Liverpool are through to the Carling Cup final after a pulsating 2-2 draw with Manchester City at Anfield on Wednesday night gave them a 3-2 aggregate victory.

It was no more than the Reds deserved for a lively performance and they can now look forward to contesting their first major final since 2007 against Cardiff City at Wembley in February.

With Liverpool leading 1-0 from the first leg, Nigel de Jong levelled the aggregate scoreline just after the half-hour mark when he found the back of the net from distance with the visitors' first real effort on goal following a dominant opening from the hosts.

But Liverpool went back ahead in the tie on 41 minutes when Steven Gerrard scored with a penalty after Micah Richards was adjudged to have blocked a Daniel Agger shot inside the box with his hand.

The home side continued to press after the break, but it was City who struck next with Edin Dzeko netting from close range on 67 minutes.

However, Liverpool went back in front on aggregate soon after when the excellent Craig Bellamy netted following a well-worked move with 16 minutes remaining to win the tie.

The pre-match team news confirmed two changes for Liverpool from the side that began Saturday's disappointing defeat at Bolton Wanderers, with Dirk Kuyt and Stewart Downing coming in for Andy Carroll and Maxi Rodriguez.

A fervent atmosphere inside Anfield greeted kick-off as the home fans attempted to re-enact some of the many legendary nights that are synonymous with the club's long and illustrious history.

With a place at Wembley at stake - a stadium Liverpool haven't played at since 1996 - and the chance to contest the first major final of the 2011-12 season against Championship opposition, the Kop were in full battle cry as referee Phil Dowd sounded the whistle for kick-off.

Gerrard's early penalty at the Eithad Stadium a fortnight ago had given Kenny Dalglish's side a one-goal advantage heading into the return meeting - and the talk coming out of Melwood suggested the Reds would be setting out to try and build on that lead.

That was certainly evident in the opening exchanges and they almost made a breakthrough inside four minutes when Jose Enrique was the recipient of a wayward clearance from Aleksandar Kolarov inside the City box. The Spaniard's first-time stab was blocked by the legs of Joe Hart and Downing lashed the rebound wide.

Charlie Adam was next to try his luck, connecting with the ball crisply to send a right-foot strike towards the bottom corner, but the visitors' 'keeper was able to collect. The best Roberto Mancini's side could conjure in the opening 10 minutes was a wayward effort from Samir Nasri.

Liverpool were performing at a higher tempo to their guests and Hart was again called into action on 21 minutes when Bellamy scampered past a challenge from Stefan Savic and struck goalwards, but his effort was parried by City's man between the sticks.

It had been one-way traffic, but totally against the run of play City restored parity in the tie on 31 minutes.

De Jong collected David Silva's pass in space 30 yards from goal and strode forward before dispatching a dipping shot into the top corner of the Kop end goal.

Their joy was to be short lived, however, as with five minutes remaining of the first half the Reds deservedly drew level on the night from the penalty spot. Richards's block on Agger's shot inside a crowded box saw the ball strike his hand, and referee Dowd showed no hesitation in pointing to the spot.

Gerrard stepped up to do the honours and duly converted to put his side 2-1 ahead on aggregate and rule out the possibility of a penalty shootout and send the home side down the tunnel the happier of the two teams at half-time.

Liverpool were the first to threaten in the second period when Kuyt's shot from a poor City clearance was blocked by Hart before the visiting custodian displayed razor-sharp reflexes to tip Martin Skrtel's prod over the bar.

The England goalkeeper was at it again soon after, thwarting international teammate Downing's back-post volley.

But just as in the first half, the Reds were hit by a sucker punch on 67 minutes when Kolarov's whipped cross travelled across the face of goal before being tucked in by Dzeko at the back post.

Liverpool refused to let their spirits drop and regained their advantage with 16 minutes remaining.

Kuyt's pass into the box picked out the ever-lively Bellamy, who played a swift one-two with Glen Johnson to outfox Richards before firing low beyond Hart.

It was enough to give Liverpool the aggregate victory, and they'll now have the chance to end a six-year wait for a trophy against Cardiff in the Wembley showpiece next month.

Liverpoolfc.tv man of the match: Craig Bellamy