ANALYSIS/ Mark LawrensonIt's amazing how when you don't win a trophy one season the League Cup suddenly concentrates your mind the next. It's ironic, too, that in the final year of the sponsor's contract they've probably got their dream final line-up; if they could be guaranteed Manchester United v Liverpool every year they'd probably come back for more.

In fairness to Liverpool, they've never abused the competition. For United, though, the League Cup has always been fourth of four in their list of priorities, but I think, this year, they feel it offers them their best chance of a trophy.

They won't admit it, of course, but I think they believe Arsenal will win the league and they know how tough it will be to win the Champions League. The League Cup suddenly becomes important.

That United and Liverpool have reached the final, by fielding relatively strong teams throughout, was, I believe, an acknowledgment Arsenal would take the big prize - the league.

For Liverpool it's just been a desperately disappointing season. I felt they were capable of moving up a level if they showed a little more adventure. As a manager, Gerard Houllier is Mr Counter-Attack. His team has such a defensive look about it. The full backs, Jamie Carragher and Djimi Traore, are decent defenders but they're not good going forward; in a midfield of Steve Gerrard, Danny Murphy and Dietmar Hamann you have two defensive players, so you have six defensive-minded players, plus the goalkeeper.

Look at the attacking options the top four teams in the Premiership have - Pires, Ljungberg, Scholes, Beckham, Dyer, Jenas. Then you look at Liverpool and they are paupers by comparison. If Michael Owen doesn't score where will the goals come from?

You just have to say, "Hold on a minute, Gerard, we're not talking brain surgery here". I don't know why he hasn't changed it, I just think it's the way he sets his teams up and he knows no other way. When Gerrard gets on the ball his only option is a long ball to Owen - it's worse than Ireland under Jack.

But? Having said all of that I have a sneaking suspicion, for all Liverpool's troubles, they might just nick it tomorrow. Why? Because they're going into a cup final where they don't have to change their tactics, the way United play suits Liverpool - pushing on, players getting forward, Liverpool pushed back, then going on the counter-attack.

There will be no onus on Liverpool to take the game to United. They'll make sure they're competitive in midfield, where you can stifle United.

Midfield is the key, as it always is when these teams play. If United win midfield Owen won't get any supply; if Liverpool win it Ruud van Nistlerooy won't see much of the ball. I think it's more imperative, though, for Liverpool to take a grip of midfield.

Yes, that was a very good United performance in the Champions League on Tuesday, but you have to temper it with the fact Juventus were average - and defensively they were hopeless.

Of course Roy Keane playing in defence was the big talking point. With Wes Brown struggling, Keane may play at the back again tomorrow, but I'd leave him in midfield. With the players United have, that's where they need him most. Having him there releases Paul Scholes to go forward and score goals.

Undoubtedly Keane has lost half a yard, that burst that had him on top of midfield players before they knew it is gone - if you watch him now he's just getting there as they're releasing the ball. But he can still have an enormous effect on the side. He play at the back whenever he wants, he's good enough, but, for now, he's a midfielder in my book.

But I have a feeling he won't be lifting the cup tomorrow. Apart from that Jerzy Dudek-inspired defeat at Anfield this season, Liverpool have had the better of United in recent seasons. Daft as it sounds, I see it going to extra time and penalties, with Dudek making a couple of saves, making up for that horror show. Football, as we know, can be like that.

In an interview with Mary Hannigan