Expect Liverpool to fulfil great chance to end trophy drought

Liverpool will make their first visit to the new Wembley Stadium on Sunday, aiming to collect their first trophy in six years by beating Cardiff at 4/11 to seal the Carling Cup.

Kenny Dalglish has made a point of taking each domestic cup competition very seriously this season, as shown by the Reds’ continuation in the FA Cup to the quarter-final stage in addition to this final, and they will be desperate to achieve the first trophy of a potential double here.

Welsh outfit Cardiff have appeared twice at the new Wembley, where they have emerged beaten finalists in the 2008 FA Cup final and also suffered defeat at the hands of Blackpool in the play-off final of 2010.

They are 7/1 to end their hoodoo at the ground with a win in 90 minutes here, thus achieving a maiden League Cup success in the process.

Meanwhile, two of the past three major finals that Liverpool have competed in have gone on to extra-time or beyond, and so some punters may be interested in the 10/3 on offer for the draw here.

Inconsistency has plagued the Anfield club’s season so far in the Premier League, with their pursuit of a fourth place finish possibly a bridge too far due, especially considering their struggles at home.

With that in mind, the significance of success in this competition is enhanced yet further in the mind of Dalglish and supporters eager to see the glory days return to the Merseyside club.

Cardiff have performed brilliantly under the guidance of Malky Mackay, who took over in the summer, and are well on course for a playoff spot, with automatic promotion not entirely out of the question either.

Their recent league form has been the patchiest it has been all season recently, with just one win in their past five games, and Liverpool should be able to overpower the Championship outfit en route to an eighth League Cup.