Kennedy eyes cup momentum
Alan Kennedy believes a win against Cardiff at Wembley on Sunday would stand Liverpool in good stead for the challenges ahead in the remainder of 2011-12.
Kennedy is no stranger to picking up the League Cup in Liverpool colours, having done so in four consecutive outings during the early 1980s, and he knows all about the impetus a trophy win can instil in a side.
With Kenny Dalglish's men still going strong in the FA Cup and just four points outside a Champions League spot, the former Reds full-back is convinced that success will breed success for the team.
"You get momentum from picking up a trophy," Kennedy said. "This Liverpool team still have a lot to play for this season. Beating Cardiff would be a big boost and stand them in good stead for the challenges ahead.
"With Stoke at home in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, they've got a great chance of going on to win that cup as well. Winning the Carling Cup would also improve our chances of finishing fourth in the league."
Kennedy's name was on the teamsheet for all four of Liverpool's League Cup Wembley appearances between 1981 and 1984.
The man from Sunderland even netted crucial goals in two of those encounters, striking against West Ham in extra-time of Liverpool's first-ever League Cup win in 1981 and then cancelling out a Norman Whiteside opener against Manchester United in 1983.
And he was keen to point out that the secret behind Bob Paisley's successes 30 years ago was showing respect to the competition and the opposition - a tradition Kennedy believes current manager Dalglish has strongly upheld throughout this campaign.
"Whenever we played in this competition we took it very seriously and it's been great to see Kenny and his players do the same this season," said Kennedy. "The reward for putting out strong teams throughout is a trip to Wembley.
"Liverpool are just emerging as a very good team at this moment in time. They have a lot of good players and should do the business on Sunday. But Cardiff shouldn't be underestimated. They will come and give it a good go. They have nothing to lose. If we aren't up for it there could be a shock on the cards."