Liverpool win Carling Cup after dramatic shoot out

Anthony Gerrard misses the decisive spot kick as Liverpool won the Carling Cup Final on penalties after a dramatic final at Wembley. The Premier League side started brightly but were left shellshocked on 19 minutes as Kenny Miller found Joe Mason with space in the box and the young winger kept his cool to slot through the legs of Pepe Reina. Liverpool were kept frustrated throughout a first half in which they were limited to long range shots and the goal that got them back into the game was a scrappy one as Luis Suarez's flicked header rebounded off the post to Martin Skrtel who drove home on the hour mark. Much to everyone's surprise it was Cardiff who had the best chances to win the game in the dying minutes of normal time and they will live to rue the moment Kenny Miller found himself in on goal but culd only blaze over from six yards with just seconds left on the clock. Both sides made changes in the early moments of extra time and it was one of them who looked to have won the game for Liverpool in the 109th minute as Dirk Kuyt reacted superbly to flash home from the edge of the box. However, Cardiff were not to be beaten and moments after Kuyt had cleared Filip Kiss' header off the line the Bluebirds did level as Ben Turner bundled over the line from two yards out with just one minute of extra time remaining. That meant we would have the drama of penalties and after Steven Gerrard, Miller and Charlie Adam had all missed the tension continued to rise until Anthony Gerrard stepped up and screwed his kick wide of the post. So, its Liverpool who are left to celebrate their first success of the season as Kenny Dalglish goes level with Bill Shankly in terms of pieces of silverware won as Liverpool manager. For Cardiff it was more Wembley heartbreak but they will now want to be back in May trying to win Premier League status in the Championship Playoffs.

Liverpool 3 Newcastle 0

Liverpool are up to fifth in the Premier League table after recording a comfortable victory over Newcastle.
The Reds dominated the early exchanges and took a 10th-minute lead through Maxi Rodriguez's deflected volley.
United competed until the 59th minute when Mike Williamson fouled Luis Suarez for a penalty that Dirk Kuyt converted.
Suarez's neat close-range finish sealed the win for the hosts, for whom former Newcastle striker Andy Carroll came off the bench for the final 20 minutes.
Inevitably, the build-up to the game was dominated by talk of Carroll, who the Reds recycled £35m of the £50m fee they received from Chelsea for Fernando Torres on, when they purchased him from Newcastle late in the January transfer window.
Having spent the last few weeks sidelined with a knee injury, the big number nine was an ominous presence for his former side on the Liverpool bench and sparked an entertaining vocal war of attrition between opposing fans every time he appeared on the touchline for a warm-up and during his late cameo.
Newcastle, though, had enough to worry about prior to that, having to cope with a Liverpool attack that has given the Reds a very realistic chance of qualification for the Europa League following a run that has seen them take 30 points from their last 14 games.
Suarez again demonstrated the predatory instincts and creativity that persuaded the Reds to part with £22.7m to sign him from Ajax in January, while Dirk Kuyt extended the richest goalscoring form of his Liverpool career by scoring in his fourth successive game.
In Liverpool's previous game, eight days ago, winger Rodriguez scored three of his side's five goals in a hammering of struggling Birmingham and it was the Argentine winger who again gave his side the lead on Sunday.
The home side had already threatened through Raul Meireles's miscued sixth-minute shot before going ahead in the 10th.
Teenage full-back John Flanagan provided a testing cross from the right which Mike Williamson only partially headed clear, allowing Rodriguez to volley a shot from 12 yards that took a crucial deflection off Danny Simpson past keeper Tim Krul.
It was the high-point of a 25-minute opening period in which Liverpool dominated possession but created few real goalscoring chances.
Impressive teenage midfielder Jay Spearing was involved in their two other best attacking moves of the half, firstly forcing keeper Krul into a low save with a 25-yard shot and then later provided a superb pin-point cross from the right which Lucas headed straight at the United keeper from 10 yards out.
As the half wore on the visitors grew as a presence, but barring some well-delivered Joey Barton free-kicks, they only had Kevin Nolan's miscued effort from a corner to show for their efforts.
However, they did fashion the first opportunity of the second half when Nolan crossed for Barton, but his shot flew past the post and with it went their best chance of forging a first away win since February.
Instead, Liverpool reasserted their authority and extended their lead just before the hour.
Williamson misjudged an attempt to shepherd the ball out at the byline, allowing Suarez to nip and knock it past him. Realising the threat the Uruguayan now posed, the defender dragged him down for a penalty that Kuyt stroked home for his eighth goal in seven games.
The Dutchman should have added another minutes later when Meireles's cross found him unmarked six yards out, but he failed to connect properly with his header and put it wide.
However, he did play a pivotal role in his side's third goal, flicking a superb short pass through a crowd of defenders to find Suarez, who neatly finished from eight yards out.
To rub salt into Newcastle wounds, Liverpool used the final 20 minutes to parade Carroll.
The 11 goals he scored for his former side earlier in the season have played a major part in securing them a second successive season in the Premier League and he may well yet play a significant role in helping his new side into Europe next campaign.

