Snapshot: City fans inside Anfield will no doubt return home telling tales of how they had seen us score at Liverpool, though more important was the fact that Dave Jones' squad did much to restore our pride in what was a gutsy and passionate display against a mighty opponent.

The match went to script in terms of the final result, though Cardiff will have to take massive credit for their determination to leave Anfield by a single goal and see their Premier League hosts to a goalless draw at half time. And it could have been so much better - even if for only a brief moment as Darren Purse headed home in the second half to see us draw level following El Zhar's earlier rocket.

But Liverpool and Steven Gerrard being what they are, our party was shortlived as substitute Benayoun made an immediate impact to set up the Reds skipper less than ninety seconds after our equaliser had set us into party mood.

The spoils were there for the multiple League Cup winning squad to take, but our pride has taken a big lift after what has been a difficult start to the league campaign.

Team News: Cardiff were bolstered by the news that Kevin McNaughton had shaken off his stomach muscle injury from the weekend. Missing from the eleven however was Trevor Sinclair - news that ensured a starting place for Paul Parry on the right of midfield, opposite Joe Ledley. Also, as reported, Manchester City's refusal to allow Kasper Schmeichel to play in the competition on our behalf meant that the door was left open for Michael Oakes to return in goal. The news of the sixteen however was reserved for Josh Magennis, who was drafted to the bench due to Schmeichel's omission and the fact that David Forde had represented Luton Town while on loan earlier in the season.

Cardiff: Oakes, McNaughton, Purse ©, Johnson, McPhail, Rae, Fowler, Hasselbaink, Ledley, Parry. Subs: Magennis, Loovens, Gunter, Whittingham, Thompson.

As promised, Liverpool used the cup competition as a means to give experience to some of the squad who were on the fringe. Mixed in with the experienced Gerrard, Crouch, Carragher and Babel were a number of Reds to watch out for in the future. The surprise of the night was that Mascherano was considered fit enough for the bench after being reported out of contention. He took up a spot on the sidelines along with Riise, Kewell and Benayoun should they be required as the match progressed.

Liverpool: Itandje, Gerrard, Aurelio, Crouch, Arbeloa, Babel, Lucas, Carragher, Leto, El Zhar, Hobbs. Subs: Martin, Risse, Kewell, Benayoun, Mascherano

Chronological Report: Liverpool as expected came out of the blocks quickly, posing an early question for the City back-line as sixty seconds in Steven Gerrard whipped a ball into the box towards Crouch. On hand however to clear the danger was Roger Johnson, who rose highest to clear with a strong header.

Cardiff followed the early scare with a good spell of pressure themselves, rewarded after three minutes with a free-kick on the edge of the area after Robbie had been tripped by Aurelio. Fowler stood over the ball alongside Hasselbaink, then whipped a great ball over the ball towards the right corner, denied only by a fine diving save from Itandje

Liverpool were the next to test as after seven minutes Babel met a long ball with a well guided header under pressure. He managed to find Crouch in the City area, who in turn set the ball back to Babel's path only for the final strike to be sent well over the bar.

Peter Crouch was the next to chance his arm as Liverpool were imposing themselves more on the match. The giant of a striker showed an excellent touch on the edge of the City area, then turning gracefully and setting a shot to test Oakes further, though the ball luckily skidded just wide of the right post. That was followed by a bending shot from Aurelio after twelve minutes that Oakes did well to parry for a corner.

Cardiff's defence were brave, but effectively playing danger limitation as wave after wave of pressure came at them from their Premier League hosts. Gerrard was causing all sorts of problems as he bossed midfield and sent some dangerous balls in for his band of fringe Reds to attack. Both Babel and Lucas were guilty of missing the target when well presented from either flank.

After eighteen minutes we saw a rare run into the Liverpool half from Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, though his run was ended following a tussle on the right that Jamie Carragher did well to clear.

Liverpool were dominant as expected, and the sight of Rae's tackle on Babel after twenty five minutes was a concern given the fact that it had set up an opportunity for Gerrard to try his luck from ten yards outside the area with the free-kick. Thankfully his effort clipped the Cardiff wall and surged over the bar for a Reds corner, which Gerrard then sent in to El Zhar in a training ground move. El Zhar volleyed the ball miles over.

The match took a slight delay minutes later as an accidental elbow from Babel caught Roger Johnson after both has climbed for the ball. After a brief spell of attention however Roger was ok to resume.

The half hour period passing then saw Cardiff spend some welcome time in the Liverpool half, if only briefly. It began with a corner won on the left which Joe would have wanted to send in better. City then went on to assert themselves as a quick edge of the area free-kick from McPhail almost ghosted through for Roger Johnson to poke in at the death if not denied by the Reds stand in 'keeper.

