Cardiff City against Liverpool

Stewart Downing for Liverpool. Scores to the right of Tom Heaton. 2-1

Rudy Gestede for Cardiff. Hits the left-hand upright. 1-1

Dirk Kuyt for Liverpool. Scores low to keeper's right. 1-1

Don Cowie for Cardiff. Scores in the top-left corner. 0-1

Charlie Adam for Liverpool. Ballooned over the bar. 0-0

Kenny Miller for Cardiff. Hits the outside of the right post. 0-0

Gerrard to take first. Saved by Tom Heaton far to his right. 0-0

<b>FULL TIME Cardiff 2-2 Liverpool</b> We got to penalties...

Cardiff clearing wildly at every chance.

Bellamy's corner reaches Kuyt, who tries an overhead, but cleared.

One minute added time

Downing's corner is cleared, but there will be another corner from the other side.

Corner to Liverpool...

Suarez breaks and tries to chip Heaton, but the goalkeeper extends himself to clear.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL Cardiff 2-2 Liverpool Turner at the last!!!</b> Liverpool fail to clear the ball after Gunnarsson's header and Turner prods home through Reina's legs at the far post.

Off the line! Reina comes to punch and misses the ball. Off the line by Kuyt!

Another corner...

Reina comes well off his line to clear and Kuyt completes the job.

Corner to Cardiff...

Skrtel rises tall to clear Whittingham's cross. Kiss was lurking.

Cardiff striker Gestede gets treatment. But, just over five minutes remaining and he will soldier on.

Adam looks to play in Craig Bellamy down the left, but overhits the ball by some distance.

Cardiff trying to get the ball into the area. Liverpool defending stoutly.

Long-throw from Gunnarsson cleared by Skrtel

Liverpool look to spring forward on the counter once more, but Suarez is offside.

Kuyt is charging around in midfield, making a big difference. Cardiff struggling to mount an attack.

Liverpool fans are ecstatic. Cardiff deflated. Ten minutes to find a breakthrough.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL Cardiff 1-2 Liverpool Kuyt fires home!!!</b> Cardiff's mishit clearance comes back to the Dutchman, who fires home what could be a winner.

Kuyt escapes his marker on the left and fires in a cross. Suarez receives the ball in the box, but immediately is surrounded and his shot is blocked.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> <b>Darcy Blake on for Kyle McNaughton</b>

<b>Back underway...</b>

<b>HALF TIME IN EXTRA TIME</b>

Glen Johnson the latest to go close, left-footed from 25 yards. Not far from creeping inside the left-upright there.

Bellamy goes close! The Welshman receives the ball on the left, cutting inside onto his right and firsing over the bar.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> <b>Dirk Kuyt on for Carroll</b>

Corner to Liverpool. Carroll heads the ball right across the face and wide.

Downing crosses for Carroll, but his ball from the right is far too high for the forward.

Stewart Downing is wasteful at times. Lashing a shot high and wide from 30 yards.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> <b>Anthony Gerrard on for Mark Hudson</b> Steven's cousin makes an appearance.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> <b>Kiss</b> booked for a foul on Bellamy, who responds angrily

Kiss gets forward for Cardiff, beats Gerrard and gets a shot away. Saved by Reina.

Whittingham swings in a free-kick from deep on the right. Reina claims well to eradicate the danger.

Liverpool push forward, but Downing tries to be too clever and is dispossessed by the covering Whittingham.

Free-kick Liverpool. Gerrard takes and Suarez almost turns it in. Offside.

Long-ball time for Cardiff. No luck though and Liverpool come back on the attack.

Off the line! Bellamy swings the ball in from the left, headed by Suarez but cleared off the line by Andrew Taylor.

Straight away, Luis Suarez tests Heaton from 25 yards, but saved for a corner.

Back underway...

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> <b>Filip Kiss on for Joe Mason</b>

Both these sides have recent history in extra-time. Cardiff have two wins this season. Liverpool, of course, have won a couple of finals in recent years.

<b>FULL TIME Cardiff 1-1 Liverpool</b> We go into extra-time

Seemingly not. Nothing in the last two minutes.

Now it is Stephen Gerrard's turn to fire over the bar. Is there one more chance in this game?

The ball breaks to Suarez after a mix-up in defence. But the Uruguayan wastes it with an awful finish.

