Season - Semi-Finals

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- Gerrard delighted by Wembley prospect
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard is delighted at the prospect of leading out his side at Wembley, after they saw off Manchester City in the semi-finals. The England midfielder said: "We're delighted to go to Wembley. It's been too long for a major cup final for this club so I'm really happy for our supporters. We had a lot of cup finals at Cardiff, but it's extra special going to Wembley. I've been dreaming of doing it for Liverpool and now that it's here I'm really looking forward to it, but there are a lot of big games before that."

- Liverpool win for the fans
Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish dedicated his team's progress to the Carling Cup final to the club's fans after a difficult period. He said: "It's not been the best times and it's a fantastic reward for the supporters that have stood by us. And it's a fantastic reward for the new owners, it's their first final. For everybody connected with the club, it's a great reward. If the players have been the ones who have pushed us over the line by the performance and the result tonight, then every single one of the other people we have mentioned have helped us."

- Dalglish: We deserved to win
Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish said his side deserved to win their semi-final tie against Manchester City over the two legs, reaching their first Carling Cup final since 2005. He said: "I think it was a great spectacle for everybody and I think overall we deserved to win. Joe Hart put in a fantastic performance which wasn't pleasing for us but must have been very pleasing for them. The attitude and commitment we showed when going behind both times and coming back to get on level terms was fantastic."

- Mancini bemoans penalty decision
Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini criticised referee Phil Dowd for awarding Liverpool a first half penalty and failing to award City one in their semi-final second leg. The Italian said: "It was impossible that it was a penalty. Micah can't cut off his arm because the ball touched his leg before. It's impossible to concede a penalty like this and not give one with Edin Dzeko. I am 200% sure it was a penalty. We were very unlucky for this moment with the referee."

- Liverpool set up Cardiff clash
Liverpool will return to Wembley for the first time since 1996 as they beat Manchester City 3-2 on aggregate to reach the 2012 Carling Cup final, where they will play Cardiff. City got themselves back on terms thanks to Nigel de Jong's right foot shot, but Liverpool edged back ahead when Steven Gerrard converted from the penalty spot. Edin Dzeko thought he had put City through to Wembley, but Craig Bellamy was the matchwinner, curling home after a neat one-two in the box with Glen Johnson.

- Liverpool aim for Wembley
Liverpool will be looking to reach a Wembley final for the first time since 1996, as they take a 1-0 advantage in to their second leg clash with Manchester City at Anfield. Boss Kenny Dalglish said: "We have a slight advantage, we just need to go into the game and compete. The punters will be turning up, there'll be loads of support for us but we need to do something that's going to get the supporters on our side. We can't always leave it for them to lift us, sometimes we need to lift them. They've got to see that we're up to put in a tremendous effort on Wednesday night to get a result for the club."

- Dalglish looking for Liverpool response
Liverpool go in to their semi-final clash with Manchester City with words of criticism ringing in their ears from boss Kenny Dalglish. The Reds were beaten 3-1 by Bolton at the weekend, and Dalglish questioned the attitude and approach of his players. He said: "I think what was said had to be said. I don't think anyone can object to the fact that we never played anything like we're capable of."

- Heaton: It was a great night
Cardiff hero Tom Heaton said it was a great night for the club after his penalty saves put them in to the Carling Cup final. He said: "It's a great night for Cardiff City. I was a spectator for much of the game and when I got involved it was great to play a part in getting us to Wembley. We played some great football tonight and made some great chances and kept going, and that's a sign of where the team are, we didn't give up and there was still a great feeling that it was going to be our night."

- Freedman proud despite exit
Crystal Palace boss Dougie Freedman said he was proud of his team's performance, despite their semi-final exit to Cardiff. He said: "Obviously I'm disappointed with the outcome but the lads were tremendous, we've won a lot of hearts on the back of that performance. Cardiff are an outstanding team, never mind we'd only got 10 men, but we came at them. We've come a long way in such a short space of time. We've taken a lot from this and hopefully will move on quickly."

- Mackay delighted with 'keeper heroics
Cardiff manager Malky Mackay was delighted with goalkeeper Tom Heaton, following his penalty heroics which helped see off Crystal Palace. Heaton saved two spotkicks as Cardiff prevailed 3-1 on penalties. Mackay said: "Considering the first leg, maybe there was a bit of justice. We beat someone else on penalties in the competition. The guys who took the penalties had a steely nerve and determination, and I'm absolutely delighted for Tom Heaton, who has been our cup goalkeeper."

- Cardiff through to Wembley
Cardiff booked their spot in the 2012 Carling Cup final with a 3-1 win on penalties against Crystal Palace. An early own goal from Anthony Gardner cancelled out the lead he had given Palace in the first leg, and despite a glut of chances, Cardiff couldn't find a way through. Palace even survived the sending off of Paddy McCarthy 12 minutes before the end of normal time, and held on to force the game to penalties. Tom Heaton was the hero as he saved two spotkicks, to help the Championship reach the final, where they will face either Liverpool or Manchester City.

