this was the fourth time in as many years that cardiff city had played at wembley stadium. they played at the stadium twice during the 2007–08 fa cup; they beat barnsley 1–0 in the semi-final before losing 1–0 to portsmouth in the final. their last match at the stadium was the 2010 championship play-off final against blackpool, which they lost 3–2. the final represented the first time liverpool had visited the new wembley stadium; their previous appearances in the final in 2001, 2003 and 2005 had been played at the millennium stadium in cardiff while wembley was being rebuilt. their last visit to wembley was in 1996 when they reached the final of the fa cup, match they lost 1–0 to manchester united at the old wembley stadium.