Four minutes added-time...

Ben Turner does brilliantly to clear the ball twice. Has had a great game.

MxNaughton is busting a gut to get forward down the right, but the pass is overhit.

Taken quickly and worked well to Kenny Miller. The Scot controls it beautifully and has a great chance, but it is just over the bar.

Free-kick to Cardiff. Chance to launch it into the box once more.

Glen Johnson hits a powerful cross accoss goal, but Ben Turner is in place to deny Suarez.

At the other end, Liverpool break with Suarez who cuts the ball back to Adam, but his powerful shot is easy for Heaton to save.

Kenny Miller tries to chip a through-ball to Gestede, but it is overhit.

Cardiff come forward once more...

Just wide. Don Cowie whips in a beautiful cross from the left, which Ben Turner rises to head at the far post. Poor contact, but not far off-target.

Glen Johnson goes for the spectacular again, beating one man and shooting wide with his left-foot.

Liverpool have a corner, swung in deep from the right. Cleared by the Cardiff defence.

Liverpool players rush to point out an elbow on Agger from Turner. Free-kick given, but there was no elbow.

Whittingham is given a big build-up, but it hits the outside man on the wall. Through-in

Downing concedes a dangerous free-kick twenty yards out for a foul on Miller. Bit of a slip, more of a dive from the Scot.

Downing fires a shot low on goal, but Tom Heaton gets down well to save.

Mark Hudson down with cramp, leading to a delay in play. Should be underway again soon.

McNaughton has had a great game. Bellamy attempts to pick out Carroll with a cut back and the veteran right-back gets back to intercept.

Charlie Adam gets back to tidy-up for Liverpool. Cardiff's attacks are more and more futile.

Ball goes across to the far post and falls to Skrtel once more. Hit hard on the volley, but Heaton saves well.

Johnson's cross from the Liverpool right is turned behind for a corner.

Play back underway. Gerrard is a lucky man. But, it has bought Cardiff some time to recover their breath.

Gunnarsson down with a head injury. A swinging forearm into his face by Gerrard though. Dirty.

A real struggle for the Cardiff forwards though, they are doing a lot of running with little reward at the moment.

All Liverpool now. Cardiff still defending valliantly though.

Down the other end, it is Mark Hudson again who holds off Carroll to clear Downing's cross.

Cardiff attack again, but Skrtel clears the bouncing ball.

Suarez does well done the left-flank to beat his man and pulls the ball back for Bellamy, but the ball is cut-out.

Joe Mason cuts in from the left and fires a right-footed shot on target. Regulation stop for Reina.

Now, Suarez is flagged offside by some distance.

Dalglish going mad on the touch-line as Liverpool fire another long-ball to nobody.

The Liverpool fans are in full voice now. How will Cardiff respond?

Cardiff want a free-kick at the other-end, but calls for a foul on Gestede are rejected.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL Cardiff 1-1 Liverpool Skrtel scores rebound!!!</b> Carroll rises to head at goal, flicked onto the post by Suarez. The ball comes out in the centre of the goal and Skrtel fires home.

Another corner to Liverpool...

Nice Cardiff attacking move down the left. Comes to nothing, but they had Liverpool fans feeling nervous then as space appeared.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> <b>Craig Bellamy replaces Jordan Henderson</b>

Suarez turns his man and looks to have a chance, but from nowhere McNaughton flies in to win the ball from the Uruguayan.

The tackles are flying in now. Gerrard wins the ball with his, before Hudson does likewise. Suarez offside.

Cardiff City attack after Agger gives the ball away. Controlled attack, looking to use up some time as well. Long-throw into the box just dealt with by Reina.

Might be the call for Henderson's removal that. Been poor throughout has the midfielder.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> <b>Henderson</b> Booked for a lunge in midfield.

Adam hits a shot from 30 yards, deflected for a corner. Luis Suarez is adament there was a handball, but no-one else is interested.

Liverpool really pushing now. Cardiff are defending for their lives.

Free-kick put into the area by Charlie Adam. Cardiff defemd well and Ben Turner puts it behind for a corner. Cleared.

Mistake from Hudson allows Suarez to get a shot in. But, Heaton saves well. Carroll is dawdling at the edge of the area. There was a rebound chance there.

