This weekend will see Manchester City and Liverpool battle it out to be crowned the English League Cup champions for the 2015-16.
In recent years the competition has thrown up some spectacular results throughout the duration of the tournament. The magic of cup football is on full display in this competition, with numerous upsets and surprising results coming about each season. A final to decide the winner is always bound to throw up surprising results, as the League cup has done once again heading into the 55th installment of the final.
Outside90’s Brayden May takes a look at the top five finals in the lead-up to Sunday’s showdown:
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1976 Manchester City 2 Newcastle United 1
The 1976 final saw Manchester City win their first major trophy in six-years, while Newcastle’s silverware drought would continue. Teenage forward Peter Barnes would put the Citizens ahead in the early stages of the game with his 11th minute strike from close range, but the Magpies would strike back through forward Alan Gowling, who levelled the match getting on the end of a Malcolm Macdonald cross 10 minutes before the interval.
The winner would come only minutes into the second-half as Dennis Tueart, a boyhood Toon fan, produced a stunning ovheread kick into the bottom corner of the net, the goal which would allow City to go on and claim the trophy. The result saw manager Tony Book become the first person to win the trophy as both a player and a manager, though it would be the last major trophy City would win until 2011.
2005 Chelsea 3 Liverpool 2
The game will always be remembered for the sending-off of Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho and a decisive own goal from Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, even though the Reds opened the scoring in the opening minute with a volley from midfielder John Arne Riise. Trailing for majority of the game, Chelsea were handed a lifeline when the ball glanced off the head of Gerrard and into the back of his own net from a Blues free-kick.
The Special One was sent-off in the process for his celebration as he ‘shushed’ Liverpool supporters. Watching the game from the dressing room, his side went on to claim victory in extra time thanks to goals from forward Didier Drogba and substitute Mateja Kezman. Liverpool grabbed a late consolation through Antonio Nunez. The result saw Mourinho claim his first piece of silverware as Chelsea manager, during his first spell at the club.
2011 Birmingham City 2 Arsenal 1
Heading into the match the Gunners were heavy favourites against a Birmingham side that were locked in a relegation battle in the Premier League, also having beaten City twice throughout the season thus far. The underdogs would open the scoring in the 28th minute through big Serbian forward Nikola Zigic, who headed home after the ball was flicked goal bound from a corner. Robin Van Persie levelled the game for his side 11 minutes later with a well taken volley.
Substitute Obafemi Matins would be the hero in comical circumstances as a long ball which appeared to be safely heading for Wojciech Szczesny was intervened with by defender Laurent Koscielny, who knocked the ball into the path of Martins to slot home. Birmingham shot-stopper Ben Foster was awarded man of the match as a number of impressive saves led the way for his side.
1979 Nottingham Forest 3 Southampton 2
A strange decision from manager Brian Clough almost cost Nottingham dearly, electing his for his side to drink heavily the night before the match. They started the match looking to be effected by the controversial move, going into halftime 1-0 down after Saints left-back David Peach found the back of the net. But in the second-half the reigning champions would click into gear.
A brace from forward Garry Birtles and a goal to striker Tony Woodcock would inspire Forest to victory in a match which almost saw the heavy favourites defeated by their own pre-match actions. The side from the South Coast would get a goal back late in the game through midfielder Nick Holmes and the win saw Forest win their second League Cup in as many years, since adding two more to the trophy cabinet in 1989 and 1990 respectively.
1967 Queens Park Rangers 3 West Bromwich Albion 2
This game marked the first time a final would be played at Wembley after the FA elected to abandon the home and away format. The top-flight Baggies looked well on their way to claiming the trophy as they would go into the halftime interval two goals to the good, following a brace to former Rangers winger Clive Clark (who would return to the club for a brief stint in 1969).
However, in 18 second-half minutes the third tier side swung the game in their favour. QPR came out from the break on the front foot and launching attack after attack. Their hard work would pay off when Roger Morgan halved the deficit and Rodney Marsh produced some excellent dribbling before levelling the match. Mike Lazarus would score the winner nine minutes from, when a save from Baggies keeper Dick Sheppard deflected into his path for a tap-in.
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