Kewell out to make amends in Cardiff

Liverpool's Harry Kewell hopes tomorrow's FA Cup final helps erase the personal disappointment he suffered when they won the Champions League 12 months ago.

Kewell helped Liverpool reach the European Cup final but played for just 23 minutes of their memorable penalty shoot-out victory over Milan in Istanbul because of a groin injury.

"When you look at it and considering what happened in Istanbul this is really going to be my first final and I just hope that everything goes well," said the Australia forward.

"I just want to be a big part of it," the 27-year-old told reporters ahead of the match against West Ham United at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.

"Even now people still remind me of what happened in the Champions League final. It's one of those things, but you have to forget about the past and turn the corner.

"Even though it was still a lovely moment to be part of, in terms of the club winning the Champions League, on a personal note it wasn't that good," he added.

Facts and figures

¤ Tomorrow's final will be the sixth in Cardiff and is likely to be the last. The Cup final is almost certain to be played at the re-built Wembley Stadium next year unless more delays hamper the project.

¤ Liverpool played in the first FA Cup final to be held in Cardiff in 2001. West Ham played in the first FA Cup final to be played at Wembley in 1923.

¤ Liverpool won the 2001 final with a 2-1 victory over Arsenal while West Ham famously lost 2-0 to Bolton Wanderers. West Ham beat Bolton on the way to the final this season.

¤ West Ham won the FA Cup for the first time in their history in 1964, Liverpool won it for the first time in 1965.

¤ Liverpool are looking for their seventh success following triumphs in 1974, 1986, 1989, 1992 and then 2001. West Ham, also in the Premier League, are looking for their fourth Cup final success. After their initial success in 1964, the Hammers won the FA Cup in 1975 and 1980.

¤ Teddy Sheringham, who turned 40 on April 2, will become the third oldest FA Cup finalist if he plays tomorrow. Only Billy Hampson (41 years 257 days) who played for Aston Villa in 1924 and John Oakes (40 years 226 days) who played for Charlton Athletic in 1946, were older.

¤ Sheringham will also become only the fourth player in FA Cup history to score for two different clubs in the final if he gets a goal. Ian Wright, who had a spell at West Ham towards the end of his career, was the last to do that, scoring for Arsenal in 1993 after scoring for Crystal Palace in 1990.

¤ Nigel Reo-Coker will become the youngest FA Cup final captain since David Nish led Leicester City out for the 1969 FA Cup final aged 21. Reo-Coker turns 22 on Sunday, the day after the final.

¤ The only survivors from Liverpool's 2001 winning team likely to be in tomorrow's squad are: Sami Hyypia, Jamie Carragher, Dietmar Hamann and Steven Gerrard.

¤ Liverpool and West Ham have met on five occasions in the FA Cup and Liverpool have never lost. They beat West Ham 1-0 in an Intermediate qualifying round tie in 1900-01; beat them 5-1 in a replay after a 1-1 draw in 1913-14; 1-0 in a sixth round tie in 1962-63 and 2-0 in the third round in 1975-76.

¤ Liverpool also won the only previous final played between the clubs, beating West Ham 2-1 in the replayed 1981 League Cup final after a 1-1 draw. This season, Liverpool beat West Ham 2-0 at home in October and 2-1 at Upton Park on April 26.