By Laurie Fitzgerald

Today the first domestic final of the English season takes place, as Liverpool and Cardiff City battle it out at Wembley stadium in the Carling Cup Final.

The Reds are firm favourites to win their eighth League Cup against Championship opponents that are competing in their first final in this competition.

But while Cardiff are familiar with the new Wembley after they lost in the 2008 FA Cup Final to Portsmouth, this is Liverpool’s first trip to the famous arena since it was rebuilt and opened back in 2007.

For Kenny Dalglish it’s a welcome return to a major cup final as Liverpool manager, his first in the Anfield hotseat since winning the all-Merseyside FA Cup Final back in 1989.  

It also gives Liverpool their first chance of winning silverware since 2006, and go into the game in a good run of form.

Their 6-1 win over Brighton in the FA Cup last weekend made it just two defeats in their last 10 matches and setting them up nicely for today’s showpiece.

It also gives them a welcome respite from the demands of chasing a Champions League place, with the side currently four points adrift of a top four spot.

However, they face a Cardiff side that have been in their own demanding league campaign, with promotion to the top-flight still very much on the agenda for Malky Mackay’s men.

The Bluebirds sit in the play-off positions, but their hopes of automatic promotions have been dented in recent weeks.

Three defeats in their last four matches have seen the Welsh outfit fall off the pace of West Ham and Southampton, with their performance in the 3-0 defeat at Ipswich a shadow of the team that have consistently impressed this season.

But today will provide Cardiff with an opportunity to win their first major domestic trophy since their FA Cup triumph back in 1927.

That day, City caused an upset be beating an Arsenal side that would go on to dominate the following decade of English football.

Now 85 years on, Mackay will hope the class of 2012 will draw inspiration from that success and write another great chapter in their history come this evening.

Liverpool’s run to the final

2nd Round: Exeter 1-3 Liverpool

3rd Round: Brighton 1-2 Liverpool

4th Round: Stoke 1-2 Liverpool

Quarter-final: Chelsea 0-2 Liverpool

Semi-final: Manchester City 0-1 Liverpool (1st Leg)Liverpool 2-2 Manchester City (Liverpool won 3-2 on aggregate)

Cardiff’s run to the final

1st Round: Oxford United 1-3 Cardiff (After Extra-time)

2nd Round: Cardiff 5-3 Huddersfield (After Extra-time)

3rd Round: Cardiff 2-2 Leicester City (Cardiff won 7-6 on penalties)

Quarter-final: Cardiff 1-0 Burnley

Semi-final: Crystal Palace 1-0 Cardiff (1st Leg) Cardiff 1-0 Crystal Palace (2nd Leg) (2-2 on aggregate – Cardiff won 3-1 on penalties)

Key Battles

Luis Suarez v Mark Hudson

After months of controversy, Liverpool’s attacking talisman will now have the chance to put his recent issues behind him and win his first trophy in English football.

Suarez may have polarised opinion of many footballing neutrals, but what cannot be in doubt is his immense talent and work-rate that brings another dimension to the Liverpool attack.

The 25 year-old is superb at bringing others into play, and the likes of Steven Gerrard and Andy Carroll now have the chance to develop a strong relationship with the former Ajax star.

It gives Cardiff captain Hudson quite the headache going into today’s final, but the centre half will certainly not be intimidated by the challenge.

He has plenty of experience having previously played for Charlton and Crystal Palace, and the 29 year-old has been at the heart of the defence in their promotion push.

How Hudson contains Suarez today will be crucial to Cardiff’s chances of causing a big upset at Wembley.

Steven Gerrard v Peter Whittingham

The two main driving midfield forces on show, both Gerrard and Whittingham will play a pivotal role for their respective sides this afternoon.

This will be the first time that Reds skipper Gerrard has led his boyhood club out at Wembley, and he will be determined to ensure that the occassion is a memorable one.

Having returned from injury in recent months, the 31 year-old is showing signs that he is returning back to his best form, which is great news not only for Liverpool but also for England ahead of Euro 2012.

But another midfielder that is the creative force for his team is Bluebirds midfielder Whittingham, whose link-up play with the likes of Kenny Miller has been a crucial component to Cardiff’s success this season.

The 27 year-old also has an eye for goal with 10 goals to his name already this campaign, and he can provide the spark needed to break through what is an impressive Liverpool defence.

Martin Skrtel v Kenny Miller

One of the main reasons this defence has been so solid has been the growing maturity of their Slovakian centre-half Skrtel.

Alongside Daniel Agger at the heart of the backline, the 27 year-old has really come of age and dominate opposition forwards to help Liverpool have one of the best defensive records in the country.

His strength and ability in the air has helped protect goalkeeper Pepe Reina admirably throughout the season, and he will need to be at his best up against a wily old opponent.

32 year-old Miller has plenty of experience in big finals in his time north of the border with both Celtic and Rangers, and the Scottish striker is an intelligent forward that always has an eye for goal.

Miller knows how to perform on the big occassion, and he will cause all sorts of problems for Agger and co this afternoon. The big question is will it be enough?

Prediction: Both teams will be hugely determined to gain silverware in what is sure to be a great atmosphere generated by two fiercely passionate sets of supporters. But Liverpool’s quality should eventually prove decisive as the game wears on – Liverpool to win 2-0.

So what do you think? Will Liverpool win their first trophy in six years? Or will Cardiff cause a big upset to win only their second major trophy? Leave a comment and let us know your views.