Arsenal 1 Liverpool 1

Arsenal saw their Barclays Premier League title hopes all but extinguished after Dirk Kuyt secured a point for Liverpool with a last-gasp penalty just moments after Robin van Persie's own spot-kick had looked enough for victory.

The Gunners - now six point points behind leaders Manchester United having played the same number of games - had plenty of possession and hit the bar in the first half through Laurent Koscielny, but were unable to make their dominance count until deep into eight minutes of stoppage time when van Persie crashed home a spot-kick.

However, Liverpool - who had earlier seen captain Jamie Carragher carried off following a nasty clash of heads - snatched a point with the final kick of the match after Emmanuel Eboue had pushed Lucas Leiva.

While the match ended in high drama, before kick-off there was a minute's silence in memory of late Arsenal director Danny Fiszman, who passed away following a battle against cancer and also remembering the 96 Liverpool supporters who died 22 years ago this week in the Hillsborough tragedy.

The sale of Fiszman's holding in the Gunners' parent company led to American Stan Kroenke crossing the takeover threshold, but it remains to be seen whether the Denver-based entrepreneur will be able to complete his proposed £730millon buyout.

When the action got under way, Arsenal - unbeaten in 14 matches and yet to lose in 2011 - started well, with Abou Diaby glancing a header wide from Samir Nasri's curling free-kick.

Arsenal were careless in possession far too often, with Liverpool quick to capitalise on the break.

The hosts sparked into life, though, after 12 minutes when Theo Walcott stung Pepe Reina with a fierce 25-yard drive which the Reds keeper spilled and van Persie hooked the loose ball back across an open goal, which was headed behind.

From van Persie's right-wing corner, Laurent Koscielny got up above the Liverpool defence and in front of Reina to crash a header against the bar.

Liverpool were forced into a change on 21 minutes when full-back Fabio Aurelio limped off with a recurrence of his hamstring problem, replaced by 17-year-old Jack Robinson for a second senior appearance.

Luis Suarez's slip allowed van Persie and Cesc Fabregas to open up the Liverpool defence, but the Arsenal skipper drilled his 20-yard shot wide.

Liverpool were being pegged back, with Walcott firing a low ball in from the right which was booted behind.

It continued to be one-way traffic with Liverpool defending deep, but Arsenal could not find a telling pass in the final third.

In first-half stoppage time, Eboue's angled drive at the near post was deflected across the face of goal and away.

It was again a bright opening by Liverpool after the restart. Suarez created space for himself at the edge of the Arsenal penalty area, but dragged his shot wide.

There was a scare for the visitors when Andy Carroll went down after twisting his knee and ankle when challenging for a loose ball in the box. After some treatment, though, the £35million England man was back in the action.

Reds skipper Carragher then appeared to have been knocked unconscious after a clash of heads with John Flanagan, sparking more anxious scenes on the visitors bench as the medical staff from both teams attended.

The former England defender was eventually carried off on a stretcher, his neck in a brace and given oxygen. Sotirios Kyrgiakos came on as a substitute.

With 20 minutes left, Carroll was replaced by Jonjo Shelvey before Arsenal made a double change when Jack Wilshere and Walcott were replaced by Nicklas Bendtner and Andrey Arshavin, the Russian making his 100th appearance for the Gunners.

Wojciech Szczesny got down well to beat away an angled shot from Suarez as Liverpool looked to snatch all three points.

Reina made a decent block when van Persie was played into the left side of the Liverpool area, before at the other end, Suarez spooned his shot high and wide in space at the near post.

Because of the injury to Carragher, there were some eight minutes of stoppage time, and just when that seemed to be running out, Fabregas went tumbling over Jay Spearing's leg and this time, the referee pointed to the spot.

Van Persie stepped up to send Reina the wrong way and seemingly keep Arsenal in the title hunt.

However, there was more late drama after Alex Song tripped Lucas right on the edge of the area.

Suarez's free-kick went into the wall, but Eboue then pushed over Lucas to conceded another stoppage-time spot-kick which Kuyt dispatched.