That was followed with a massive chance to take the lead, as Tony Capaldi floated a brilliant cross over from the left towards Paul Parry at the back stick. And Parry came massively close, though he was denied by a great save from Itandje in the Liverpool goal to maintain parity.

Liverpool responded with some more pressure of their own, and a case of pinball in the Cardiff box minutes later saw Babel and Leto combine to send the ball off target again.

As expected Steven Gerrard continued to impress, with the Reds captain powering through as the half drew to a close. His run was ended as Kevin McNaughton looked to gain contact on the ball before taking the host skipper out of the equasion - though the referee decided that the tackle was illegal and went on to produce a yellow card for the right back.

The final move of note in the half then came as McPhail and Leto crunched together for a fifty-fifty ball - the brave midfielder needing some brief attention, though he managed to close the half with his team-mates still in the hunt.

HALF TIME: LIVERPOOL 0 - 0 CARDIFF

No changes were made immediately after the break, with Liverpool kicking off to get us underway. Our hosts were again at us from the off, though for some reason Babel and co wanted to walk the ball into the net after some impressive build up play.

After some early squandered efforts, the opening goal came out of the blue with an impressive shot to awaken the Anfield supporters from their slumber. Gerrard took the ball into the Cardiff half, then teed it sideways towards El Zhar who smashed a wonder strike from all of thirty yards that gave Oakes no chance whatsoever.

GOAL: LIVERPOOL 1 - 0 CARDIFF. El Zhar. 47 mins

Liverpool took the goal well and continued to impress going forward, continually making the City back-line work hard. Our hosts then came close to making a second as Crouch headed a ball onto Gerrard's path, with the England International running through Johnson and McNaughton before sending a low shot across Oakes' goal and narrowly wide.

The match was going to script, though City to their credit were hanging in there in the hope of a loose ball to offer a chance of a goal. We were given brief palpitations close to the hour as Jimmy's chip from the left of the area looked as if it may dip in at the last minute, though the luck was missing.

Closer action then followed minutes later as Joe Ledley forced his way into the Reds box, then smashing the ball at Itandje who saved well to send the ball out for a corner.

Liverpool were the first to make a change, with Youssi Benayoun coming on for Leto after sixty two minutes.

Moments later however, Cardiff managed to snatch a brief equaliser thanks to Parry's free-kick delivery from the right. The ball was sent in dangerously for Darren Purse to hit with a crisp header in between two red shirts - the ball firing into the back of the net in front of the ecstatic City fans.

GOAL: LIVERPOOL 1 - 1 CARDIFF. Purse. 64mins

While the equaliser was a sweet moment to behold, it was a shame that we couldn't savour the feeling for long. Almost immediately from the restart Benayoun made good of his introduction by picking up the ball from another solid Gerrard run, then firing himself into the box before sending a low returning ball to the Liverpool skipper.

Of course Gerrard then obliged with a sweet connection, sending the ball into the back of the net and spoiling our celebration before we could really start to enjoy it.

GOAL: LIVERPOOL 2 - 1 CARDIFF. Gerrard. 65 mins

Liverpool were constantly testing the City defences, with efforts continuing to rain on us though not fully taken advantage on by our hosts. Anfield then welcomed a returning Harry Kewell to the foldafter another long spell in the treatment room - Kewell's first touch coming straight away in the form of a scuffed shot after well presented by Babel. City then made a change of their own with sixteen minutes remaining by introducing Steve Thompson for Hasselbaink.

Michael Oakes may have been moved onto the bench following the arrival of Kasper Schmeichel, but the former Wolves man did his reputation no wrong with ten minutes remaining as he pulled off a great save to deny Crouch a headed goal following Babel's impressive cross.

Robbie then almost made it a dream return as presented in the box he managed to turn and set the ball on goal, but was denied by Arebola diving through.

As per our trip to Highbury two years ago, Cardiff looked to give the travelling faithful something to celebrate as the match was drawing to a close. Lucas saw his name etched into the referee's handbook after a foul on Parry on the right of the area - but the City fans were left sighing as the delivery was cleared after Chris Gunter had been introduced for McNaughton.

Changes followed as the match came to an end, seeing Whittingham and Masccherano coming on for McPhail and Lucas respectively.

Cardiff closed with another spell of pressure as Parry's last ditch shot was blocked and then cleared. Liverpool then had the last shout as Oakes again pulled off a good save to see us leave Anfield as credible losers to a world class team.

The final whistle came to see the Liverpool fans cheer off former favourite Robbie, but the Cardiff City fans still had much to take heart from following what was a display full of passion and guts from their team. We now hope to take this forward as a positive into more important matters next Tuesday at home to Palace.

FULL TIME: LIVERPOOL 2 - 1 CARDIFF