Kenny Miller fires the ball across the face of goal from just outside the area. Close to extending Cardiff's lead.

Ball is headed half-clear by the Cardiff defence, but Henderson hits the rebound well wide of the goal.

Dangerous free-kick for Liverpool immediately in second-period. Taken by Downing.

<b>SECOND HALF</b> Liverpool kick-off

The players are coming back onto the pitch. Big half of football to come.

Forty-five minutes to go then. Liverpool will be desperate for a win here, but Cardiff won't give them an inch.

Liverpool have put some good balls into the box, mainly from the left-flank, but they have failed to capitalise on the service.

Liverpool fans are calling for Bellamy to come on. Big game player is the Welshman and Liverpool need a spark.

For Liverpool's part, they are attempting too much too quickly. Too many long balls aimed at Carroll at times.

Fantastic first-half for Cardiff. Well organised and fiercely committed in defence. Can they keep it up?

<b>HALF TIME Cardiff 1-0 Liverpool</b>

Now it is Henderson's turn to pass into touch looking for Jose Enrique.

Cardiff try to attack, but Mason's cross is collected by Reina.

One minute added time...

Fantastic defending. Gerrard has chance to get a shot away, but ut is well blocked. The ball comes back to him and the pressure is enough for him to miscue the shot.

Lovely ball, headed by Agger but straight at the goalkeeper. Would have been offside though.

Gunnarsson concedes a free-kick for a foul on Adam. A chance to put the ball into the box.

Suarez turns the covering midfield player and fires a shot on goal. Heaton saves comfortably though.

Suarez tries to create a shooting chance in the box, but that man McNaughton is there to block once more.

McNaughton goes in hard and fairly on Suarez. Throw-in given. The Uruguayan disagrees.

Downing turns McNaughton inside out and puts a ball across the box. Henderson inexplicably misses the ball with the goal-gaping, before Gerrard fires over.

Cardiff still cannot hang onto the ball though. Miller this time passing to nobody.

Suarez tries to play a return ball to Carroll who would have been left a simple finish, but Hudson does brilliantly to intercept.

Gerrard attempts a 'hollywood pass' to pick out Suarez, but it is too far ahead of the striker and runs for a throw-in.

Cardiff need a spell of possession here. Affording Liverpool to much ball in recent minutes.

Gerrard's corner looks for Carroll, but Heaton comes flying off his line to punch clear. Fine goalkeeping.

Liverpool attack down the left and move the ball to Johnson on the right. His cross is headed clear by McNaughton though.

Gerrard tries to pick-out Suarez with a pinpoint long-ball, but Hudson intercepts with his chest. Calm stuff.

Adam hits a shot from 25 yards, but the ball flies a yard wide of the post. Had Heaton worried though.

Big Liverpool shouts for hand-ball. But, there is next to nothing the defender could do about it.

Jose Enrique tries to copy Glen Johnson with a curled effort on his right-foot, but it is well over.

Downing fires a ball low across goal from the left. But, only Carroll in the box and the ball is nowhere near him.

Suarez looks to find Carroll in attack, but the link-up doesn't quite come off. The Uruguayan seemed to think Carroll was Usain Bolt there.

Gestede and Agger go in for the same ball on halfway. Tough battle that one so far. Gestede working hard to occupy the defence.

Mason is enjoying this, pulling out a step-over to skip past Glen Johnson. Fine stuff from the youngster.

Liverpool dominating possession, but Cardiff are defending well so far.

Liverpool attack comes to nothing as they fail to work an opening, ending as Johnson gives away a free-kick

Andy Carroll... The striker hammers a left footed effort into Row Z from 30 yards. Abysmal.

Suarez looks to get in behind the defence from the left, but McNaughton does well and plays the ball off the Uruguayan for a goal-kick.

Now Agger bursts forward from defence and unleashes a shot, but the ball is bravely blocked by Hudson.

Liverpool try to respond immediately, but Suarez is hounded off the ball in midfield.

Skrtel was the man at fault there, playing Mason onside from Miller's pass. The pass and finish were excellent though.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL Cardiff 1-0 Liverpool Mason gives the Bluebirds the lead</b> Kenny Miller slips through Joe Mason, who slides the ball through Reina's legs.

