SKRTEL: 2012 LEAGUE CUP FINAL EXAMINED

Premier League heavyweights Liverpool made a big transfer coup when they signing Slovakian national team star Martin Skrtel from Zenit Saint Petersburg at the start of 2008. Liverpool signed Skrtel from Zenit in a £6.5m deal in January 2008 and he went on to establish himself at the club, forming a potent centre back partnership with Danish player Daniel Agger.

Martin Skrtel played 319 times for Liverpool, netting 18 goals in the process before he signed for Turkish Super League giants Fenerbahce in the summer of 2016.Apart from Fenerbahce, Martin Skrtel also spent some of his post-Liverpool playing career at Istanbul Basaksehir in the Turkish top flight and Spartak Trvana in his native Slovakia as he returned to where it all began for him. Skrtel started his professional career at AS Trencin before moving to Russian club football giants Zenit Saint Petersburg.

Skrtel spent over eight years at Liverpool and he had one major trophy to show for his troubles. The Slovakian football icon was in the Liverpool squad that saw off lower league opposition in the form of Welsh team Cardiff City during the 2012League Cup final clash on the way to winning the 2011/12 League Cup title. During the aforementioned League Cup final, Martin Skrtel scored on the hour mark to level matters for the Reds and take the game to extra time.

Cardiff City took the lead during the League Cup final thanks to the 19th minute strike from Joe Mason who was able to breach the centre back partnership of Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel. Danish defender Agger made way for club legend Jamie Carragher

In extra time, Dutchman Dirk Kuyt scored five minutes after coming on as a substitute for Andy Carroll in the 103rd minute. Ben Turner then scored for the Bluebirds with two minutesof extra time left to play to take the game to penalties. Liverpool thereafter won the shootout 3-2 to win the League Cup title.