A history of LFC's League Cup finals: 2003 and 2005

Liverpool 2-0 Manchester United - March 2, 2003 - Millennium Stadium, Cardiff

Liverpool claimed their seventh League Cup honour with a 2-0 victory over arch-rivals Manchester United in Cardiff back in March 2003.

The Reds prevailed in the final having taken a difficult road to reach it. They required penalties to see off Ipswich Town in the fourth round before snatching a last-minute 4-3 victory away to Aston Villa in the quarter-final.

A two-legged affair with First Division side Sheffield United was set up in the semi-finals and Gerard Houllier’s team overturned a one-goal deficit to win 2-0 at Anfield in the second leg and book a date at the Millennium Stadium once again.

Steven Gerrard’s 39th-minute strike took a deflection off David Beckham to loop over Fabien Barthez in the United goal and give the Reds a lead in the final.

While at the other end, Jerzy Dudek put in a brilliant performance to deny the Red Devils with a number of crucial saves.

Liverpool secured the win when Michael Owen scored four minutes from time after a rapid counter-attack. 

Dudek’s performance drew plaudits from both sides of the bench with his Man of the Match display - coming just a few months after a costly error against United in the league at Anfield.

Houllier said: “I told Jerzy three days ago 'I can feel you will be the hero. You were too unlucky when we played them'. Today he was Man of the Match.

“But football can be like that. Sometimes you can be at the bottom and then be a hero again. I just had a feeling. I'm a great believer that when you have the right attitude everything else follows.”

Liverpool 2-3 Chelsea - February 27, 2005 - Millennium Stadium, Cardiff

Rafael Benitez’s first cup final with Liverpool ended in disappointment as his side were defeated by Chelsea in the 2005 League Cup.

Jose Mourinho’s men beat the Reds 3-2 in a thriller at the Millennium Stadium.

It all started so well in Cardiff for Liverpool as John Arne Riise scored the quickest-ever goal in a League Cup final with a trademark thunderbolt after 45 seconds to put his team one up.

But Steven Gerrard’s own-goal in the 79th minute forced extra-time, where Chelsea - the eventual league champions - would go on to assert their dominance. 

Mourinho was sent to the stands following his reaction to the equaliser but despite his absence on the sideline, Didier Drogba and Mateja Kezman netted in the second half of extra-time to give the Blues a two-goal cushion.

Spaniard Antonio Nunez then grabbed one back but he and his teammates were unable to level in the limited time remaining.

Despite the result, Benitez was proud of the display from his charges after the game and said: “I say to the players we must be proud because we played a good game.

“Chelsea controlled the game when they started playing, but we re-organised the team with three midfielders and had some opportunities.”

The Reds would go on to get their revenge a few months later by beating Chelsea over two legs to reach the Champions League final.