Gerrard Wembley dream set to come true as Liverpool skipper eyes Carling Cup glory
Steven Gerrard finally has the chance to realise a boyhood dream this weekend and the Liverpool skipper is determined it won't turn into a nightmare under the Wembley arch.
Gerrard has captained his country at the home of English football but Sunday's Carling Cup final will be the first time he's played there for his club.
The midfielder has won two FA Cups and two League Cups with the Reds but all four victories were in Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.
Final fling: Steven Gerrard trains ahead of Sunday's Carling Cup final
Gerrard scored twice in Wales as Liverpool won an epic 2006 FA Cup final against West Ham on penalties.
It was the Reds' last major trophy.
He said: 'Every time I played for Liverpool at Cardiff and led the team out there, there was a bit of me thinking “if only this was Wembley”.
'Don't get me wrong, we had some great days in Cardiff and I've got some fantastic memories of playing at the Millennium Stadium. But I'd have preferred to have won those trophies at Wembley.'
The 31-year-old added in the Liverpool Echo: 'When growing up as a kid, I dreamed about playing in Cup finals at Wembley. Then when I became captain of Liverpool, I dreamed about leading the team out there.
Long time: Gerrard's heroics helped Liverpool lift the FA Cup at Cardiff in 2006
'To finally get the chance to achieve that will be amazing. I've experienced both the old and the new Wembley and I can tell you it's a very special place.
'You walk out and are hit by the number of people there. It's new and it's modern but the buzz is just the same as it was.
'There's the drive up to it, up Wembley Way. Instead of the twin towers, there's now the massive arch. It's a magnificent arena and one of the best I've ever played in.'
Meanwhile, Gerrard's midfield partner
Charlie Adam returns to the famous stadium for the first time since
scoring a play-off winner for Blackpool.
The
Scotland international scored with a stunning 25-yard free-kick as the
Seasiders earned promotion to the Premier League with a 3-2 victory over
Cardiff in 2010.
Big-time Charlie: Adam won at Wembley as a Blackpool player
And the 26-year-old knows from recent experience what the less-fancied club in a final is capable of.
'When I played there in the play-off final it was a great occasion for Blackpool because we were underdogs,' he said.
'You always give respect to the opposition, no matter who you're playing. They've come a long way, they're a good side, with a good manager and they are on the right road.
'They've been in the play-offs for a number of years but they've just not had the luck to get to the Premier League – that's the difference.'
