FEB 26: CARLING CUP FINAL

Wembley, Sunday, 4.0 (live Sky Sports and BBC1)

MY match of the day piece on the newsletter was always on the Carling Cup Final so apologies if you already know my predictions.

Liverpool v Cardiff is battle of the Scots bosses and I reckon Kenny Dalglish will get the better of Malky Mackay, another ex-Celtic player.

King Kenny is desperate to reign and will add to his legendary status at Anfield if he hands the club their first trophy since 2006.

A 6-1 thrashing of Brighton in the FA Cup last weekend was the perfect warm-up for the Wembley showpiece. It promises to be hard-fought but the Welsh have been out of form and don't boast the sort of quality Dalglish has at his disposal.

Coral make Liverpool 4-9 to win in 90 minutes and 1-6 with bet365 and Paddy Power to lift the Cup. Cardiff, who didn't beat anyone of great significance to make it to the Final, are 17-2 at BetVictor to triumph in normal time and 9-2 with Ladbrokes and Paddy Power on the outright market.

Hopefully there will be goals between two sides who like to attack – but who will bag the opener? It would just be like Luis Suarez (9-2, William Hill, BetVictor) to bag the opener after a season of turmoil.

But if he starts I'll be on Wales striker Craig Bellamy who will revel in the wide open spaces of Wembley. Cardiff fan Bellamy is 6-1 at William Hill and BetVictor.

Another Reds star to consider is skipper and penalty taker Steven Gerrard who is 7-1 at William Hill and BetVictor. Cardiff's dangerman will be Kenny Miller (14-1,unibet, anytime 7-2) while free-kick expert Peter Whittingham is always worth a shout as anytime scorer at 5-1 with Skybet.

Finals are usually nervy affairs with not too many goals and under 2.5 pays 5-6 at Skybet as does over 2.5.

And if anyone fancies Cardiff they can be taken plus two goals at 4-6 with Skybet.

Recommendations

Bellamy to score first

(6-1, William Hill, BetVictor)

Under 2.5 goals

(5-6, Skybet)

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