Liverpool midfielder Charlie Adam aware of Cardiff threat

Liverpool midfielder Charlie Adam returns to Wembley for the first time since scoring a play-off winner for Blackpool well aware of the threat posed by underdogs.

The Scotland international scored with a stunning 25-yard free-kick as the Seasiders earned promotion to the Barclays Premier League with a 3-2 victory over Cardiff in 2010.

Coincidentally the Bluebirds provide the opposition in the Carling Cup final on Sunday but this time it is Adam's team who are the favourites against the npower Championship side.

But the 26-year-old knows from recent experience what the less-fancied club in a final is capable of.

"When I played there in the play-off final it was a great occasion for Blackpool because we were underdogs," he said.

"You always give respect to the opposition, no matter who you're playing.

"They've come a long way, they're a good side, with a good manager and they are on the right road.

"They've been in the play-offs for a number of years but they've just not had the luck to get to the Premier League - that's the difference."

Ironically Cardiff have been to Wembley more times than Liverpool in the last few years, having also been runners-up in the 2008 FA Cup.

Sunday will be the Reds' first final for five years and their last silverware was in 2006, which is why this trophy has taken on such significance for them.

However, Adam insists the players are not thinking of it as the springboard on which the next chapter of the club's history can be launched.

"We only concentrate on the next game - and the next game for us is the Carling Cup final," he added.

"We don't look too far ahead and say, 'If we beat this team it is going to help us against this team'.

"We take each game as it comes and if on the day we're good enough to win then we're good enough to win.

"If we don't, we'll look at it, dust ourselves down and then go again and try to win the next match.

"But we want to win trophies. Getting the opportunity to do it at Wembley will be nice, and we know if we play as well as we can on the day we'll have a chance of winning the trophy."

PA