Reds headed to Wembley

Liverpool ended a 16-year wait for a return to Wembley as they drew 2-2 with Manchester City to secure a 3-2 aggregate success and set up a Carling Cup final against Cardiff next month.

Former City striker Craig Bellamy was the hero for the team he rejoined in August, scoring the decisive goal 16 minutes from time. The Wales international played a pivotal role throughout and will now face another former club - and city of his birth - Cardiff, as the Reds seek to end a trophy drought dating back to 2006.

Watching Liverpool owner John Henry will hope it is the start of a revival at the club he bought almost 18 months ago. Roberto Mancini's City may have loftier ambitions as they currently top the Barclays Premier League but their approach to overturning a 1-0 first-leg deficit could have been more emphatic.

They scored twice at Anfield but they were far from at their devastating best and Liverpool created more chances and could have won by a more convincing margin.

However, had it not been for referee Phil Dowd generously awarding a penalty to allow Steven Gerrard to equalise late in the first half, the course of the match could have been different.

Nigel de Jong had put his side ahead on the night and, even after Gerrard's strike, Edin Dzeko's goal looked like taking the second leg into extra time before Bellamy's intervention.