Long spell of Liverpool possession here, with Henderson central. Suarez crosses, but Carroll heads tamely down for Heaton to gather.

Glen Johnson gallops down the right, but is not quite quick enough to reach the attempted pass.

Carroll rises well to float a header wide, as Adam delivers a cross from midfield.

Carroll gives away another free-kick for pushing when the corner-kick is delivered.

Gerrard cross from the right is turned behind for a corner by McNaughton, with Downing lurking.

Charlie Adam fouls Aron Gunnarsson in midfield. No card, just a warning.

Kenny Miller with Cardiff's first chance. Firing over the bar left-footed.

Cardiff fronting up well in midfield. Playing lots of short, sharp passes. Good to see.

Some possession for Cardiff in attacking areas, but comfortable for Skrtel to deal with.

Corner for Liverpool causes difficulties. Second-corner from the other side headed by Skrtel back into Heaton's hands.

Cross comes in from the right for Carroll, but a free-kick is given against the big man. Cue obscenities in the referee's direction.

Great intervention from Mark Hudson to stop the ball reaching Suarez. No obvious chance on, but top defending.

Gestede threatens to get behind the Liverpool defence, but Reina is alert and quick to come and collect the ball.

<b>CROSSBAR</b> Glen Johnson curls a shot flush onto the woodwork from just outside the box. Rebound almost falls to Gerrard.

Liverpool get an early spell of possession, but Suarez passes into touch.

<b>KICK OFF - Cardiff City get us underway...</b>

Moments from kick-off now. Captains and mascots in the centre, ready for the coin-toss. Hudson and Gerrard are the men with the arm-bands.

The teams are being introduced to the Football League chairman amongst others. Big day in many of these player's careers.

The teams are in the tunnel and heading out onto the pitch, led by two Scottish managers, Malky Mackay and Kenny Dalglish.

Cardiff City won the FA Cup in 1927, but have never won the League Cup. Kenny Dalglish has never won the League Cup as a manager.

Kenny Dalglish looking to win his first silverware since his return to Liverpool, in what could be their first trophy since 2006. Cardiff must overhaul their 'plucky losers' tag of recent years.

Reserve goalkeeper Tom Heaton retains his regular Carling Cup place for Cardiff, whilst Mark Hudson has overcome an injury-scare to start. Stephen McPhail misses out.

Team news for Liverpool: Craig Bellamy is on the bench, meaning Luis Suarez starts up-front with Andy Carroll.

Hello and welcome to the Carling Cup final coverage then. Liverpool against Cardiff at Wembley and unfortunately for all, there are no white suits on show.

<i>ESPNsoccernet</i> will bring you live commentary of the Carling Cup final, which kicks off at 16.00 GMT.

Off the line! Reina comes to punch and misses the ball. Off the line by Kuyt!

Another corner...

Reina comes well off his line to clear and Kuyt completes the job.

Corner to Cardiff...

Skrtel rises tall to clear Whittingham's cross. Kiss was lurking.

Cardiff striker Gestede gets treatment. But, just over five minutes remaining and he will soldier on.

Adam looks to play in Craig Bellamy down the left, but overhits the ball by some distance.

Cardiff trying to get the ball into the area. Liverpool defending stoutly.

Long-throw from Gunnarsson cleared by Skrtel

Liverpool look to spring forward on the counter once more, but Suarez is offside.

Kuyt is charging around in midfield, making a big difference. Cardiff struggling to mount an attack.

Liverpool fans are ecstatic. Cardiff deflated. Ten minutes to find a breakthrough.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL Cardiff 1-2 Liverpool Kuyt fires home!!!</b> Cardiff's mishit clearance comes back to the Dutchman, who fires home what could be a winner.

Kuyt escapes his marker on the left and fires in a cross. Suarez receives the ball in the box, but immediately is surrounded and his shot is blocked.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> <b>Darcy Blake on for Kyle McNaughton</b>

<b>Back underway...</b>

<b>HALF TIME IN EXTRA TIME</b>

Glen Johnson the latest to go close, left-footed from 25 yards. Not far from creeping inside the left-upright there.

Bellamy goes close! The Welshman receives the ball on the left, cutting inside onto his right and firsing over the bar.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> <b>Dirk Kuyt on for Carroll</b>

Corner to Liverpool. Carroll heads the ball right across the face and wide.

