Heading into the second-leg at an atmospheric Anfield with a 1-0 lead, Liverpool started the better but fell behind thanks to a spectacular strike from City's Nigel De Jong. Gerrard equalised with a controversially awarded penalty and after the restart the hosts were in the ascendancy once again. Nonetheless, Dzeko levelled the score on aggregate with a second potentially decisive away goal for the Citizens, before former City striker Craig Bellamy saw his exquisite strike send his new side into their first domestic cup final in six years, where he will face his hometown team Cardiff City.
After Saturday's bitterly disappointing 3-1 defeat away to Bolton Wanderers, Dalglish was scathing in his criticism of the players, declaring them unfit to wear the shirt and demanding an instant response against City. Nevertheless, the Scot only made two changes to the starting line-up from the weekend, as Downing and Kuyt replaced Maxi and Carroll respectively.
Fortunately, the players responded and produced a much-improved performance, which warranted the Wembley cup final place it secured. The Reds began dominant, Joe Hart making an excellent early stop with his legs from Enrique's stabbed close range effort before Stewart Downing flashed wildly wide. Adam's crisp strike was then well held by the England stopper, before Bellamy evaded Stefan Savic's challenge and struck goalwards, calling Hart into action once again.
It had been one-way traffic towards Joe Hart's Anfield Road end net throughout the opening exchanges, with Nasri's wayward effort the best the visitors could come up with. Nigel De Jong's world-class goal, therefore, came completely against the run of play on the half hour mark. The Dutch karate kid was stretching to even reach Silva's square pass yet somehow managed to dispatch a dipping shot past the helpless Reina and into the top corner of the net to give City the lead out of the blue.
That sucker-punch could have taken the wind out of Liverpool's sails and handed the initiative to Mancini's men, yet thankfully Dalglish's men displayed determination to regain their aggregate lead, and did so in contentious circumstances five minutes before the break.
Micah Richards blocked Agger's goalbound effort with his foot, only for it to deflect upwards and hit his hand. Referee Phil Dowd provoked outrage from the City supporters and players by pointing to the penalty spot.
Admittedly, it was a harsh decision. Although Richards was clearly risking conceding a penalty by raising his hands in the box in the manner that he did, with the benefit of TV replays it was obviously harsh to penalise Richards for such an offence. Of course, Dowd didn't have access to those replays at the time, but if the situation had been reversed and the penalty had been given against Liverpool in similar circumstances then I would have been outraged. Nevertheless, Gerrard stood up and saw his impressive strike beat Hart for pace, putting the Reds back in control of the contest.That stroke of luck gave Liverpool the impetus to come out from the half time interval reinvigorated and start the second half on top. Despite Argentine forward Sergio Aguero replacing Stefan Savic, who was clearly out of his depth, at half time, the visitors struggled to pose a serious attacking threat and remained far too open at the back for Mancini's liking.
On 47 minutes Kuyt's shot drew a decent save from Hart, before the 24-year old displayed razor-sharp reflexes to expertly tip Skrtel's goalwards prod over the bar. He than thwarted Downing's far post volley from the influential Kuyt's cross, as Liverpool continued to pile on the pressure.
By this stage, the game was beginning to resemble the League encounter here in November, as it appeared to be Joe Hart vs. Liverpool FC yet again. Frustratingly, the second half also mirrored the first, as, after dominating early on, Liverpool fell behind again on 67 minutes when Kolarov's whipped cross travelled dangerously across the face of the goal and was turned in by the unmarked Edin Dzeko at the far post.
The similarities fortunately continued further, as the home side levelled on the night and claimed the lead on aggregate with 14 minutes remaining. After Lescott had originally sliced a clearance into the stand, the resulting throw in found Kuyt, who
ran with the ball valiantly before picking out Bellamy. The ever-energetic Welsh striker neatly exchanged passes with Johnson before firing low beyond Hart and into the bottom left hand corner.
It was a well worked and fully deserved goal from the number 39, who was a constant source of menace to the City defence throughout last night's match. Alongside Dirk Kuyt, who also put in one of his best performances of the season, the pair ran City's backline ragged and reaped the rewards.With time running out City mounted their first and final assault on Reina's goal. Adam Johnson called the Spanish keeper into action before Agger intervened to block Dzeko's shot. In injury time Aguero's acrobatic effort was comfortably collected by Reina and City could muster little else, as the final whistle blew and the celebrations began.
After such a long time away from Wembley, it is fantastic to be heading down there at the first possible opportunity in the season. Throughout this exciting Carling Cup campaign Dalglish has treated the competition with plenty of respect, regularly selecting strong starting elevens and consequently recording five consecutive away victories, including at the Britannia Stadium, Stamford Bridge and Eastlands, which are all tough places to visit.
The Reds are now firm favourites to beat Cardiff City in the final and claim their eigth League Cup success in their esteemed history. They must not be complacent, though, as Arsenal were defeated in the final by Birmingham, who went on to be relegated, last season and Dalglish's men do not want to suffer the same outcome this time around.
Nevertheless, Liverpool were fantastic last night and have every reason to be optimistic ahead of the FA Cup 4th round tie with City's Manchester rivals United on Saturday.
For once, we are all happy after a home draw!
YNWA
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