It proved the last action of an amazing end to the game, which leaves Arsenal all but out of the title race and left a dejected Arsene Wenger confronting the officials - and opposite number Kenny Dalglish as they walked off.

Braga 1 - 0 Liverpool

Liverpool face a test to keep their Europa League campaign alive after they were beaten by Braga in the first leg of their last 16 tie.The Reds went behind when Sotirios Kyrgiakos clumsily fouled Mossoro and Alan stepped up to power in a penalty.Braga's Silvio struck the crossbar with a 30-yard piledriver as the visitors struggled to provide any danger.Andy Carroll had a shot deflected wide and Dirk Kuyt had a strike tipped over in Liverpool's best chances.Carroll had come on as a late substitute in Sunday's win over Manchester United as he made his Liverpool debut with a cameo appearance having been out with a thigh injury since his £35m move from Newcastle in January.
Reds boss Kenny Dalglish resisted the temptation of starting him against Braga but when the 6'3" striker did arrive on the scene after 58 minutes, despite lacking match fitness, he immediately helped shift the impetus in Liverpool's favour.
The home side's defender Kaka escaped a red card for what appeared a deliberate elbow on Carroll as the two went up for a header in injury-time before the Portuguese side again proved they had the beating of British opposition at the Estadio Municipal.
Braga are sixth in their domestic top flight and 31 points behind leaders Porto but have shown the capacity to raise their game when the mood takes them.
On home territory, they beat Celtic 3-0 in a Champions League qualifier and defeated Arsenal in the group stages of the competition before dropping into the Europa League.
Their latest conquest at their stadium in northern Portugal ended the national record 18-match winning streak of Benfica with a 2-1 victory on Sunday.
The emphasis was on Braga to make the most of their home advantage as Liverpool started with a cagey and and conservative approach.
The visitors' strategy worked for only 17 minutes until Reds centre-back Kyrgiakos found Mossoro's pace and skill too much to deal with and brought down the Braga midfielder to concede a spot-kick.
Alan, one of seven Brazilians in the Braga side, expertly powered in from 12 yards, despite Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina diving the right way.
The Reds were struggling to find any rhythm or resonance to their passing and were only saved from going further behind when the woodwork came to their rescue.
An unmarked Mossoro should have done better than to slice a shot when a free-kick was squared to him 12 yards out but the ball was cleared to Braga left-back Silvio, whose spectacular 30-yard strike crashed back off the crossbar.
Liverpool's frustration only grew as lone striker Kuyt found the offside trap of the home side difficult to beat as he failed to hold up the ball and bring his team-mates into the game.
A lot was made of Arsenal failing to get a shot on target in their demise against Barcelona at the Camp Nou on Tuesday and Liverpool were not faring much better at the less illustrious Braga as they had a tame header to show for their first-half efforts.
Kuyt needed support and it came just before the hour mark in the form of Carroll and he did not take long to make an impact.
The towering striker quickly nodded a header across goal which was just out of the reach of Kuyt before having a left-foot shot deflected wide as Carroll's arrival changed the complexion of the game.
With support, Kuyt was a different proposition and he chested down a Raul Meireles cross before a half-volley was tipped over by Braga keeper Artur.
That proved to be as close as Liverpool were to get to a prized away goal and, although Braga might have been reduced to 10 men after Kaka appeared to elbow Carroll, the Reds suffered a first defeat in 14 European games.

Liverpool 3 - 1 Man Utd

Dirk Kuyt's hat-trick ensured the Premier League title race remains wide open as Liverpool swept Manchester United aside at Anfield.Sir Alex Ferguson may have been encouraged by Arsenal's failure to beat Sunderland on Saturday and the opportunity to extend their lead at the top of the table - but this ended as a day of abject misery for United as they slumped to their second successive defeat.
United's twin setbacks, with this loss following hard on the heels of defeat at Chelsea, mean they remain only three points ahead of Arsenal, with Arsene Wenger's side having played a game less.
Kuyt was the hero as he struck the first treble by a Liverpool player against United since Peter Beardsley in 1990 and he found a willing and outstanding accomplice in £23m Uruguayan Luis Suarez.
Suarez's stunning sleight of foot took out three United defenders and set up a simple opener for Kuyt after 34 minutes and it was his cross that Nani inexplicably headed into the Dutch striker's path for the second before the interval.

Nani was a central figure in shameful scenes right on half-time. He was felled by a crude challenge by Jamie Carragher that eventually required him to be stretchered off, with Liverpool and United players confronting each other in the angry aftermath of the incident.

