Cardiff City will leave no stone unturned tomorrow to shrug off the tag of underdogs as the Championship side battle Liverpool for the League Cup at Wembley (kick-off 5 p.m.).

Liverpool have won the silverware on seven occasions − two more than second-placed Aston Villa. Cardiff’s best performance was a place in the last four way back in 1966.

Cardiff booked their place in the final thanks to a 3-1 penalty shoot-out victory over Crystal Palace in the semi-finals after the two teams were locked at 1-1 on aggregate after extra-time.

Goalkeeper Tom Heaton was their hero when he saved the first two penalties from the deadly spot.

He has played second fiddle to first-choice keeper David Marshall for much of the league campaign but has started six of Cardiff’s seven League Cup clashes.

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish believes a trip to Wembley is a just reward not only for the supporters but also for the club’s bosses.

Principal owner John Henry was among a number of representatives from Fenway Sports Group, who bought Liverpool FC in October 2010, to be there and watch the Reds edge closer to their first trophy since 2006 after ousting Manchester City in the semi-finals.

Liverpool’s protagonist on that occasion was former Cardiff striker Craig Bellamy.

His goal, 16 minutes from time, secured the draw which knocked out his other ex-employers Manchester City.

Liverpool’s four of seven triumphs in this competition came in successive seasons, from 1981 to 1984, when Dalglish was in his pomp as a player.

The Kopites’ presence in this year’s final has seen them chalk up a record 11 appearances in the ultimate showdown. Their prizes in the tournament have been captured thus:

1981 – vs West Ham United 2-1 at Villa Park (after a 1-1 draw).

1982 – vs Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 at Wembley (after extra-time).

1983 – vs Manchester United 2-1 at Wembley.

1984 – vs Everton 1-0 at Maine Road (after 0-0 draw).

1995 – vs Bolton 2-1 at ­Wem-bley.

2001 – vs Birmingham 5-4 on penalties at the Millennium Stadium (after 1-1 draw).

2003 – vs Manchester United 2-0 at the Millennium Stadium.

In 1927, the Bluebirds became the first and only club to take the FA Cup out of England following their shock win over Arsenal.

The Welsh side have now become the first non-English side to reach the League Cup final... can the feat of 1927 happen again?

Head-To-Head

• Cardiff and Liverpool have met only once previously in the competition... (Oct. 31, 2007) Liverpool vs Cardiff 2-1 (El Zhar, Gerrard − Purse) in the fourth round.

The Scorers

• Jay Rodrigues, of Burnley, is the leading marksman of this season’s League Cup with five goals. Two players are second with four goals each: Ruben Rochina (Blackburn) and Ramon Nunez (Leeds).

Way to Wembley

Cardiff City

First round: Away vs Oxford 3-1, aet (Conway, Whittingham, Jar-vis).

Second round: Home vs Huddersfield 5-3, aet (Gyepes, Parkin, Cowie 2, Conway.

Third round: Home vs Leicester 2-2, aet (Cowie, Gestede). Won 7-6 on penalties.

Fourth round: Home vs Burnley 1-0 (Mason).

Quarter-final: Home vs Blackburn 2-0 (Miller, Gerrard).

Semi-final: Away vs Crystal Palace 0-1. Home vs Crystal Palace 1-0 (Gardner og). Through 3-1 on penalties.

Liverpool

Second round: Away vs Exeter 3-1 (Suarez, Maxi, Carroll).

Third round: Away vs Brighton 2-1 (Bellamy, Kuyt).

Fourth round: Away vs Stoke 2-1 (Suarez 2).

Quarter-final: Away vs Chelsea 2-0 (Maxi, Kelly).

Semi-final: Away vs Manchester City 1-0 (Gerrard pen).

Return leg: Home vs Manchester City 2-2 (Gerrard pen, Bellamy).