Downing crosses for Carroll, but his ball from the right is far too high for the forward.

Stewart Downing is wasteful at times. Lashing a shot high and wide from 30 yards.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> <b>Anthony Gerrard on for Mark Hudson</b> Steven's cousin makes an appearance.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> <b>Kiss</b> booked for a foul on Bellamy, who responds angrily

Kiss gets forward for Cardiff, beats Gerrard and gets a shot away. Saved by Reina.

Whittingham swings in a free-kick from deep on the right. Reina claims well to eradicate the danger.

Liverpool push forward, but Downing tries to be too clever and is dispossessed by the covering Whittingham.

Free-kick Liverpool. Gerrard takes and Suarez almost turns it in. Offside.

Long-ball time for Cardiff. No luck though and Liverpool come back on the attack.

Off the line! Bellamy swings the ball in from the left, headed by Suarez but cleared off the line by Andrew Taylor.

Straight away, Luis Suarez tests Heaton from 25 yards, but saved for a corner.

Back underway...

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> <b>Filip Kiss on for Joe Mason</b>

Both these sides have recent history in extra-time. Cardiff have two wins this season. Liverpool, of course, have won a couple of finals in recent years.

<b>FULL TIME Cardiff 1-1 Liverpool</b> We go into extra-time

Seemingly not. Nothing in the last two minutes.

Now it is Stephen Gerrard's turn to fire over the bar. Is there one more chance in this game?

The ball breaks to Suarez after a mix-up in defence. But the Uruguayan wastes it with an awful finish.

Four minutes added-time...

Ben Turner does brilliantly to clear the ball twice. Has had a great game.

MxNaughton is busting a gut to get forward down the right, but the pass is overhit.

Taken quickly and worked well to Kenny Miller. The Scot controls it beautifully and has a great chance, but it is just over the bar.

Free-kick to Cardiff. Chance to launch it into the box once more.

Glen Johnson hits a powerful cross accoss goal, but Ben Turner is in place to deny Suarez.

At the other end, Liverpool break with Suarez who cuts the ball back to Adam, but his powerful shot is easy for Heaton to save.

Kenny Miller tries to chip a through-ball to Gestede, but it is overhit.

Cardiff come forward once more...

Just wide. Don Cowie whips in a beautiful cross from the left, which Ben Turner rises to head at the far post. Poor contact, but not far off-target.

Glen Johnson goes for the spectacular again, beating one man and shooting wide with his left-foot.

Liverpool have a corner, swung in deep from the right. Cleared by the Cardiff defence.

Liverpool players rush to point out an elbow on Agger from Turner. Free-kick given, but there was no elbow.

Whittingham is given a big build-up, but it hits the outside man on the wall. Through-in

Downing concedes a dangerous free-kick twenty yards out for a foul on Miller. Bit of a slip, more of a dive from the Scot.

Downing fires a shot low on goal, but Tom Heaton gets down well to save.

Mark Hudson down with cramp, leading to a delay in play. Should be underway again soon.

McNaughton has had a great game. Bellamy attempts to pick out Carroll with a cut back and the veteran right-back gets back to intercept.

Charlie Adam gets back to tidy-up for Liverpool. Cardiff's attacks are more and more futile.

Ball goes across to the far post and falls to Skrtel once more. Hit hard on the volley, but Heaton saves well.

Johnson's cross from the Liverpool right is turned behind for a corner.

Play back underway. Gerrard is a lucky man. But, it has bought Cardiff some time to recover their breath.

Gunnarsson down with a head injury. A swinging forearm into his face by Gerrard though. Dirty.

A real struggle for the Cardiff forwards though, they are doing a lot of running with little reward at the moment.

All Liverpool now. Cardiff still defending valliantly though.

Down the other end, it is Mark Hudson again who holds off Carroll to clear Downing's cross.

Cardiff attack again, but Skrtel clears the bouncing ball.

Suarez does well done the left-flank to beat his man and pulls the ball back for Bellamy, but the ball is cut-out.

Joe Mason cuts in from the left and fires a right-footed shot on target. Regulation stop for Reina.

Now, Suarez is flagged offside by some distance.

Dalglish going mad on the touch-line as Liverpool fire another long-ball to nobody.

