Benitez and Mourinho in chase of first honour

Two of the finest coaches in the continent, having experienced success in the domestic and European scene, have joined the other foreign managers in the Premier League at the start of the season.

Chelsea's Jose Mourinho and Rafael Benitez, of Liverpool, are now bidding to earn their first success with their new clubs in this afternoon's clash at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium in the League Cup final.

Both arrived in England with high credentials - Mourinho had just won the Champions League and the Portuguese title for FC Porto, while Benitez steered Valencia to UEFA Cup success following the second of two championship crowns in the Spanish League.

Mourinho, 42, is facing a hard task with the pressure to deliver that comes after a summer spending spree just short of £90 million.

Mourinho, who had collected successive honours of UEFA Cup and Champions League with Porto, saw his Blues tumble out of the FA Cup in the 0-1 loss at Newcastle.

Chelsea are still involved in the Champions League in the two-legged test with Barcelona - down 1-2 with the return at Stamford Bridge.

The way the Londoners responded in the league was not even expected by Mourinho himself. Although there are still 11 matches to be played, Chelsea have become the side to beat for the crown. His success is the product of thorough preparation... he demands total dedication from his players.

Benitez, 44, became Valencia's most successful manager in their 85-year club history after just three seasons, before he left the Mestalla for Anfield.

The enviable record of success in one of the toughest campaigns in world football has made Benitez hungry for more honours at his new club. Yet, he has not the riches Mourinho has at Chelsea.

Moreover, two of the best signings for the Reds this season, attacker Djibril Cisse and midfielder Xabi Alonso, are ruled off for the rest of the campaign.

The Spanish coach is still struggling to find more consistency at Liverpool. He had inherited some second-rated players from Gerard Houllier and Benitez has no magic wand to transform the side into a forceful team in his first season.

Yet, when he will have all his players at his disposal the Liverpool fans will see a more dependable outfit at Anfield.

Liverpool are out of the FA Cup but they are still well implicated in the Champions League - for the last 16 second-leg tie they have a 3-1 lead to defend against Bayer Leverkusen.

Cup history

Liverpool are the most successful team in the history of the League Cup. They lead the all-time honours list with seven cup successes and their presence in this year's final has seen them chalking up a record ten appearances in the ultimate showdown.

Their prizes in the tournament have been captured thus:

1981 - beat West Ham United 2-1 at Villa Park after a 1-1 draw.

1982 - beat Tottenham 3-1 after extra time at Wembley.

1983 - beat Man. United 2-1 at Wembley.

1984 - beat Everton 1-0 at Maine Road after 0-0 draw.

1995 - beat Bolton 2-1 at Wembley.

2001 - beat Birmingham City 5-4 on penalties after 1-1 draw at the Millennium Stadium (no replay).

2002 - beat Man. United 2-0 at the Millennium Stadium.

Chelsea are contesting their fourth League Cup final, having emerged triumphant twice:

1965 - defeated Leicester 3-2 on aggregate (3-2 at Stamford Bridge and 0-0 at Filbert Street).

1998 - defeated Middlesbrough 2-0 at Wembley.

Head to head

In the Premiership this season Chelsea have done the double on Liverpool, winning 1-0 (Cole J.) at Stamford Bridge in October and by the identical scoreline and through the same scorer at Anfield in January.

In League Cup history, the Blues and the Reds crossed each others' shadows twice.

2000-01 (third round):
Liverpool-Chelsea 2-1

1977-78 (second round):
Liverpool-Chelsea 2-0

With Dutchman Arjen Robben still sidelined through injury, Joe Cole is likely to play from the start, and this will alert the Liverpool defensive lines, since the former West Ham player has scored both the goals in Chelsea's Premiership victories over the Kopites.

Liverpool's upfront men Fernando Morientes and Milan Baros will strive to find a way through the thick defensive rearguard of Chelsea.

The midfield battle between two of the finest schemers in the English game, Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard, will also be a determining factor.

Liverpool have conceded only one goal throughout the competition, to Chelsea's two.

The Londoners will start as favourites, but many things can occur in one-off matches and the Reds tend to surprise when they are with their backs to the wall as they did at Anfield against Leverkusen in midweek.