As Liverpool put together to face Chelsea within the League Cup closing, we make a journey down reminiscence lane and recall their earlier successes and failures within the showcase occasion.
The Reds are again within the closing this weekend, collaborating within the prestigious occasion for the primary time in six years.
Jurgen Klopp‘s males are the favourites to carry the trophy on Sunday afternoon, on what guarantees to be a memorable day at Wembley.
That is Liverpool’s thirteenth look in a League Cup closing – right here’s a glance again at how they fared within the earlier 12.
Liverpool 0-1 Nottingham Forest (replay) – 1978
After a goalless draw within the preliminary conflict, Liverpool have been defeated by Brian Clough’s legendary Nottingham Forest facet within the replay.
Again within the Seventies, additional time and penalties weren’t even a factor within the competitors.
The second assembly was determined by a John Robertson penalty early within the second half, however Liverpool could be topped European Cup winners a few months later.
Not a foul comfort!
Liverpool 2-1 West Ham (replay) – 1981
That is when Liverpool’s dominance within the League Cup actually began.
The Reds and West Ham have been compelled to reconvene in a replay in 1981, with Villa Park internet hosting the match after a 1-1 draw at Wembley.
Having fallen behind to a Paul Goddard opener, Bob Paisley’s facet turned the sport on its head, as Sir Kenny Dalglish equalised and Alan Hansen bagged a scrappy winner.
It was one in all solely 14 objectives the legendary centre-back scored in 620 Liverpool appearances.
Liverpool 3-1 Tottenham – 1982
Twelve months later, Paisley’s males have been at it once more, throughout what stays some of the trophy-laden intervals in Reds historical past.
Liverpool needed to do it the laborious method, nevertheless, with Steve Archibald’s early strike threatening to trigger a Wembley upset.
Ronnie Whelan levelled the scores within the 87th minute, and from that time on, the European champions on the time confirmed their superiority.
Whelan once more discovered the web in additional time and Ian Rush scored one in all his customary cup closing objectives to seal the win.
Liverpool 2-1 Man United – 1983
Nothing beats downing Man United in a cup closing and Liverpool did precisely that in 1983, clinching a 3rd League Cup crown in a row.
Shock, shock, it was United who opened the scoring by Norman Whiteside – the Reds didn’t make it simple for themselves!
Alan Kennedy equalised from distance, lower than two years after his European Cup-final winner towards Actual Madrid, and Whelan curled in a magnificence to win it in additional time.
Very like Jordan Henderson, Whelan had his detractors, however his contribution to the membership was immense, by no means extra so than at the present time.
Liverpool 1-0 Everton (replay) – 1984
Not content material with seeing off United within the closing, subsequent up it was time to beat Everton within the showcase occasion a 12 months later.
After a colorless goalless draw within the preliminary match, it was left to Graeme Souness to win Liverpool a fourth successive League Cup.
A colossal chief and footballer, the Scot buried a fierce strike from distance at Maine Street, incomes the pink half of Merseyside bragging rights.
Nice gamers produce within the greatest moments and Souness was definitely that.
Liverpool 1-2 Arsenal – 1987
After years of glory within the competitors, the 1987 League Cup closing was one to neglect for a Liverpool workforce now managed by Dalglish.
This was Arsenal‘s day within the solar, as they responded to Rush’s opener to stun the Reds, thanks to 2 objectives from Charlie Nicholas.
Paradoxically, he had been strongly linked with a transfer to Anfield earlier than he joined the Gunners, with some seeing him as an ideal substitute for Dalglish.
He didn’t hit the heights many anticipated of him, nevertheless, and he’s now remembered extra as a former pundit on Soccer Saturday.
Liverpool 2-1 Bolton – 1995
The Nineteen Nineties have been a grim interval in Liverpool’s historical past, summed up by the truth that this 1995 League Cup win was about nearly as good because it obtained in the course of the decade.
Roy Evans’ facet edged previous a Bolton outfit plying its commerce in Division One, with one individual to thank for the victory.
In Steve McManaman, Liverpool had a mercurial expertise who produced a magical attacking efficiency, with each of the Reds’ objectives easy solo strikes from the midfielder.
He stays some of the underrated gamers in many years – and could be sensational in Klopp’s present setup.
Liverpool 1-1 Birmingham (5-4 on pens) – 2001
The 2000/01 season was one in all the nice campaigns at Anfield, as three cups have been received and Champions League soccer was achieved for the primary time ever.
It began with this nervy penalty shootout win over second-tier Birmingham, again when finals have been hosted at Cardiff’s magnificent Millennium Stadium.
Robbie Fowler’s stunner was cancelled out by Darren Purse’s last-gasp spot-kick in regular time, however Liverpool nonetheless prevailed in the long run.
Jamie Carragher’s inch-perfect penalty meant Andy Johnson needed to rating, however Sander Westerveld thwarted him to safe the trophy.
Liverpool 2-0 Man United – 2003
Twenty years on from the aforementioned win over United in 1983, Liverpool have been at it once more.
Alex Ferguson’s facet have been the favourites, however Gerard Houllier’s workforce had a robust report towards them throughout that interval.
In fact, United dominated the sport – Jerzy Dudek had a blinder between the sticks – however Steven Gerrard’s deflected effort and Michael Owen’s breakaway purpose obtained Liverpool over the road.
The sight of Roy Keane chasing again and desperately lunging in on Owen to no avail stays an excellent picture to at the present time.
Chelsea 3-2 Liverpool – 2005
The rivalry between Liverpool and Chelsea within the mid-2000s was the definition of intense – in some ways, this recreation sparked it.
It was a miserable afternoon for the Reds, who took the lead within the first minute by John Arne Riise however ultimately misplaced 3-2 after additional time.
Gerrard’s personal purpose; Jose Mourinho shushing the Liverpool followers; closing heartache towards oil cash. It was a horrible expertise all spherical.
Fortuitously, the Reds had their revenge within the Champions League semi-final a number of months later.
Liverpool 2-2 Cardiff (3-2 on pens) – 2012
Frighteningly, it’s now 10 years since Liverpool tasted League Cup glory – or a home cup of any form, actually.
The 2012 victory over Championship facet Cardiff wasn’t one for the ages, however Dalglish’s facet obtained over the road in unconvincing trend.
A 2-2 draw noticed penalties required to separate the 2 groups, and regardless of Charlie Adam’s abysmal spot-kick, Gerrard’s cousin, Anthony, missed the decisive effort for the Bluebirds.
Hearsay has it that the ball struck by Adam’s left foot remains to be travelling to at the present time!
Liverpool 1-1 Man Metropolis (1-3 on pens) – 2016
Liverpool’s most up-to-date League Cup closing got here again in 2016, as penalties didn’t go of their favour.
The rivalry with Metropolis at that time isn’t what it’s immediately, however there was nonetheless an edge to an thrilling encounter at Wembley.
Fernandinho profited from some questionable Simon Mignolet goalkeeping to present Metropolis the lead, however Philippe Coutinho buried a end to take the match to additional time and penalties.
Liverpool didn’t cowl themselves in glory within the shootout, shedding 3-1, with Emre Can the one participant to attain and Lucas Leiva, Coutinho and Adam Lallana all failing to transform.
Right here’s hoping issues go higher this weekend…