Kenny: Maximum Cardiff respect

The Scot was in charge of the Reds side that lost the 1988 FA Cup final to Wimbledon at Wembley, while last season's Carling Cup showpiece saw Birmingham City defy the odds to defeat Arsenal, despite going on to later be relegated from the Barclays Premier League.

Dalglish admits he can understand why many see Liverpool as clear favourites to lift the trophy against Championship opposition on Sunday - but was eager to warn of the dangers of underestimating Cardiff.

The boss told his pre-match press conference:  "Everybody that's involved with the football club will take great satisfaction (in playing the final), but it's not a foregone conclusion - and we should not be getting our mindset thinking it is going to be like that. 

"We'll go there and play a team who have achieved every bit as much as we have in getting to the final. We'll treat them with the utmost respect, as we have done against everybody we've played against.

"We've got to the final, yes, but it's not as if there's no-one there that is going to try and win it. Cardiff have a great expectation and hope to win it as well.

"It's going to be difficult for us, but the fact we've got there is an achievement. Now we are there, we'd obviously rather win the match than lose it!"

Journalists gathered at Anfield were keen to know whether Dalglish felt Liverpool's tag as favourites could generate added pressure on his players.

Dalglish replied: "Not necessarily. There is always going to have to be a favourite, but you only get out of the match what you put into it.

"Cardiff have done fantastically well to get there. I don't think it would be a shock if everybody thought we were going to be favourites, but we've got to overcome Cardiff on the day.

"As we know favourites have lost before, but not too often."

He added: "Like everything else in life, every person is not going to react exactly the same to any one situation. The emotion and nerves will be helpful to some, and detrimental to others.

"It didn't affect me too badly, I don't think. We had our shares of victories and we also lost, but I don't think we won because the other people were more affected by their emotions than we were - and I don't think we lost because we were maybe more affected than them.

"Emotion is part and parcel of football. It's how you handle it. There are a lot of people going (to Wembley) with different personalities and will handle it totally differently."

Liverpool's trip to Wembley will be their first since the 1996 FA Cup final, while it's also the first final the club have contested since 2007.

Dalglish believes this is symptomatic of the great strides forward that have been made at Anfield within the last year - both on and off the pitch.

"We'll continue to try and progress the club and move it forward," he said. "We've moved on from where we were last year. Progression in the FA Cup, the final of the Carling Cup and four points behind fourth spot - this time last year we were nowhere near that.

"There has been progress made, and off the pitch there has been a great deal of progress made as well in the fantastic support we've got from sponsors."

He added: "They (the fans) are excited. They are looking forward to it - everyone is looking forward to it.

"You can just sense in and around the football club and the city that people are looking forward to it."

Liverpool have had to overcome Exeter City, Brighton, Stoke City, Chelsea and a two-legged last-four tie with Manchester City to earn the right to contest the Carling Cup final.

The 3-2 aggregate elimination of league-leaders City sparked scenes of jubilation following a dramatic second leg at Anfield last month.

Dalglish reflected: "If you're not going to enjoy getting to Wembley, you've got a bigger problem, haven't you?

"We enjoyed knocking out the team at the top of the league to get to Wembley because they were trying to get there as well. It wasn't as if they laid back and let us take it off them - they wanted to get there as much as we did.

"For our supporters and everybody connected with the club, it's a fantastic achievement for us to get there."

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In addition to reaching the Carling Cup final, Liverpool also have their sights on going all the way in the FA Cup after defeating Brighton on Sunday to set up a quarter-final meeting with Stoke City at Anfield.

Journalists quizzed Dalglish on whether he felt lifting the trophy on Sunday could provide the Reds with a taste for success that would stand them in good stead as they chase further glory in the remainder of 2011-12.

"I don't think that is necessarily true - I think we need to have a winning mentality anyway," he said. "We'll just do what we think is right and continue to try and represent this football club in the best way we possibly can.

"The performances have been pretty consistent, take away two or three. We have said all along they are good players with a good attitude, they represent the club fantastically well and we couldn't have asked much more from them.

"Everybody that played at the weekend was fantastic, and we said that after the game. The harder you work, the luckier and the better you'll get. Everybody that has been involved this season has worked really hard.

"You get the rewards if you work hard."

Steven Gerrard is set to lead Liverpool out at Wembley having returned to full fitness in recent weeks.

Dalglish believes the opportunity to collect another winners' medal is reward for the hard work the captain has put in overcoming injury setbacks this season.

In addition, the gaffer feels the experience of the likes of Gerrard, Jamie Carragher and other senior members of his squad will be of benefit to their teammates.

Dalglish said: "Steven is a tremendous influence on everybody - but each individual has a part to play. Being skipper of the football club gives Steven that little bit of added responsibility.

"Carra as well, who has been here as long as Steven and has been a fantastic servant to the football club. He may not wear the armband, but he's equally influential.

"There are a lot of people in and around the place who can be influential and helpful. Their experience will stand the other boys in good stead.

"For Steven, it's a great reward for him after the problems he's had with injury."

For Dalglish, it will be his first major final in charge of Liverpool since the 1989 FA Cup encounter with Everton at Wembley.

However, the manager was typically keen to play down any personal sentiment - insisting the club as a whole can feel an immense sense of pride when the team walks out onto the pitch on Sunday afternoon.

"It means a lot to myself, but more importantly it means a lot to a lot of people who have had to endure a few years of us not being there," said Dalglish.

"Somebody said to me it's 16 years (since Liverpool were last at Wembley), but there was a wee bit of construction going on during that time that hasn't been taken into consideration.

"For everybody that's connected with the football club, it's just reward for the loyalty and support they've shown to the club. For the players, it's an indication of how well they've done, so everybody is looking forward to it."

He continued: "Every final is different, every final is really important. The best one in my mind is the most recent one - if you win it. Beforehand, they are all fantastic occasions, but the most memorable ones are the ones you win.

"There are a lot of people going to be satisfied with what we've done to get there. We have treated the competition very seriously. I think we've used 20-odd players to get there, so every single member of the squad bar a couple has made a contribution for us to be there."

Meanwhile, Dalglish reiterated that he expects to have Daniel Agger and Craig Bellamy fit for the trip to Wembley after they missed Sunday's 6-1 Brighton win with knocks.

He said: "It's only Tuesday, but I think we should be alright. Craig and Daniel Agger should be okay. As I said it's Tuesday, so it's a wee bit premature - but they should be okay."