Carling Cup Final: Liverpool v Cardiff Preview

The Carling Cup Final takes place this Sunday between Liverpool and Cardiff City.  The following analysis compares the two goalkeepers Tom Heaton and Pepe Reina and looks at the potential impact of Craig Bellamy, Peter Whittingham and Steven Gerrard.

CARLING CUP FINAL: CARDIFF CITY V LIVERPOOL

HEATON AND REINA – PENALTY KINGS

According to Castrol EDGE Performance data, Tom Heaton has outperformed his opposite number Pepe Reina in this year’s Carling Cup. Although both goalkeepers have conceded five goals in six appearances, Heaton has a superior shot-to-save ratio of 76% compared with Reina’s 69%, having saved 16 efforts versus Reina’s 11. Heaton has also kept three clean sheets to Reina’s two.

If this encounter were to go to penalties the outcome would most probably be determined by talented spot kick stoppers Reina and Heaton.

Heaton was the hero as Cardiff overcame Crystal Palace in a penalty shootout in the semi-finals, saving two of the four penalties he faced

Heaton in the League Cup semi-final penalty shoot-out v Crystal Palace

Opponents	Penalty taker	Shot	Outcome
Crystal Palace	Jermaine Easter	Low Right	Attempt Saved
Crystal Palace	Sean Scannell	Low Centre	Attempt Saved
Crystal Palace	Mile Jedinak	Low Left	Goal
Crystal Palace	Jonathan Parr	Close Left	Miss

Heaton has kept three clean sheets on his way to the final and will hope to add another as the Welsh side attempt to end their ‘Wembley curse’.

Liverpool’s Pepe Reina prides himself on being a renowned penalty stopper and has proven this over the years with Liverpool. He has excelled in penalty shoot outs, winning Liverpool the FA Cup in 2006 and also qualifying them for a Champions League final in the same fashion, overcoming Chelsea in a shootout at Anfield in 2007.

Pepe Reina in penalty shootouts for Liverpool

BELLAMY AND WHITTINGHAM SCORERS AND CREATORS

Castrol EDGE performance analysis shows that Craig Bellamy has been more clinical in front of goal than Luis Suárez this season in the Premier League, he converted 26% of his shots, compared to just 8% for his Uruguayan team mate.

Liverpool forwards in the Premier League 2011/12

Player	Suárez, Luis	Bellamy, Craig	Carroll, Andy
Minutes Played	1579	834	1345
Goals	6	6	3
Mins/Goal	263	139	448
Shooting Accuracy %	41.67	60.87	39.13
Shot Conversion Rate %	8.33	26.09	6.52
Assists	1	2	1
Chances Created (inc. assists)	37	28	22
Mins per Chance Created	43	30	61

Whittingham has undeniably been one of Cardiff’s key players in the Championship this season, leading their promotion charge with nine goals and 10 assists, a higher goal involvement than any other Championship midfielder according to Castrol EDGE performance analysis.

Most prolific midfielders – Championship 2011/12

GERRARD: LIVERPOOL’S LUCKY CHARM

Steven Gerrard has won four out of the five domestic cup finals he has played in for Liverpool, scoring three goals in the process. The Liverpool captain has won two FA Cups and two League Cups and will undoubtedly want to add to his impressive record.

Steven Gerrard’s five appearances in League Cup and FA Cup finals

Domestic cup	Opponent	Result	Goals
FA Cup (2001)	Arsenal	2-1	–
League Cup (2001)	Birmingham	1-1(5-4 on pens)	–
League Cup (2003)	Manchester United	2-0	1
League Cup (2005)	Chelsea	2-3 (a.e.t).	–
FA Cup (2006)	West Ham	3-3 (3-1 on pens)	2

Gerrard has also played in two Champions League finals, scoring in 2005 when Liverpool beat Milan on penalties (3-3; 3-2 on pens), and appearing in the 2007 defeat to the same team (2-1). The midfielder also scored in the UEFA Cup final victory over Alaves (5-4 aet) meaning that Liverpool have won every major final that Gerrard has scored in.