Liverpool FC will play Cardiff City AFC in the English League Cup final after a thrilling 2-2 draw at home against Manchester City FC completed a 3-2 aggregate success for Kenny Dalglish's charges.

The Premier League leaders twice took the lead at Anfield thanks to goals in either half from Nigel de Jong and Edin Džeko but the hosts responded swiftly on both occasions with Steven Gerrard's penalty and Craig Bellamy's strike booking a place in the showpiece on 26 February.

City cancelled out the hosts' first-leg advantage when De Jong curled in a sublime effort from distance after 31 minutes. Gerrard's penalty had separated the sides in the first meeting and when Micah Richards was penalised for handball nine minutes later, the Reds' captain again registered from the spot.

Joe Hart made a string of saves to keep Roberto Mancini's men in the tie and his interventions appeared decisive when Aleksandar Kolarov's cross was turned in by Džeko midway through the second half.

Liverpool roused themselves again, though, and Bellamy made it 2-2 after 74 minutes by exchanging passes with Glen Johnson before sweeping in a low finish to secure a place in the final against second-tier Cardiff.