Carling Cup: Can Liverpool go on to win the Carling Cup?

Liverpool Football Club are one of the most successful football clubs in the world. Their comprehensive history includes: 18 English top tier league titles, 7 FA Cups, 7 League Cups, 5 UEFA Champions League titles, and 3 Europa League titles. The last time Liverpool achieved any form of prestigious silverware was back in 2006 where The Reds managed to claim the FA Cup after beating London side West Ham 3-1 on penalties. Having not won a competition in over 5 years, Liverpool fans will be hoping for silverware this season. Their best chance has to be the 2011/12 League Cup.

This season The Reds are performing at a mediocre level, especially in comparison to their past accomplishments. So far, their greatest triumph this campaign has to be the fact that they have managed to get to the semi-finals of the Carling Cup. The only foe that stand in their way of the final are the mighty Manchester City. The Blues have performed extraordinarily well in the 2011/12 season and are sure to be problematic opponents for Liverpool. In the Premier League The Reds presently reside in 6th position and remain to be unbeaten at home. I imagine 6th position is where they will finish this season, particularly so when regarding the fact that Luis Suarez, Liverpool's star player, has been banned for a total of 8 games after being found guilty of racial abuse towards Manchester United's left-back and French international Patrice Evra. Anyone placing a Carling Cup bet should bear this in mind.

So, to answer the question in the title: "Can Liverpool go on to win the Carling Cup?" The answer to this question would have to be yes, even with their semi-final opponents being City. People looking at the Carling Cup betting need to remember this.

The best The Reds can hope for in the first leg of the semi-final is to claim an away draw against City at the Etihad Stadium. Particularly a score draw as the away goals rule applies in the League Cup competition. If they were to claim a draw at the Etihad, it would put them in a prominent position when they face the Manchester side at Anfield in the second leg of the semi-final.