Every player to have scored in a League Cup final for Liverpool as Reds aim to win record 11th title today
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Liverpool face Newcastle in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday as they aim to extend their lead as record winners of the competition.
The Reds have lifted the trophy in its various guises 10 times since 1981, two more than second placed Manchester City.
There have also been a few losses thrown in there as well. Sunday will be the 15th time Liverpool have lined up in the final of this tournament. Four have been lost.
For the current Liverpool squad, they can draw on the experience of last year’s final against Chelsea for inspiration.
It was Virgil van Dijk who got the winner that day, scoring the only goal in 240 minutes of Carabao Cup final action between the Reds and Chelsea since 2022.
Games against Newcastle usually have goals, though. And with Liverpool players looking to add his name to this list on Sunday, we take a look at every Reds goal scorer across their 14 League Cup finals so far.
Ronnie Whelan dominates the early years
Liverpool’s first League Cup final came back in March 1978. With the Reds on their way to going back-to-back in the European Cup, they were a force to be reckoned with.
However, so too were Nottingham Forest, who after a 0-0 draw at Wembley, controversially beat Liverpool 1-0 in the replay at Old Trafford.
Liverpool had to wait three years before their next stab, when they faced West Ham in 1981. Alan Kennedy thought he’d won it with two minutes to go of extra-time, only for a late, late Hammers penalty to level the score.
Again, a replay was needed, with goals from Kenny Dalglish and Alan Hansen handing the Reds a come-from-behind victory for their first ever League Cup win.
A year later, Liverpool were taken to extra-time again, this time by Tottenham Hotspur. Ronnie Whelan was the hero this time, scoring a late equaliser to force an additional half hour. Whelan then scored again before Ian Rush sealed the win.
Whelan was at it again a year later, as he scored an extra-time winner following Kennedy’s equaliser against Manchester United.
In 1984, Liverpool won a remarkable fourth League Cup in succession. Graeme Souness was the hero after an all Merseyside final with Everton went to a reply.
The Reds then embarked on an 11-year drought, however, with Rush getting on the scoresheet during a 2-1 loss against Arsenal in 1987. Liverpool would have to wait until 1995 to get their hands on the trophy once more.
Liverpool academy heroes put their names in lights
Following the success of the 1980’s, the 90’s were largely lean times at Anfield. Nevertheless, the success of the Liverpool academy during this period meant the Reds still gathered some silverware.
That was the case in 1995, when Liverpool faced First Division side Bolton Wanderers. This final belonged to 23-year-old Steve McManaman, who got both goals in a 2-1 win.
Six years went by before the Reds played in another final, with another academy starlet – Robbie Fowler – scoring the only goal against Birmingham City. Liverpool went on to win on penalties.
Two years later, in 2003, the Reds made it two League Cup final wins from two against Man United. Steven Gerrard and Michael Owen did the damage against the Red Devils.
Modern era brings overseas success
Liverpool did not have to wait long for another crack at the League Cup. Rafael Benitez’s first season in 2005 brought a clash with fellow Premier League newcomer Jose Mourinho.
Mourinho and his Chelsea team won the day, although they were rocked when Norwegian John Arne Riise scored the fastest goal in League Cup final history after just 46 seconds at Cardiff.
| Player | Goals | Finals Scored In |
| Ronnie Whelan | 3 | 2 |
| Alan Kennedy | 2 | 2 |
| Ian Rush | 2 | 2 |
| Steve McManaman | 2 | 1 |
| Alan Hansen | 1 | 1 |
| Graeme Souness | 1 | 1 |
| Kenny Dalglish | 1 | 1 |
| Robbie Fowler | 1 | 1 |
| Steven Gerrard | 1 | 1 |
| Michael Owen | 1 | 1 |
| John Arne Riise | 1 | 1 |
| Antonio Nunez | 1 | 1 |
| Martin Skrtel | 1 | 1 |
| Dirk Kuyt | 1 | 1 |
| Philippe Coutinho | 1 | 1 |
| Virgil van Dijk | 1 | 1 |
Chelsea hit back with three unanswered goals, including an own-goal from Gerrard, before lesser-known Spaniard Antonio Nunez grabbed a late consolation.
Liverpool had better success in 2012, when Martin Skrteland Dirk Kuyt were on the scoresheet during a penalty shootout victory against Cardiff City.
Another loss unfortunately followed in 2016, but it did bring a goal for Philippe Coutinho who offered hope of a first trophy for Jurgen Klopp after a late equaliser against Man City. City went on to win 2-1 in extra-time.
Finally, after the 0-0 shootout success of 2022, Van Dijk wrote his name into history with a lovely header to beat Chelsea in 2024. Let’s hope some more Reds will get their name on this exclusive list on Sunday!
