Liverpool enjoyed one of the most memorable days in its recent history on Sunday to beat arch-rivals Manchester United 2-0, win the League Cup final and secure a place in next season's UEFA Cup.
Goals near the end of each half at the Millennium Stadium from Steven Gerrard (39) and Michael Owen (86) gave them a deserved victory over United and secured their sixth piece of silverware under French coach Gerard Houllier and a record seventh success in the competition.
The win also lifted some of the gloom surrounding Anfield following a dramatic slump in their domestic league form over the last three months which has brought them just two wins in their last 16 league games.
Houllier, who paid tribute to his Polish keeper Jerzy Dudek, told Sky Sports, "We've beaten a good team today, it was a good Manchester United, don't get me wrong.
"Jerzy was the hero at times. I told him before the game `Today it will be your game.'"
As for the significance of the win for the rest of Liverpool's season, he said, "It will probably get us a bit of relief. I think we can play in the Premiership with less pressure on us because we know we'll be in Europe, so let's go now for the best."
Owen said, "That [the goal] was the first real chance I had in the game -- but you have to play until the 90th minute.
"I'm delighted for everyone, for the fans who made the long journey down and the players -- we have taken a bit of stick this year, we haven't had a great year."
United manager Alex Ferguson added to the praise for Dudek, saying, "They got the break in the first goal with the deflection. There was nothing really in the game in the first half.
"In the second half, the deciding factor was their goalkeeper. I thought he was absolutely fantastic. I don't know how many saves he made but every one was fantastic."
Liverpool was always more determined and lively than United in what has become a happy "second home" for them.
Sunday's win was their third here after victories in the 2001 League and FA Cup finals. They also beat Manchester United 2-1 in Cardiff in the 2001 Charity Shield game.
Ferguson's team created enough chances, especially in the second half to earn Dudek the Man of the Match Award, but overall, Liverpool was more incisive and took its chances when they came.
Gerrard's booming 30m drive in the 39th minute, which took a deflection off David Beckham as he tried to block it, looked to have settled the clash which only came to life after his goal following a largely scrappy opening half.
But Owen, whose two late goals sank Arsenal in the 2001 FA Cup final, raced away on the break after Rio Ferdinand, United's ?30 million England defender, had given away the ball on the halfway line, to fire a second past Fabien Barthez and put the result beyond doubt.
United went close to an equalizer just before the interval when a shot from Juan Sebastian Veron was punched clear by Dudek and a follow-up shot from Paul Scholes was cleared off the line by Stephane Henchoz.
"I think I was in the right place at the right moment," Henchoz said. "It was important because we had just scored the first goal and it was important go in at halftime with that goal advantage."
Ruud van Nistelrooy twice forced excellent saves from Dudek in the second half, but Beckham, Veron and Wales' most famous footballing son Ryan Giggs failed to deliver for United who were well-beaten in the end.
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