Breeding success

What could victory in the Carling Cup mean to Liverpool? Peter Fraser considers the benefits.

What could victory in the Carling Cup mean to Liverpool? Peter Fraser considers the long-term benefits of a possible win over Cardiff

Liverpool are back at Wembley and have the chance to win their first trophy since 2006. Victory over Cardiff in Sunday's Carling Cup final, which can be seen live on Sky Sports 1 HD and 3D, could benefit the club in several ways and will have long-term implications. Whether creating a feel-good factor, improving the reputation of Luis Suarez, underlining Kenny Dalglish's status, or helping in the transfer market - success can breed success.

Winning feeling

A six-year wait for a trophy since Steven Gerrard's inspired performance and Jose Reina's penalty heroics won the FA Cup has been an immense weight around the neck of Liverpool. Lifting a piece of silverware would not only rid the club of this statistic, it would also create an undoubted feel-good factor among fans who have not visited Wembley since 1996. It is a footballing cliché, but success breeds success. There have been suggestions this could be the start of a new era for Liverpool and comparisons have been made to their 2000/2001 campaign. The League Cup, FA Cup and UEFA Cup, now named the Europa League, were won in a single season under the management of Gerard Houllier. Liverpool that year also finished third in the Premier League to qualify for the UEFA Champions League. With Dalglish's team also in the quarter-finals of this season's FA Cup, there are similarities to 11 years ago. Liverpool fans will not dare think about what could happen to morale if they lose to Cardiff in a manner similar to Arsenal's shock at the hands of Birmingham last season, but a win would provide vital momentum. Going into the final three months of the campaign, a platform for the FA Cup and securing a return to the top four of the Premier League would exist.

Luis Suarez

The striker's character has been somewhat tarnished since he was banned for eight matches for racially abusing Manchester United defender Patrice Evra. Suarez's critics were then given further ammunition during the most recent meeting with United. Suarez earlier in February refused to shake hands with Evra pre-kick-off to set an ugly tone for the Old Trafford encounter. The Uruguayan has been targeted for taunting by away fans since returning and, if he plays at Wembley, which seems inevitable, he will no doubt suffer at the hands of Cardiff's supporters. But that will probably act as motivation in what will be just his fourth match since coming back from suspension. If Suarez was to be the catalyst for Liverpool's success with a man-of-the-match performance, it could go towards restoring a little of his standing. His former colleague, Ajax team manager Herman Pinkster, believes Suarez will be determined to repay the backing he received from Liverpool throughout his racism row. A brilliant match-winning performance would be the ideal fashion. Of course, the counter-debate also exists and if Suarez was to cause any form of controversy at the home of English football, there could be no way back for his reputation.

Kenny Dalglish

Liverpool's manager will never be considered by fans as anything other than a Kop idol and if he was to end the trophy drought, he would begin to edge towards a status of deity. As an undoubted success both as a player and a manager in his previous time at Anfield, Dalglish's return to Liverpool 13 months ago was in completely different circumstances. It was an SOS mission after the mess in which the club found themselves in the wake of predecessor Roy Hodgson and former co-owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks. Fortunes and atmosphere were transformed under Dalglish in the second half of last season, but winning a trophy would provide something tangible. It would be an undoubted sign of progress to principal club owner John Henry and would silence some of the grumbles which have come from fans who have been frustrated this season with Liverpool's eight draws at home in the Premier League. The Carling Cup may not be the most sought after of trophies, but winning the silverware would be a significant improvement from the third-round penalty shoot-out defeat by Northampton at Anfield in the reign of Hodgson.

Squad strength

Trophies are incredibly helpful in attracting new players to a club and they are also important in ensuring existing squad members remain happy and committed. Having won the FA Cup in his first season, goalkeeper Reina will have been hoping for a lot more from his time at Liverpool. The Spaniard has in the past admitted he has considered leaving Anfield, but to see the club are back to winning ways would remove any doubts in the star shot-stopper's mind. Liverpool did not make any signings for their first-team squad in January, but they are almost certain to bring in fresh faces in the summer. Being able to promote the image of the club on at least one trophy would be a major boost in negotiating processes and could give Liverpool the edge over rivals.