Liverpool's six-year trophy drought ended Sunday after beating Cardiff 3-2 in a penalty shootout when Reds captain Steven Gerrard's cousin, Anthony Gerrard, missed the final spot kick.
''I've got mixed emotions,'' Steven Gerrard said. ''Obviously I'm delighted to win the cup for our supporters, but I feel for Anthony and Cardiff. It doesn't matter what I say to him -he's going to be down.''
Liverpool's record eighth League Cup is Kenny Dalglish's first trophy since returning to Liverpool 13 months ago after a 20-year absence and completes his collection of domestic honors as a manager.
''It's not a nice way to win a cup, but we'll take it,'' the 60-year-old Dalglish said.
The match at Wembley Stadium finished at 1-1 after 90 minutes and 2-2 after extra time, with Cardiff defender Ben Turner scrambling the ball over the line in the 118th minute from a corner to ensure the match would be settled with spot kicks.
Liverpool had to fight back after Joe Mason gave second-tier club Cardiff a shock lead in the 19th minute, with Martin Skrtel making it 1-1 on the hour and forcing the game into extra time.
Liverpool took until the 108th minute to hit the front, with Dirk Kuyt smashing in the rebound after his initial effort was blocked by Anthony Gerrard.
Despite Kuyt making an initial goal-line clearance from Filip Kiss, the Netherlands international couldn't prevent Turner from leveling.
''This is what I came to Liverpool for, and to win a first trophy is excellent. Hopefully we can add another later in the season,'' Kuyt said, referring to the FA Cup.
While Dalglish won the competition four times as a player, this was his first triumph as manager, joining Alex Ferguson and Jose Mourinho as the only winners of English football's three domestic prizes.
Cardiff has visited Wembley four times in the past five seasons, but the venue has been demolished and rebuilt in the 16 years it has taken for Liverpool to return to England's national stadium, an eternity for a club that dominated English football throughout the 1980s.
The Reds started with the intent of a side determined to win a trophy for the first time since the 2006 FA Cup.
Glen Johnson sent a swerving shot against the crossbar and Carroll headed over before five minutes had elapsed, but while dominating possession, Liverpool couldn't assert itself.
And the opponent without a major title to its name in 85 years took a shock lead.
After Skrtel's wayward headed clearance, Kevin McNaughton picked up possession and squared the ball to Kenny Miller. The ball was fed through to Mason, who slotted it through goalkeeper Pepe Reina's legs.
''We were always going to be under pressure,'' Dalglish said. ''They have very good delivery from set-plays and they were never going to lie down.''
With the Bluebirds clipping the wings of the Liver Birds, Dalglish's side struggled to break down the resilient opponents and squandered those chances that did come to them.
Charlie Adam's low shot floated wide of the post and, after Jordan Henderson missed Stewart Downing's cross, Gerrard fluffed the end shot after making a poor connection.
Liverpool was gradually finding its stride and Daniel Agger sent a header directly at Cardiff goalkeeper Tom Heaton from Gerrard's free kick at the end of the half.
The 18-time English champions maintained a level of superiority after the break, with Luis Suarez testing Heaton from a tight angle as their opponents appeared to be tiring.
Liverpool's perseverance paid off on the hour, finally finding a way through Cardiff's resilient defense.
Downing's corner was headed by Carroll onto Suarez, who nodded against the post and Skrtel slotted the ball through Heaton's legs.
But Cardiff had two chances in the last 10 minutes of normal time to capture the cup, with Don Cowie setting up both: Turner sent a downward header wide and the unmarked Miller raised the ball over.
Adam and Suarez also squandered late chances for Liverpool, which managed to control the extra 30 minutes despite failing to kill off the match.
''In extra time the way we came back... I'm so proud of them, so very, very proud of them,'' Cardiff manager Malky Mackay said. ''For most of them it's the first time they've been anywhere near something like this. They are very young. The emotions are running through them.''
