Ian Ayre: That was for the fans
Ian Ayre dedicated our Carling Cup win to the fans who stuck by the club through the turbulent period since we last won a trophy in 2006.
The supporters have seen Liverpool taken over twice since our FA Cup triumph in Cardiff six years ago - with all the ups and downs that has entailed.
But now, 18 months since John Henry and Tom Werner arrived at Anfield, the club is back to winning ways.
Managing director Ayre, who sat alongside the duo as Liverpool clinched the trophy on penalties, told Liverpoolfc.tv: "It was great to see the fans after such a turbulent time over the last three or four years. Since 2006 there's not really been anything to celebrate and so this is a great day for our fans. They have stuck with us through the most difficult times and difficult years.
"After the takeover just over a year ago you need a bit of time. New players, new manager - and to see it all come together today is fantastic for everyone.
"For someone to come in during a pretty distressed situation and invest what they have and keep the faith, they deserve this and even more than this. They put so much into it.
"I'm really pleased for them. To see them smiling, and they now understand what extra-time and penalties means!"
Liverpool still have the FA Cup and top four to play for this term, and Ayre hopes winning the first available trophy in 2011-12 will provide the momentum required to succeed on both those fronts.
He said: "We've always said that the most important thing is that we keep progressing. In the last couple of months we've seemed to progress. We've had some good results in this competition and in the league and FA Cup.
"To progress from this? Winning other trophies is what that means, I guess. We're guaranteed a place in Europe now, which is where we belong, and we can now try to push on in the FA Cup and try to get into the Champions League. As long as we keep progressing, that's what we've always said."
Though he now spends more time in the boardroom than on the Kop, Ayre has been a Liverpool fan all his life.
On how the supporter in him coped with another final decided on penalties, he added: "It definitely wasn't the easiest of afternoons to watch. We're all getting on and if there are many more heart-stopping moments like that then we won't be in good shape. But it was the right result in the end.
"We always do it. The only one we made easy was when we beat Manchester United (in 2003). It was just one of those Liverpool finals. But to come back and then still keep going after a couple of penalties were missed, it says a lot about everybody. It's a very Liverpool thing.
"Someone asked me today how many times I've been to Wembley and I think it's nine or 10 - but I've never been in a suit! But it doesn't change the emotion. I feel very proud to be the MD at a cup final and for us to win."