03 League cup legends

League Cup legends

League Cup legends

Celebrating the men who made all the difference in the final

Since 1990 the Football League has presented the Alan Hardaker Trophy to the 'Man of the Match' at the League Cup final. The trophy is named after the League's former secretary who conceived the competition and oversaw its launch in 1960. Here are the Reds who have helped LFC become the most successful team in the tournament...


Kenny Dalglish

1981 – Kenny Dalglish It may have been before the 'official' Man of the Match was awarded but Kenny Dalglish received the nod in the Press for his part in the replay victory against West Ham at Villa Park which saw the Reds win the trophy for the first time. A menace to the Hammers defence, the Scot capped his display with a brilliantly volley to open the scoring.


Ronnie Whelan

1982 – Ronnie Whelan Ronnie Whelan was the man of the moment in 1982, driving home a late leveller to take the final against Tottenham into extra-time. He was then on hand to drill home the second after being teed up by Kenny Dalglish.


1983 – Ronnie Whelan The Irishman received the nod again for his brilliant winner against Manchester United. Surely one of Liverpool FC's best-ever League Cup goals, Whelan's quick thinking and fine execution saw him net a brilliant curling shot to make it a hat-trick of League Cup triumphs for the Reds.

Graeme Souness

1984 – Graeme Souness 'Souey' was Liverpool FC's captain fantastic in the all-Merseyside final, leading by example and scoring a fine winning goal as the Reds edged out Everton in a Maine Road replay.

1995 – Steve McManaman Steve McManaman's influence on the final as such that most people now remember this game as 'the McManaman final'. His skills bedazzled Bolton as he scored a couple of brilliant solo strikes as Liverpool FC won it five times.

2001 – Robbie Fowler A brilliant dipping volley from Robbie Fowler illuminated this final against Birmingham and the Reds' number nine was later named the official Man of the Match. Fowler also kept his composure to net one of the Reds penalties in the successful shoot-out that saw them see off Birmingham's challenge.


2003 – Jerzy Dudek Jerzy was named as the best player on the pitch after making a string of saves as Liverpool FC defeated Manchester United 2-0 at Cardiff. Just a couple of months earlier the big Pole in goal had been culpable in a league defeat against United and only regained his place in the team following an injury to Chris Kirkland. It would not be the only time he would star for the Reds in a major final!

Jerzy Dudek

2012 – Stewart Downing The Reds winger became the 23rd recipient of the Alan Hardaker trophy with a fine performance that stretched the Cardiff City defence on many occasions n this final which went all the way. Always looking to stretch the Bluebirds' back-line, he led right-back Kevin McNaughton a merry dance throughout. He also kept his composure to score in the penalty shoot-out which eventually saw the Reds triumph after the game had ended 2-2 after extra-time. “I thought we'd won it in when Dirk scored in extra-time as they were a bit tired but, credit to them, they never gave up all day. It's a cruel way to lose on penalties but overall I thought we were the better team.”

Stewart Downing