The Liverpool fans are in full voice now. How will Cardiff respond?

Cardiff want a free-kick at the other-end, but calls for a foul on Gestede are rejected.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL Cardiff 1-1 Liverpool Skrtel scores rebound!!!</b> Carroll rises to head at goal, flicked onto the post by Suarez. The ball comes out in the centre of the goal and Skrtel fires home.

Another corner to Liverpool...

Nice Cardiff attacking move down the left. Comes to nothing, but they had Liverpool fans feeling nervous then as space appeared.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> <b>Craig Bellamy replaces Jordan Henderson</b>

Suarez turns his man and looks to have a chance, but from nowhere McNaughton flies in to win the ball from the Uruguayan.

The tackles are flying in now. Gerrard wins the ball with his, before Hudson does likewise. Suarez offside.

Cardiff City attack after Agger gives the ball away. Controlled attack, looking to use up some time as well. Long-throw into the box just dealt with by Reina.

Might be the call for Henderson's removal that. Been poor throughout has the midfielder.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> <b>Henderson</b> Booked for a lunge in midfield.

Adam hits a shot from 30 yards, deflected for a corner. Luis Suarez is adament there was a handball, but no-one else is interested.

Liverpool really pushing now. Cardiff are defending for their lives.

Free-kick put into the area by Charlie Adam. Cardiff defemd well and Ben Turner puts it behind for a corner. Cleared.

Mistake from Hudson allows Suarez to get a shot in. But, Heaton saves well. Carroll is dawdling at the edge of the area. There was a rebound chance there.

Kenny Miller fires the ball across the face of goal from just outside the area. Close to extending Cardiff's lead.

Ball is headed half-clear by the Cardiff defence, but Henderson hits the rebound well wide of the goal.

Dangerous free-kick for Liverpool immediately in second-period. Taken by Downing.

<b>SECOND HALF</b> Liverpool kick-off

The players are coming back onto the pitch. Big half of football to come.

Forty-five minutes to go then. Liverpool will be desperate for a win here, but Cardiff won't give them an inch.

Liverpool have put some good balls into the box, mainly from the left-flank, but they have failed to capitalise on the service.

Liverpool fans are calling for Bellamy to come on. Big game player is the Welshman and Liverpool need a spark.

For Liverpool's part, they are attempting too much too quickly. Too many long balls aimed at Carroll at times.

Fantastic first-half for Cardiff. Well organised and fiercely committed in defence. Can they keep it up?

<b>HALF TIME Cardiff 1-0 Liverpool</b>

Now it is Henderson's turn to pass into touch looking for Jose Enrique.

Cardiff try to attack, but Mason's cross is collected by Reina.

One minute added time...

Fantastic defending. Gerrard has chance to get a shot away, but ut is well blocked. The ball comes back to him and the pressure is enough for him to miscue the shot.

Lovely ball, headed by Agger but straight at the goalkeeper. Would have been offside though.

Gunnarsson concedes a free-kick for a foul on Adam. A chance to put the ball into the box.

Suarez turns the covering midfield player and fires a shot on goal. Heaton saves comfortably though.

Suarez tries to create a shooting chance in the box, but that man McNaughton is there to block once more.

McNaughton goes in hard and fairly on Suarez. Throw-in given. The Uruguayan disagrees.

Downing turns McNaughton inside out and puts a ball across the box. Henderson inexplicably misses the ball with the goal-gaping, before Gerrard fires over.

Cardiff still cannot hang onto the ball though. Miller this time passing to nobody.

Suarez tries to play a return ball to Carroll who would have been left a simple finish, but Hudson does brilliantly to intercept.

Gerrard attempts a 'hollywood pass' to pick out Suarez, but it is too far ahead of the striker and runs for a throw-in.

Cardiff need a spell of possession here. Affording Liverpool to much ball in recent minutes.

Gerrard's corner looks for Carroll, but Heaton comes flying off his line to punch clear. Fine goalkeeping.

Liverpool attack down the left and move the ball to Johnson on the right. His cross is headed clear by McNaughton though.

Gerrard tries to pick-out Suarez with a pinpoint long-ball, but Hudson intercepts with his chest. Calm stuff.

