- Carling Cup final
Final is win-win for Bellamy
Craig Bellamy wants to taste Carling Cup final glory with Liverpool and see opponents Cardiff use the match as a springboard to promotion.
Bellamy, who joined Liverpool for a second time last summer on a free transfer from Manchester City, spent the 2010-11 season on loan at Cardiff City - the club he watched as a boy and who are supported by his father.
The Wales international is of course firmly hoping he will taste the champagne with his Liverpool team-mates at the end of the match at Wembley, but he hopes defeat will prove to be a positive in the long term for a Cardiff side desperate to earn a place in the Premier League alongside arch rivals Swansea City.
"It has been an incredible run for them over the years, to reach an FA Cup final and play-off final,'' Bellamy said of a Cardiff side which lost the 2008 FA Cup final to Portsmouth. "With the transfer embargoes and the problems they have had financially they are not a Liverpool - it is hard work and I saw last year how hard it can be.
"Things like strappings weren't paid for and when I needed treatment I had to pay for it myself. That is just the resources at a club like Cardiff, it can be a real struggle at times. For them to reach this stage I feel is more reward for them because for us at Liverpool we've won this seven times and it is just another opportunity to add to this incredible club's history.
"How many times have we won the European Cup? Five times. It is just endless to what we have been able to achieve. It is great for Cardiff as they have a lot of people who work hard day in day out - which obviously we do at this club.
"So a big part of me hopes this affects Cardiff in the right way and they are able to gain momentum in years to come from this experience. But selfishly I hope it is a narrow win for us and I play no part in the winning goal.''
© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
Live Sports
Communication error please reload the page.
-
Football
-
Cricket
-
Rugby
-
- Days
- Hrs
- Mins
- Secs
F1 - Abu Dhabi GP
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix December 11-13
1. Max Verstappen ()
2. Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes)
3. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
4. Alexander Albon ()
5. Lando Norris ()
6. Carlos Sainz Jr ()
-
ESPNOtherLive >>
Golf - Houston Open
Snooker - China Open
Tennis - Miami Open
Premier League 2020/21
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Man City | 38 | 27 | 5 | 6 | +51 | 86 |
| 2 | Man United | 38 | 21 | 11 | 6 | +29 | 74 |
| 3 | Liverpool | 38 | 20 | 9 | 9 | +26 | 69 |
| 4 | Chelsea | 38 | 19 | 10 | 9 | +22 | 67 |
| 5 | Leicester | 38 | 20 | 6 | 12 | +18 | 66 |
| 6 | West Ham | 38 | 19 | 8 | 11 | +15 | 65 |
| 7 | Tottenham | 38 | 18 | 8 | 12 | +23 | 62 |
| 8 | Arsenal | 38 | 18 | 7 | 13 | +16 | 61 |
| 9 | Leeds | 38 | 18 | 5 | 15 | +8 | 59 |
| 10 | Everton | 38 | 17 | 8 | 13 | -1 | 59 |
| 11 | Aston Villa | 38 | 16 | 7 | 15 | +9 | 55 |
| 12 | Newcastle | 38 | 12 | 9 | 17 | -16 | 45 |
| 13 | Wolves | 38 | 12 | 9 | 17 | -16 | 45 |
| 14 | Crystal Pal | 38 | 12 | 8 | 18 | -25 | 44 |
| 15 | Southampton | 38 | 12 | 7 | 19 | -21 | 43 |
| 16 | Brighton | 38 | 9 | 14 | 15 | -6 | 41 |
| 17 | Burnley | 38 | 10 | 9 | 19 | -22 | 39 |
| 18 | Fulham | 38 | 5 | 13 | 20 | -26 | 28 |
| 19 | West Brom | 38 | 5 | 11 | 22 | -41 | 26 |
| 20 | Sheff United | 38 | 7 | 2 | 29 | -43 | 23 |
