A new dawn as Reds rediscover winning feeling
It was always going to be Gerrard who ended Liverpool’s trophy drought but nobody at Anfield ever dreamt it would be Anthony, and not Steven, who provided the kick that earned Kenny Dalglish his first trophy since returning as manager, and started what the Kop hope will be a new era for a club once regarded as the kings of English football.
The Cardiff City defender and former Ireland U21, cousin of Liverpool captain Steven, missed the final penalty in a dramatic shoot-out that saw Dalglish’s side win the Carling Cup and lift their first trophy since the FA Cup of 2006.
It was a cruel way for it to end for Cardiff, who had been so outstanding as they drew 2-2 after extra-time against their more illustrious opponents, scoring two minutes from the end to force a penalty shoot-out.
But it was also a major relief for Liverpool talisman Stevie G, who had also missed a spot-kick in a shoot-out that eventually ended 3-2 to Dalglish’s side.
Who knows how much this victory will mean to the club in the long term, but it certainly seemed significant as Liverpool fans celebrated wildly at the final whistle, bringing back memories of the glory days of the 1970s and 80s when Liverpool and silverware always appeared in the same sentence.
Such is Liverpool’s demise since 1990, when they won their last title, that not only had they failed to win a trophy in six years — or lift one at Wembley in 17 — but until yesterday not even Gerrard had played for the club at the stadium. But that was forgotten in 120 engrossing, nervous and passionate minutes at Wembley as Cardiff gave everything but failed in heartbreaking fashion.
Cardiff even went ahead in the first half through Republic of Ireland U21 international Joe Mason, whose mother hails from County Mayo, as he fired home coolly after 19 minutes following a wonderful through-ball from the excellent Kenny Miller.
But Martin Skrtel’s equaliser, scored in the 60th minute after Luis Suarez’s header came back off a post, set up extra-time and with Liverpool fans belting out ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ they went ahead when substitute Dirk Kuyt thundered in a shot after 108 minutes.
Even then Cardiff, who hadn’t lifted a major trophy since the FA Cup of 1927, refused to give up.
Kuyt headed off the line from defender Ben Turner — now playing as a striker — and, incredibly, Turner went one better seconds later as he bundled home a last-gasp corner to force penalties in the most dramatic of fashions. Liverpool were certainly doing this the hard way.
The nerve-wracking shoot-out saw Gerrard, Kenny Miller, Rudy Gestede and Charlie Adam all miss before Anthony Gerrard’s poorly-struck effort scuffed past the post to end Liverpool’s long wait for silverware.
Every neutral fan must have felt for him as his cousin rushed over to commiserate before heading off to celebrate with his own fans.
But make no mistake this meant a lot to Liverpool. The last time they lifted a trophy at Wembley was the League Cup Final of 1995 when the Spice Boys were in vogue and Steve McManaman scored twice to beat Bolton. It seems a long time ago.
That year eBay was founded, OJ Simpson was on trial, Barings Bank collapsed, the European Courts of Justice ruled on Bosman free transfers and Take That’s ‘Back for Good’ was the biggest selling single of the year in England. Liverpool will now hope there is an omen there. Back for Good? You never know.