Adam hits a shot from 25 yards, but the ball flies a yard wide of the post. Had Heaton worried though.

Big Liverpool shouts for hand-ball. But, there is next to nothing the defender could do about it.

Jose Enrique tries to copy Glen Johnson with a curled effort on his right-foot, but it is well over.

Downing fires a ball low across goal from the left. But, only Carroll in the box and the ball is nowhere near him.

Suarez looks to find Carroll in attack, but the link-up doesn't quite come off. The Uruguayan seemed to think Carroll was Usain Bolt there.

Gestede and Agger go in for the same ball on halfway. Tough battle that one so far. Gestede working hard to occupy the defence.

Mason is enjoying this, pulling out a step-over to skip past Glen Johnson. Fine stuff from the youngster.

Liverpool dominating possession, but Cardiff are defending well so far.

Liverpool attack comes to nothing as they fail to work an opening, ending as Johnson gives away a free-kick

Andy Carroll... The striker hammers a left footed effort into Row Z from 30 yards. Abysmal.

Suarez looks to get in behind the defence from the left, but McNaughton does well and plays the ball off the Uruguayan for a goal-kick.

Now Agger bursts forward from defence and unleashes a shot, but the ball is bravely blocked by Hudson.

Liverpool try to respond immediately, but Suarez is hounded off the ball in midfield.

Skrtel was the man at fault there, playing Mason onside from Miller's pass. The pass and finish were excellent though.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL Cardiff 1-0 Liverpool Mason gives the Bluebirds the lead</b> Kenny Miller slips through Joe Mason, who slides the ball through Reina's legs.

Long spell of Liverpool possession here, with Henderson central. Suarez crosses, but Carroll heads tamely down for Heaton to gather.

Glen Johnson gallops down the right, but is not quite quick enough to reach the attempted pass.

Carroll rises well to float a header wide, as Adam delivers a cross from midfield.

Carroll gives away another free-kick for pushing when the corner-kick is delivered.

Gerrard cross from the right is turned behind for a corner by McNaughton, with Downing lurking.

Charlie Adam fouls Aron Gunnarsson in midfield. No card, just a warning.

Kenny Miller with Cardiff's first chance. Firing over the bar left-footed.

Cardiff fronting up well in midfield. Playing lots of short, sharp passes. Good to see.

Some possession for Cardiff in attacking areas, but comfortable for Skrtel to deal with.

Corner for Liverpool causes difficulties. Second-corner from the other side headed by Skrtel back into Heaton's hands.

Cross comes in from the right for Carroll, but a free-kick is given against the big man. Cue obscenities in the referee's direction.

Great intervention from Mark Hudson to stop the ball reaching Suarez. No obvious chance on, but top defending.

Gestede threatens to get behind the Liverpool defence, but Reina is alert and quick to come and collect the ball.

<b>CROSSBAR</b> Glen Johnson curls a shot flush onto the woodwork from just outside the box. Rebound almost falls to Gerrard.

Liverpool get an early spell of possession, but Suarez passes into touch.

<b>KICK OFF - Cardiff City get us underway...</b>

Moments from kick-off now. Captains and mascots in the centre, ready for the coin-toss. Hudson and Gerrard are the men with the arm-bands.

The teams are being introduced to the Football League chairman amongst others. Big day in many of these player's careers.

The teams are in the tunnel and heading out onto the pitch, led by two Scottish managers, Malky Mackay and Kenny Dalglish.

Cardiff City won the FA Cup in 1927, but have never won the League Cup. Kenny Dalglish has never won the League Cup as a manager.

Kenny Dalglish looking to win his first silverware since his return to Liverpool, in what could be their first trophy since 2006. Cardiff must overhaul their 'plucky losers' tag of recent years.

Reserve goalkeeper Tom Heaton retains his regular Carling Cup place for Cardiff, whilst Mark Hudson has overcome an injury-scare to start. Stephen McPhail misses out.

Team news for Liverpool: Craig Bellamy is on the bench, meaning Luis Suarez starts up-front with Andy Carroll.

Hello and welcome to the Carling Cup final coverage then. Liverpool against Cardiff at Wembley and unfortunately for all, there are no white suits on show.

<i>ESPNsoccernet</i> will bring you live commentary of the Carling Cup final, which kicks off at 16.00 GMT.