Sure, it’s not the holy grail of the Champions League, the final of which the Reds contested in both 2005 and 2007, but it presents an opportunity to bring some silverware into the Anfield trophy room for the first time in six years. That it’s Championship side Cardiff City standing in the way of Liverpool and the cup only means that Dalglish’s side will start as clear favourites as they take to the turf at the new Wembley stadium for the very first time.
That will only add extra pressure to a club that is expected to challenge for honours – especially after bringing in close to 100 million pounds worth of new talent over the last 13 months. But after seeing off Stoke, Chelsea and Manchester City – all beaten on their home turfs – to get this far, Liverpool should have enough confidence and quality to win this one.
With so many new faces still finding their feet, Dalglish’s team is hardly the finished article; exciting and frustrating in equal measure, inconsistency has been the hallmark of a season that has seen them combine solid defense, decent, sometimes sublime midfield play with alarming profligacy in front of goal.
But Liverpool may just be entering their best spell of the season. Not only is the inspirational Gerrard just returning to full fitness, embattled striker Luis Suarez is also freshly returned from his 8-match ban, and the much-maligned duo of Andy Carroll and Stewart Downing seem to be finding form just in time for the trip to Wembley – that is if their showing in last week’s FA cup trouncing of Brighton is anything to go by. Add to the mix the impressive form of the evergreen Craig Bellamy – 4 goals in his last 7 games – and you’d expect a more potent strike force.
The defence pretty much picks itself these days – Reina, Johnson, Enrique, Skrtel and Agger have been superb - so the key decisions facing Dalglish would concern how to set up in midfield. Will the defensive harrying of Jay Spearing be preferred to the creative passing of Charlie Adam? Will the experience of the tireless Dirk Kuyt get in ahead of the youthful energy and pragmatism of Jordan Henderson?
The bigger question, in the mind of Liverpool fans, would be which Liverpool team will turn up; the lacklustre, disinterested bunch that lost at Bolton a few weeks ago; the creative, but wasteful team that have lost so many points to draws at home; or the much more efficient bunch that scored three at Wolves and saw off Brighton last week?
The one thing they will need to avoid is thinking all they have to do is show up.
Cardiff will no doubt be looking to play the underdog role to perfection and pull out a win here. For that happen, they’ll need winger Peter Whittingham to reproduce his Championship form. He has been Cardiff’s biggest threat in their promotion quest with 9 goals and 11 assists to his name, but he’ll have to be at his very best against one of the Premiership’s best defences. The much-travelled Scottish striker Kenny Miller also carries a goal threat – he also has 9 Championship goals to his name – and the experienced Rob Earnshaw could prove an effective tool from the bench.
In all, it would be a shock of epic proportions were Cardiff to overturn the Reds, but Liverpool – I expect they’ll dominate possession - will need to stay focused and make the most of their chances. A much expected win here could be just the boost this team needs to finish the season on a high.
After so many years without a trophy, I doubt they’ll need any more motivation.
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