Michael Owen guided Liverpool into the Worthington Cup final tonight after they beat first division Sheffield United 2-0 on the night after extra time and 3-2 on aggregate.
Liverpool, who lost the away leg at Bramall Lane 2-1, took a ninth-minute lead through Senegal forward El Hadji Diouf but needed Owen's 107th minute strike to line up a final with either holders Blackburn Rovers or Manchester United.
Rovers host United tomorrow with their semi-final tied at 1-1 after the first leg as they bid to reach the final in Cardiff's Millennium Stadium in March.
Liverpool, who have won the League Cup a record six times, fully deserved their trip to Wales after keeping a courageous Sheffield United side under control for most of the game.
Though United's hopes of the club's first major cup final since 1936 were dashed by their first defeat in 16 matches, Neil Warnock's men could have few complaints about the outcome.
Outgunned in midfield and denied any real space in the final third by Liverpool's well-drilled defence during the first half, they showed more fight in the second and extra time - without creating any clear chances to score.