Liverpool booked their place in the Worthington Cup final, but were made to fight every inch of way after a plucky Sheffield United side took them to extra-time.
Trailing 2-1 from the first leg, Liverpool settled well and took just nine minutes to open the scoring when Emile Heskey laid the ball back for El Hadji Diouf, to allow the Senegal star to rifle a low shot home.
Liverpool looked set to push on from that goal and enjoyed the majority of possession, but United's resolute defending left the Reds frustrated, and while Neil Warnock's men struggled to create any chances of their own, they were doing enough to stop Liverpool from adding to their lead.
Diouf was unlucky not to have claimed a second goal when his first time volley bounced into the ground before coming back off the crossbar. Michael Owen was then let down by his first touch on the 32nd minute when Steven Gerrard's through ball looked to have set him free.
United made a better fight of it in the second half, but still struggled to create anything, while at the other end goalkeeper Patrick Kenny produced a string of fine saves to keep his side in the game. Kenny first charged out to block an effort from Owen, before beating the on rushing Smicer to another Gerrard through ball.
With extra-time looming, United were handed a late chance to steal into the final when the referee awarded them a free-kick just outside the penalty area after Kirkland handled the ball outside the area. However, Tommy Mooney's freekick was deflected for a corner. And so, with the aggregate score at 2-2, extra-time was needed.
Liverpool continued their domination, and on the 107th minute, Owen raced onto yet another fine pass from Gerrard, this time making no mistake in lobbing the ball over the on-rushing Kenny and confirming his side's trip to Cardiff.
Filed by Rob Wright
