'We needed Dirk impact'
Craig Bellamy has paid tribute to Dirk Kuyt after the Dutchman came off the bench to write his name into Liverpool folklore in the Carling Cup final.
Kuyt scored in extra-time to give Liverpool the lead against Cardiff City at Wembley before scoring from the spot in the penalty shoot-out to increase his reputation for being the man for the big occasions.
"It was a fantastic goal and the game needed that," Bellamy said in this week's LFC magazine. "Then he scored a penalty in the shoot-out as well and it shows you the character he has. He gave us a big lift."
Bellamy also lifted the lid on what manager Kenny Dalglish was saying to his players throughout the Wembley contest.
"He told us to keep believing and continue with our normal approach," he added.
"We knew it was going to be difficult. Finals always are. We thought we'd won it then they fought back and were outstanding all the way through. I do feel sorry for them but I'm delighted for us."
While delighted by our Carling Cup success, Bellamy is keen to stress there is much still to play for in the final three months of the campaign.
He said: "We'll have to wait and see what the future holds. As players we certainly don't think it's the end of the season.
"We have a trophy but we need to keep working hard if we want to be at the levels we want to be at; where this club deserves to be."
36 pages of cup final reports, reaction and pictures in this week's LFC magazine.