Carling Cup Final

Liverpool take their first silverware since before I started following football, with a PK win over Cardiff City. Cardiff might only be a championship side, but Liverpool overcame Manchester City and Chelsea on the way to the final; no one can say Liverpool had an easy route to the Cup.

Liverpool started out in a 442, with Luis Suarez paired with Andy Carroll up top, Steven Gerrard and Charlie Adam in the middle. Cardiff City played a 433, and I'm not going to lie, I don't know a single player on their team.

The game started out quickly when right back Glen Johnson hit the post just two minutes in. Liverpool would continue to dominate possession, but it would be Cardiff scoring off the break only ninteen minutes in. Joe Mason nutmegged Pepe Reina after he was fed a by Kenny Miller, a great ball to cut through the defense. Liverpool would respond with a flurry of attacks, but Andy Carroll kinda sucks, while the Cardiff defense had Suarez's number, and that pretty much sums up the first half.

The lineups were left intact at halftime, but as the first thirteen minutes of the second half revealed only more of the first, Kenny Dalglish tinkered with his lineup. Craig Bellamy came in for midfielder Jordan Henderson, not long after he was booked for a harsh challenge. Liverpool immediately scored, though it wasn't because of the switch, as the goal came off a set piece. Carroll flicked a Stewart Downing corner towards goal, which Suarez redirected into the right post, but the rebound fell to Martin Skrtl who buried it. The Premier League side continued to threaten, but didn't convert any of their chances. While they put seventeen shots on goal, many were right at Tom Heaton. The other thing to look at is their 37 total shots, squandering 20 chances with shots off frame.

Liverpool switched defenders just before full time, with Jamie Carragher coming in for Daniel Agger. Malky Mackay took out his goalscorer as the game went into full time, putting Filip Kiss in for Joe Mason. Just after Kiss got a yellow for a foul on Bellamy, Mark Hudson came out for Anthony Gerrard. After Carroll blew two chances in a row just after the hour, he came off in favor of Dirk Kuyt just after the century. Bellamy and Johnson continue the trend of wastefulness as the first half of extra time drew to a close.

Kyle McNaugton came off for Cardiff as the second extra period started, as Darcy Blake replaced him on the right side of defense. Kuyt found himself on a breakaway, but his centering pass was deflected back to him, so he first-timed it past Heaton to give the Merseysiders the lead at 118'. Cardiff really poured on pressure, creating a series of corners, leading ultimately to a scrum at the far post which Ben Turner won as Kuyt fell over in front of gaol, simply poked in two minutes from time. Liverpool responded with their own series of corners, which amounted to nothing but a failed highlight reel attempt when Kuyt attempted a bicycle. But then we saw double full time.

Steven Gerrard missed the first penalty, saved by Heaton.
Kenny Miller then hit the post. What a failed chance that was.
Charlie Adam skied his shot next, two straight misses for Liverpool, a horrible shot.
Four PKs before a goal from Don Cowie to the top left corner.
Dirk Kuyt put them level.
Another post for Cardiff, Rudy Gestede hit the other side.
Stewart Downing put Liverpool ahead.
Level again thanks to Peter Whittingham.
Glen Johnson hit the ceiling.
Anthony Gerrard followed in his cousin's footsteps and missed his shot, giving Liverpool the win.