The Carling Cup final is upon us. This Sunday sees the first domestic trophy in england for the 11/12 season go to either Cardiff or Liverpool.
Unlike Arsenal supporters last year, who thought the game was won before kick off, I am not going into it with that mindset. Cardiff deserve respect for getting to the final and have players in their team that on their day can cause problems. So we need to go into the game with the correct attitude. If we have the attitude and the mentality Arsenal had last year, when they thought they only needed to turn up to win, then we will lose.
However it is a great opportunity to put some silverware in the trophy cabinet. It can also be a launch pad for further success this season and next season, like 2001 was for us. It may be a "Mickey Mouse Trophy" however it is a trophy none the less and gives us an entry to europe too. Plus it can create a winning mentality throughout the squad - which is most important for us.
Above all great servants like Kuyt, Bellamy, Skrtel and Agger who've never tasted silverware for us have that opportunity on Sunday.
Some fun facts:-
A win in this match would see Liverpool equal Manchester United’s record for most English domestic cup wins (15: seven League Cup, seven FA Cup so far).
This is the fourth time Liverpool have faced a lower-tier opponent in the League Cup final: they won one 2-1 (Bolton 1995), one on penalties (Birmingham 2001), and one 2-1 in a replay after the first game was drawn 1-1 (West Ham 1981).
All three of Cardiff’s previous cup final appearances have finished 1-0 (one win, two defeats, all FA Cup).
Cardiff have the better head-to-head record against Liverpool with 18 wins. Liverpool have 9 wins and there has been 2 draws.