Alonso ‏ @XabiAlonso

Come on Reds!! All the best pals.
10:33 AM - 26 Feb 12 via Twitterrific

Dcully

mike65 wrote: »

Xabi Alonso ‏ @XabiAlonso

Come on Reds!! All the best pals.
10:33 AM - 26 Feb 12 via Twitterrific

Xabi always a class act

DenMan

Best of luck to both teams. Hope Liverpool win it though. As an Arsenal fan and a year on now it was this final defeat which derailed our season. Hope it doesn't happen to the Pool. Love to see Kenny win a cup. On the Pool.

mada999

cant wait for the match....hopefully we get the win to kick start our season and galvanise the squad!!! 2-0 Liverpool.... !! YNWA!

daithijjj

Someone tweeted a pic of the toilets at the services they stopped at on way to wembley.

El Inho

daithijjj wrote: »

Someone tweeted a pic of the toilets at the services they stopped at on way to wembley.

hope they stole those

monkey9

daithijjj wrote: »

Someone tweeted a pic of the toilets at the services they stopped at on way to wembley.

A bit off topic, i know. But how do you post a photo onto Boards? I haven't an iota!!

daithijjj

monkey9 wrote: »

A bit off topic, i know. But how do you post a photo onto Boards? I haven't an iota!!

Right click on the image you want to post. Click 'copy image url' or whatever similar in your browser. Then click post reply, theres an 'insert image' on that which pops out, then right click again and paste it in there.

Give it a shot on that image ^^. When you post a reply then preview your reply to see if you got it right.

monkey9

daithijjj wrote: »

Right click on the image you want to post. Click 'copy image url' or whatever similar in your browser. Then click post reply, theres an 'insert image' on that which pops out, then right click again and paste it in there.

Give it a shot on that image ^^. When you post a reply then preview your reply to see if you got it right.

Cheers daithi!! I feel like i've just mastered long division!!

DenMan

monkey9 wrote: »

Cheers daithi!! I feel like i've just mastered long division!!

A great day monkey9 and the game hasn't even started yet! You learn something new everyday!

mayordenis

I've just destroyed a large fry up in much the same way I'm hoping Liverpool can get it done today.

monkey9

DenMan wrote: »

A great day monkey9 and the game hasn't even started yet! You learn something new everyday!

I feel like Roy Hodgson after beating Trabzonspor. This truly is historic!!!

Knex*

monkey9 wrote: »

I feel like Roy Hodgson after beating Trabzonspor. This truly is historic!!!

You'll be competing with Rigger now for the Suarez gifs

monkey9

Knex. wrote: »

You'll be competing with Rigger now for the Suarez gifs

Ah, i wouldn't dare compete with The Rigger!! I'd be out of my league! Here's hoping he's posting a few of those gifs a few hours from now!!