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Liverpool’s eight League Cup wins: From Souness, Dalglish and Hansen to Owen and Gerrard

Graeme Souness, Kenny Dalglish and Alan Hansen celebrate League Cup final glory in 1983

A look back on past triumphs as the Reds seek to win the trophy for a record ninth time when they take on Chelsea in Sunday’s Carabao Cup final at Wembley.

Liverpool and Manchester City are once again battling it out for title glory this season but it's not the only table the two northern giants dominate.

This weekend Liverpool will bid for a record ninth victory in the League Cup when they take on Chelsea in the final at Wembley.

Ahead of the game, the Reds share first place with City on the competition's list of all-time winners.
City pulled level on eight wins after lifting the trophy (Carabao the latest sponsor) in each of the last four seasons, a run finally ended when West Ham got the better of them in a penalty shootout back in October.

That haul of eight apiece for Liverpool and Man City puts them three clear of any other club. Aston Villa, Manchester United and Chelsea come next with five.

City are clearly the modern-day kings of the League Cup but they aren't the only side to have won it four times on the spin.

The other? Yep, that would be Liverpool back in the early 80s.

Jurgen Klopp has already gone a long way to reviving those glory years by winning the Premier League and the Champions League in the past few seasons.

Now he has the opportunity to continue that process by throwing in a League Cup as well.
And the fact that a win would put them above City in the all-time list could just be a little wink of the eye that Liverpool are coming for them in the title race too.
Here's how Liverpool put those eight League Cups on the board:

1981 - Liverpool 2-1 West Ham (replay)

The first Wembley encounter was goalless at full-time before Liverpool's Alan Kennedy finally broke the deadlock in the 118th minute. Sammy Lee was offside and interfering with play but Clive Thomas, never one to shy away from controversy, allowed the goal to stand.

However, Ray Stewart's last-gasp penalty shortly after saved the day for West Ham and they took the lead in the replay at Villa Park when Paul Goddard netted after just 10 minutes.

But Liverpool responded in style. Kenny Dalglish levelled on 25 with a superb hooked volley and Alan Hansen's deflected header just three minutes later proved the winner as the Reds landed their first League Cup.

1982 - Liverpool 3-1 Tottenham (after extra-time)

Liverpool reached the final again 12 months later but their grip on the trophy looked to have ended when Steve Archibald's strike in the 11th minute looked to have won it for Spurs as the clock ticked down.

But youngster Ronnie Whelan made a name for himself by first netting the equaliser with three minutes remaining before putting Bob Paisley's men ahead in the second period of added time from close range.

Ian Rush put the issue beyond doubt by slotting home a third a minute from the end, his eighth of that season's competition.

1983 - Liverpool 2-1 Manchester United (after extra-time)

The Reds completed the hat-trick in similar style to their second win after coming from behind and sealing the job in extra-time.

Youngster Norman Whiteside fired great rivals United ahead in the 12th minute but Alan Kennedy - so often the man for a key goal in a final - lashed in an equaliser from outside the area 15 minutes from time.

Ronnie Whelan, the hero from a year earlier, worked his League Cup magic again by curling in a brilliant winner from the edge of the area. Liverpool allowed the retiring Bob Paisley to collect the trophy, the last of his 19 major prizes as manager of the Reds.

1984 - Liverpool 1-0 Everton (replay)

Liverpool made it an amazing four-timer against local rivals Everton although, yet again, they needed more than 90 minutes to secure glory in what was then the Milk Cup final.

The first meeting at Wembley ended 0-0 although Everton insisted they should have had a penalty when Alan Hansen handled Adrian Heath's shot on the line.
The replay at Manchester City's former ground, Maine Road, was again a tight, dour affair but Liverpool came out on top and secured bragging rights when skipper Graeme Souness lashed home from outside the area on 21 minutes. Everton couldn't respond.

1995 - Liverpool 2-1 Bolton

After losing the 1987 final to Arsenal, Liverpool added a fifth title 11 years on from their fourth by beating surprise packages Bolton, who were then competing in the second tier.

Emerging talent Steve McManaman was the Reds' hero with two memorable goals, showing his mesmeric dribbling skills with both to put Liverpool in front on 37 before adding a second on 68.

Alan Thompson turned and thumped home a response soon after but McManaman's double gave new boss Roy Evans his first and only trophy for the club.

2001 - Liverpool 1-1 Birmingham (Reds won 5-4 on penalties)

Cardiff's Millennium Stadium played host and again Liverpool faced a side from the second tier in the final. Once more, the drama was elongated as the Merseysiders landed the first trophy of a treble-winning season which saw them add the FA Cup and UEFA Cup.

Robbie Fowler's spectacular dipping volley from 25 yards put the Reds in front on 30 but they couldn't find a second and Birmingham stunned them with a last-minute equaliser as Darren Purse slotted home from the spot after Stephane Henchoz had fouled Martin O'Connor.

Extra-time couldn't separate the teams but Liverpool held their nerve in a shootout. Didi Hamann missed their fourth kick after Martin Grainger failed with Birmingham's first but Gary McAllister, Nick Barmby, Christian Ziege, Fowler and Jamie Carragher all converted and Sander Westerveld kept out Andy Johnson's effort to give Gerrard Houllier his first trophy as Liverpool boss.

2003 - Liverpool 2-0 Manchester United

A replay of the 1983 final, although this time at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, and Liverpool prevailed against their fierce rivals once more.

Steven Gerrard's piledriver from 25 yards in the 39th minute put Liverpool in front, the ball taking a deflection en route to goal, but man-of-the-match Jerzy Dudek had to pull off a string of saves to keep Gerard Houllier's men in front.

Sir Alex Ferguson's side kept pushing but Liverpool caught them on the break and Didi Hamann slid in Michael Owen to smash a clinching second goal with four minutes remaining.

2012 - Liverpool 2-2 Cardiff (Reds won 3-2 on penalties)

Continuing past themes from previous finals, Liverpool faced another team from the second tier and gave their fans more chewed fingernails by not getting the job done in 90 minutes.

Playing their first League Cup final at Wembley since 1995, the Reds went behind in the 19th minute to a Ryan Mason goal which they wiped out in the 60th minute when Luis Suarez's header hit the post and defender Martin Skrtel followed up to make it 1-1.

Kenny Dalglish, in his second spell as Liverpool boss, sent Dirk Kuyt on as a substitute and it paid off as the Dutchman put the favourites in front in extra-time but two minutes before the end Ben Turner pulled Cardiff level.

In a chaotic penalty shootout, Steven Gerrard and Charlie Adam missed Liverpool's first two kicks but Kenny Miller and Rudy Gestede failed for Cardiff. Kuyt, Stewart Downing and Glen Johnson all converted and Liverpool celebrated victory when Anthony Gerrard, the cousin of Reds skipper Steven, hit his penalty wide of Pepe Reina's right-hand post.

READ MORE: Jurgen Klopp plays down Liverpool's chances of catching Manchester City

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