Gerrard: Bellamy the new Gary Mac

Steven Gerrard believes Craig Bellamy can have the same impact for Liverpool as Gary McAllister during the treble season.

The 32-year-old Welshman scored the decisive goal to break Manchester City hearts and set up a Carling Cup final meeting with Cardiff City.

It was Bellamy's eighth strike since being released by City last summer despite not being in the starting 11 week in, week out.

For Gerrard, the striker's performances are reminiscent of McAllister, who also arrived at Anfield in the twilight of his career and went on to help the club win five trophies in a year.

"Craig has been superb since he's come in, he's a fantastic professional who works really hard and he got his rewards here," Gerrard told Liverpoolfc.tv.

"He was a menace all night - that's what type of player he is. He's in your face, he runs in behind, he doesn't let you settle on the ball and I'm sure if he carries on he can have the impact at this club that Gary McAllister did."

Gerrard and co dispatched the league leaders with the help of a raucous Anfield crowd, who responded to the weekend's defeat to Bolton by recreating the atmosphere of a Champions League encounter.

"People sign for this club to play in front of atmospheres like that," added Gerrard. "The lads are talking about it now, all the new signings.

"I'm sure the fans are going home very happy and already planning their trips to Wembley.

"We knew it, we knew if we could stay in this tie until the second leg that we'd have a huge advantage with our supporters. They were the key tonight.

"It was the kind of response we all wanted. The manager had a go at us and rightly so, and it was important that we showed the fans a massive reaction."

Championship hopefuls Cardiff now await Liverpool, but having been given a scare by lower league Birmingham City in the 2001 League Cup final, there is no danger of complacency from Gerrard.

"A big well done to everyone who has taken part in the Carling Cup so far, but the key message now is that it's not done," said the 31-year-old.

"Arsenal slipped up against Birmingham last year when they were massive favourites. I'm sure we'll be massive favourites but we've got to show Cardiff respect and put in the kind of performance we put in tonight.

"It's going to be the game of their lives, they're going to be right up for it. They are going to play at a level they've not played at before so it's important that we don't drop our standards. We've got to raise our game and if we do, I'm sure we can lift the cup."

Liverpool have not reached a final since 2007 when they lost to AC Milan in the Champions League.

For Gerrard it will also be a first trip to Wembley in a Liverpool shirt.

"It's been too long for this club to not be in a major cup final, so it's nice to finally get there," he said.

"It's going to be superb for myself. I've led the boys out at Cardiff before but to lead them out at the new Wembley stadium is going to be a special occasion for myself.

"Tonight was a tough game but we were brave, we were bold and we attacked, and we got our reward."

Next up for Liverpool is Saturday's FA Cup fourth round tie with Manchester United at Anfield.

Gerrard added: "We've got to dust ourselves down and get our recovery in because in just over 48 hours we've got a massive game in the FA Cup and we want to do the same in that competition - we want to go a long way."