This was followed by Rafael's reckless tackle on Lucas and more confrontation - a passage of play that saw referee Phil Dowd exercise extreme leniency in not sending off both Carragher and United's Brazilian defender.
Kuyt got his and Liverpool's third after 65 minutes when Edwin Van der Sar failed to hold the dangerous Suarez's free-kick, allowing Dalglish to give striker Andy Carroll a late run-out for his debut following his £35m move from Newcastle United.
Javier Hernandez pulled a goal back for United in injury time but this will have been of no consolation to Ferguson after 90 minutes in which the Premier League pace-setters - admittedly robbed of the towering defensive figures of injured Rio Ferdinand and suspended Nemanja Vidic - looked vulnerable and overpowered in all areas.
For Liverpool boss Dalglish, this was the perfect belated present after he celebrated his 60th birthday on Friday and only increased the strength of his claims to land the manager's job on a permanent basis, with that eventual appointment surely nothing more than a formality.
Liverpool were able to put Carroll on the bench for the first time since his move from Newcastle, a decision perhaps encouraged by the absence of Ferdinand and Vidic from United's defence.
But it was Suarez who was a constant source of threat to United, almost pouncing in the second minute when he arrived unmarked on the end of Kuyt's cross but he was unable to control his finish and United escaped.
Liverpool's brisk start prompted United into a response and keeper Pepe Reina was grateful to see Dimitar Berbatov's dipping long-range drive glance off the outside of the post as he scrambled across his goal.
Dalglish had to reshape his defence after 25 minutes when the injury-prone Fabio Aurelio went down clutching his hamstring and was replaced by Sotirios Kyrgiakos. The Greek moved to partner Martin Skrtel in central defence with Carragher moving to right-back and Glen Johnson to the opposite flank.
And as Liverpool reorganised they were almost punished but Raul Meireles was able to smuggle Wes Brown's header off the line after he was first to a corner.
Suarez's quick feet inside the area always threatened to cause havoc and so it proved as Liverpool took the lead after 34 minutes. United's defenders, in the shape of Rafael, Michael Carrick and Brown, collapsed like a house of cards as he weaved his way towards goal.
He prodded the ball past Van der Sar towards goal and Kuyt ran in to make sure from a matter of inches as United appealed in vain for offside.
A calamitous piece of defending from Nani gift-wrapped Kuyt his and Liverpool's second five minutes later. He rose to meet Suarez's cross in the area, only to succeed in directing it perfectly into the path of Kuyt in the six-yard area for a simple headed finish.
There was an ugly end to the half when both Carragher and Rafael were fortunate to escape with only yellow cards for awful challenges. Carragher's cynical touchline lunge on Nani prompted a flare-up between players from both sides before the winger was stretchered off.
And as tempers continued to boil Rafael took his frustrations out on Lucas, once again prompting unseemly exchanges before referee Dowd attempted to restore some sort of order by booking the United defender.
Hernandez replaced the stricken Nani and United almost worked their way back into contention only for Meireles to clear Berbatov's header off the line early in the second half.
Meireles then showed his attacking qualities with a perfectly-timed run on to Kuyt's pass only to be denied by Van der Sar.
Van der Sar was at fault as Liverpool extended their lead and Kuyt completed his hat-trick after 65 minutes. Suarez's free-kick was low and awkward but Van der Sar should have held on - and once he fumbled - Kuyt the poacher completed the formalities.
As The Kop revelled in Liverpool's victory and United's discomfort, Dalglish felt able to introduce Carroll for his debut and the striker received a rapturous reception around Anfield.
Liverpool cruised home and even the sight of Hernandez scoring deep into stoppage time could not stop wild celebrations sweeping around Anfield at the final whistle.

Liverpool 1 - 0 Sparta Prague (agg 1 - 0)

A late Dirk Kuyt header booked Liverpool's place in the last 16 of the Europa League as the Reds made hard work of beating Sparta Prague.
Kuyt guided in an 86th minute Raul Meireles corner as the home side finally converted one of their chances.
Sotirios Kyrgiakos had earlier been denied for Liverpool when keeper Jaromir Blazek clawed away his header.
Raul Meireles blazed over and David Ngog had an effort saved for the Reds before Kuyt provided the finish needed.
Joe Cole raced clear and could have put the gloss on the victory but he put his shot wide with just Blazek to beat.Nevertheless, Liverpool completed the win to provide manager Kenny Dalglish with victory in his first European game in charge of the club at Anfield.
Dalglish will feel his side's progress should have been confirmed much earlier than when they eventually prevailed as they finally converted one of their numerous openings after surviving fleeting scares from the Czech side.