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Preview: Carling Cup final - Liverpool vs. Cardiff City

Preview: Carling Cup final - Liverpool vs. Cardiff
© PA Photos
Liverpool and Cardiff City travel to Wembley on Sunday for the Carling Cup final, with the first domestic trophy of the season up for grabs.

Liverpool and Cardiff City each have an opportunity to snatch the first domestic trophy of the season when they meet at Wembley on Sunday for the Carling Cup final.

The Merseyside club are aiming to clinch silverware for the first time in six years, while the Bluebirds could nab the trophy as they continue to push for Premier League promotion.

Kenny Dalglish, who has a number of potential starting lineups to choose from, may choose a 4-5-1 formation with Luis Suarez alone up front over fellow striker Andy Carroll.

Having five across the midfield will allow the likes of Dirk Kuyt and Craig Bellamy, who faces his old club on Sunday, to use the wide areas to provide service to the Uruguayan.

Despite Jamie Carragher's wealth of experience, Dalglish is likely to pick Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel to hold the defensive line due to the pair's impressive partnership this season.

Cardiff boss Malky Mackay has a selection headache for the final as he continues to deal with a number of injuries. While Mark Hudson could make a return from injury, Mackay is likely to place Ben Turner in the defensive role.

Anthony Gerrard, who is cousin to the Liverpool captain, should be awarded a place in the back line, with Newcastle United loanee Haris Vuckic and Don Crowie holding the midfield. Kenny Miller is likely to start up front on his own for the Championship side.

Current form:

Liverpool: DWWDLW
Cardiff: WDLLWL

Possible lineups:

Liverpool: Reina; Johnson, Agger, Skrtel, Enrique; Kuyt, Adam, Gerrard, Henderson, Bellamy; Suarez

Cardiff: Marshall; McNaughton, Turner, Gerrard, Taylor; Whittingham, Gunnarsson, Cowie, Vuckic, Mason; Miller

Sports Mole says: 2-0

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8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton104421714316
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10Bournemouth104331312115
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle104331010015
12Brentford104151920-113
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14West Ham UnitedWest Ham103251319-611
15Leicester CityLeicester102441418-410
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17Crystal Palace10145813-57
18Ipswich TownIpswich100551021-115
19Southampton10118719-124
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves100371427-133


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