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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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Written by
Danielle Joynson

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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
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2Arsenal21127241192243
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest21125430201041
4Newcastle UnitedNewcastle21115537221538
5Chelsea21107441261537
6Manchester CityMan City2110563829935
7Aston Villa2110563132-135
8Bournemouth219753225734
9Fulham217953230230
10Brentford218494037328
11Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2061043029128
12West Ham UnitedWest Ham217592741-1426
13Tottenham HotspurSpurs21731143321124
14Crystal Palace215972328-524
15Manchester UnitedMan Utd206592328-523
16Everton203891526-1117
17Ipswich TownIpswich2037102035-1516
18Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2144133148-1716
19Leicester CityLeicester2135132346-2314
20Southampton2013161244-326


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