- Freedman takes pop at Cardiff
Crystal Palace manager Dougie Freedman has lit the blue touch paper ahead of their Carling Cup semi-final second leg against Cardiff, with Bluebirds boss Malky Mackay admitting part of his team talk is already done. Palace take a 1-0 lead to South Wales for the second leg, and Freedman said: "They and their supporters must be scared stiff of failure. [Cardiff] know only too well what it is like to fall at the last hurdle. I've seen Cardiff fall just short so many times over the past few seasons."

- Mancini and Gerrard clash over tackle
Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini and Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard were involved in a war of words over Glen Johnson's tackle on Joleon Lescott towards the end of their first leg clash. Gerrard said to Mancini: "You say to the press that Wayne Rooney tried to get Kompany sent off - and you try to get Johnson sent off." Mancini retorted: "I say what I want."

- Liverpool pinch away victory
Steven Gerrard's penalty gave Liverpool a priceless 1-0 victory at Manchester City in their semi-final first leg. Gerrard converted from the spot after 12 minutes when Stefan Savic brought down Daniel Agger in the box. Liverpool then managed to hold out for the rest of the match to take a one goal advantage in to the second leg at Anfield on January 25th.

- Mackay angry at disallowed goal
Cardiff boss Malky Mackay criticised referee Mike Dean for ruling out an equaliser in the second half of their defeat to Crystal Palace. Kenny Miller headed home in the 59th minute but Dean had already blown for a foul on Palace goalkeeper Julian Speroni. Mackay said: "He's had an absolute howler. Anyone that will see the pictures will probably tell you that. Not one of our players has gone anywhere near the goalkeeper, which is what he's suggested the foul was for.

- Freedman confident of progress
Crystal Palace boss Dougie Freedman says he is confident his side can reach the Carling Cup final, after they won the first leg 1-0. He said: "It might be the crucial goal. We have a team set up to win away from home. We'll go there quietly confident and it'll be a very interesting game."

- First blood to Palace
Anthony Gardner's first half goal was enough to give Crystal Palace a slender advantage over Cardiff in their Carling Cup semi-final. Gardner headed in to an empty net after Tom Heaton had misjudged Darren Ambrose's free-kick, and they take the one goal lead to the second leg at Cardiff in a fortnight's time.

- Championship sides out to win
Crystal Palace v Cardiff will be the eighth League Cup semi-final between two non-top flight sides and the first since 2000, when Tranmere knocked out Bolton on penalties after a 1-1 draw on aggregate. The last team to win the League Cup from outside the top flight was Sheffield Wednesday in 1991.

- Illness worries for Freedman
Crystal Palace boss Dougie Freedman fears a sickness bug could disrupt his Carling Cup plans after he was forced to play a weakened team in the FA Cup at Derby. Freedman said: "Now we have to tread carefully over the next couple of days and try and stop the virus spreading, that's my main concern."

- City and Liverpool ready for crunch
Liverpool have reached 13 League Cup semi-finals, triumphing in seven of the first-legs and progressing to the final on 10 occasions. In comparison, Manchester City have appeared in six League Cup semi-finals, proceeding to the final on three occasions.

- Cardiff raring to go
Cardiff manager Malky Mackay is expecting a tough tie against Crystal Palace, but admits that Wembley is at the back of everyone's minds. He said: "The boys are in good spirits and ready to go. We'll make sure we go there and give a good account of ourselves. I've not been in any capacity to Wembley before and it's something that's in the back of everyone's mind obviously. It's a great achievement for the Championship in general because of the nature of the competition and [the] amount of teams who have, certainly in the latter rounds, put out strong teams."

- McNaughton back for semi-final clash
Cardiff City will have defender Kevin McNaughton available for their Carling Cup semi-final first leg at Crystal Palace on Tuesday. McNaughton has been suffering with a calf injury but has been declared fit for the tie at Selhurst Park.

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- Semi-Final Dates Decided
The dates for the Carling Cup semi-finals have been confirmed:

1st Legs
Crystal Palace v Cardiff City – Tuesday 10th January 2012 kick-off 8.00pm SKY

Manchester City v Liverpool – Wednesday 11th January 2012 kick-off 7.45pm BBC1


2nd Legs
Cardiff City v Crystal Palace – Tuesday 24th January 2012 kick-off 7.45pm BBC2

Liverpool v Manchester City – Wednesday 25th January 2012 kick-off 7.45pm SKY

- Carling Cup Semi-Final Draw
Crystal Palace v Cardiff City
Manchester City v Liverpool

The semi-finals will be played over two legs.
First leg - week commencing 9th January.
Second leg - week commencing 23rd January.

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