Liverpool still on course for their ninth League Cup trophy

01 December 2016 09:22

Premier League contenders Liverpool secured a semi-final spot in this seasons EFL Cup with a 2-0 victory of Championship giants Leeds United at Anfield with late goals from Divock Origi and teenager Ben Woodburn who eclipsed Michael Owen as Liverpool's youngest goalscorer, to keep Jurgen Klopp on track for his first trophy in English football.

The Anfield club will be face Southampton in the semi’s after the south coast club defeated Arsenal at the Emirates. They could meet their northwest rivals Manchester United in the final at Wembley if Mourinho’s men can overcome Hull City in the other semi.

Liverpool hold the record for most wins in EFL Cup finals with 8 in 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1995, 2001, 2003 and 2012. They have also been runners-up 4 times in 1978, 1987, 2005 and 2016 where Manuel Pellegrini picked up his last trophy with Manchester City after a penalty shootout.

The closest sides to this record haul are Aston Villa and Chelsea with 5 wins each. Rivals Manchester United are joined on 4 EFL trophy’s with Tottenham, Nottingham Forest and holders Manchester City.

Despite the 8 EFL Cup titles Liverpool didn’t manage to pick up the trophy until the competition was in its 21st year. They beat West Ham 2-1 in a replay at Villa Park with a sublime goal from Kop idol Kenny Dalglish and the winner coming from unlikely hero Alan Hansen.

Liverpool’s won the cup 4 years on the trot after their initial success. The first 3 of those victories were under the legendary manager Bob Paisley. The trophy back then was known as the Football League Milk cup due to sponsorship by the Milk Marketing Board, the first major trophy to be sponsored in English football.

Here is a list of Liverpool’s League Cup final wins:

1980-81 Liverpool 2-1 West Ham United (Replay)

1981-82 Liverpool 3-1 Tottenham (AET)

1982-83 Liverpool 2-1 Manchester United (AET)

1983-84 Liverpool 1-0 Everton (Replay)

1994-95 Liverpool 2-1 Bolton

2000-01 Liverpool 1-1 (5-4) Birmingham (Penalties)

2002-03 Liverpool 2-0 Manchester United

2011-12 Liverpool 2-2 (3-2) Cardiff (Penalties)

Source: DSG