liverpool's last match before the final was against brighton & hove albion in the fa cup, which they won 6–1. despite the margin of victory, liverpool manager kenny dalglish was adamant that the result meant nothing in regards to the final: "defeating brighton has got us to the next round, but it doesn't really help us in the carling cup, we've got a cup final but we won't get carried away." despite missing the match against brighton, dalglish was confident that daniel agger and craig bellamy would be fit for the final. going into the match liverpool had not won a trophy since they beat west ham united in the 2006 fa cup final. dalglish stated that victory: "means a lot to me, more importantly it means a lot to a lot of people who have had to endure a few years when we've not been [to wembley]."