League Cup
CC Final: Liverpool vs Cardiff: Team News, Likely Line-ups & Predicted Score
Liverpool face Championship side Cardiff City on Sunday as they compete for the Carling Cup at Wembley. Here’s team news, likely line-ups and predicted score.
Liverpool face Championship side Cardiff City on Sunday as they compete for the Carling Cup at Wembley.
The Merseysiders have now gone six years without any silverware with their last taste of success being an FA Cup win over West Ham in 2006.
This game represents Liverpool’s first appearance at the new Wembley Stadium, while this will be Cardiff’s fourth time of at the famous ground.
Team news
Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish has almost a fully fit squad to choose from with only long-term injury victim Lucas Leiva missing. Craig Bellamy returns to face his boyhood side after recovering from a small back complaint.
The big decision for Dalglish will be whether to start Andy Carroll up front alongside Luis Suarez after the pair impressed during last weeks 6-1 win over Brighton in the FA Cup.
It’s likely though that the Scot will choose to go with Suarez up top supported by Bellamy and either Downing or Kuyt, with Carroll on the bench.
Daniel Agger should come back in for Jamie Carragher after being rested last week while Jay Spearing could get the nod over Jordan Henderson in midfield.
Cardiff have doubts over Mark Hudson and Stephen McPhail with both unlikely to be risked in such an important game, and may only make the bench.
Tom Heaton is also struggling with an ankle injury with David Marshall ready to step in should he miss out.
Likely Line-ups
Predicted Score
Liverpool are obviously strong favourites for the game but Kenny Dalglish will be mindful of what happened to Arsenal in last years Carling Cup final, where they lost in the final minute to Birmingham City. So no doubt Dalglish will be pointing to that game to ensure his players are fully focused and not taking the opposition too lightly.
The Reds should win this one despite a spirited performance from Cardiff. Liverpool 2-0 Cardiff.
What are your thoughts on the game? Please leave your opinions in the comments section below…
frank
February 24, 2012 at 2:38 pm
LFC 4 – CARDIFF 1
Kojorhyme
February 24, 2012 at 3:17 pm
Liv 3 – Card 0
sp
February 24, 2012 at 3:22 pm
Carrol will start (and score). You don’t take a guy who just scored and assisted and put him on the bench. Gerrard plays next to Adam. Spearing watches until the 85th minute.
tadesse
February 24, 2012 at 3:37 pm
Liverpool 5 – Cardiff 1
Tobastan
February 24, 2012 at 3:59 pm
LFC will win conveniently.Up LFC!
Georgie
February 24, 2012 at 10:14 pm
Winning tinz…4 liverpoolfc.6 0
Madgyver
February 24, 2012 at 11:18 pm
5-0
ApoN?
February 25, 2012 at 4:08 am
its gonna b liverpool 4 cardiff 0
scorer: bellamy 2, gerrard 1 & carroll or suarez… finger cross… 🙂 YNWA!!
George John Tulus
February 25, 2012 at 4:14 am
It should be more stronger if Carrol play along with Suarez, with Bellamy and Kuyt in left and right, and the Gerrard with Adam the feeder.No matter what the score is, the Carling cup will be brought to anfield.. Im sure Suarez and Carrol will score or might be Gerrard… YNWA..
kifle
February 25, 2012 at 12:07 pm
live 2-1 cardif
hdk
February 25, 2012 at 1:23 pm
liv= 10000000000000 car= -10000000000000
define
February 25, 2012 at 3:48 pm
sp is right, carroll will start. line up will be keeper and back 4 as above, henderson, adam or spearing, gerrard, downing, suarez, carroll. 3-0 to liverpool.
Mohammed
February 25, 2012 at 8:27 pm
Liverpool are gonnawin
Mohammed
February 25, 2012 at 8:31 pm
Lfc will have enrique right back glen johnson central defence agger left defence and skrtel full back will have reina as goalkeeper and henderson left midfield adAm and gerrard central mid and stewart downing right mid will have bellamy left wing and kuyt right wing
Brad
February 26, 2012 at 2:40 pm
Liverpool -9999999999999999999999999999 Cardiff +999999999999999999999999999999