No start for Bellamy against former team

Liverpool’s Wales international Craig Bellamy has been left on the bench for the Carling Cup final against hometown club Cardiff at Wembley.

The 32-year-old and Dirk Kuyt were the two players to be left out of the side which played the second leg of the semi-final against Manchester City as Luis Suarez, who was banned at the time, and Andy Carroll come in.

Cardiff have made four changes from their semi-final win over Crystal Palace, with Kevin McNaughton, Mark Hudson, Rudy Gestede and Joe Mason all coming in - meaning Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard’s cousin Anthony has to be satisfied with a place on the Bluebirds’ bench.

Cardiff: Heaton, McNaughton, Hudson, Turner, Taylor, Cowie, Whittingham, Gunnarsson, Mason, Miller, Gestede.

Subs: Marshall, Kiss, Gerrard, Earnshaw, Conway, Naylor, Blake.

Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Skrtel, Agger, Jose Enrique, Henderson, Gerrard, Adam, Downing, Suarez, Carroll.

Subs: Doni, Maxi, Kuyt, Spearing, Carragher, Kelly, Bellamy.

Referee: Mark Clattenburg.