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Gerrard hopes for new era

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Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has demanded his club's Carling Cup final victory is just the start of a successful new era.

Reina also targets trophy-laden years to come at Liverpool

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has demanded his club's Carling Cup final victory is just the start of a successful new era. Kenny Dalglish guided the Anfield outfit to an incredibly dramatic penalty shoot-out success over a valiant Cardiff at Wembley on Sunday following a 2-2 draw after extra-time. Gerrard was the man to lift the cup, Liverpool's first piece of silverware since the 2006 FA Cup, and the England international wants the club to continue to progress. "The important thing now is to enjoy this cup final and then we need to build on it," he told Sky Sports. "It would be stupid if we accept just this. We need more, we want more." Gerrard admitted to feeling mixed emotions after cousin Anthony's missed penalty handed Liverpool a dramatic 3-2 shoot-out victory over Cardiff.

Delighted

Both Gerrards missed spot-kicks, but it was Anthony's which proved crucial at the end. Steven Gerrard said: "It's always cruel when it comes to penalties, but there has to be a loser. "It was always going to be that one of us was sad and one celebrating. I've got mixed emotions. Obviously I'm delighted to win the cup for our supporters, but I feel for Anthony and Cardiff. "It doesn't matter what I say to him - he's going to be down. I'll be there for him and all the family will be behind him." Liverpool have a habit of making life difficult for themselves in cup finals, including the 2001 UEFA Cup, FA Cup and League Cup, 2005 UEFA Champions League and 2006 FA Cup.
Hard way
And Gerrard, who played in all of those wins, said: "We always do it the hard way, but it doesn't matter how you do it as long as you get there in the end. "Credit to Cardiff, they made a real good game of it. Unfortunately there has always got to be a loser, because they maybe didn't deserve to lose today." Goalkeeper Jose Reina is also looking forward to what he wants to be a new phase of trophy successes. "I hope so," said the Spaniard when asked if this would be the first of many pieces of silverware. "We are optimistic. "But we know, the teams up there (in the Premier League), they are strong as well. They fight with the best and they spend some money in the summer. "It will be tougher and tougher, so we have to be prepared."

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