"During the course of your career you don't get the chance to play in many finals so when they do come along you have to grasp the opportunity with both hands and try your best to win it," he said.
"Chelsea will be well up for it because they are chasing three trophies but this is our best chance of lifting a trophy this season and we'll be giving it our best shot.
"It'll be strange going into the final as underdogs. If you previewed a match between Liverpool and Chelsea a few years ago you'd have said Chelsea were the underdogs but what Roman Abramovich has done at Stamford Bridge means they are now the favourites.
"Sometimes that can work against you though. We've got a good record at Cardiff and I think the pressure is on Chelsea. Everyone is expecting them to win it so we're going there with the intention of upsetting the odds.
"I think we've given it a good go against all the top sides at Anfield this season, including Chelsea, and proved that the gap between them and ourselves is not too big. We are still a little bit off the top three, which is disappointing, but I'm sure that, given time, the manager can get us back up there."
"It would a massive thing for me to lift that cup in Cardiff, especially with this being my first full season as captain.
"I've always said it would be a dream come true to lift a trophy for Liverpool. I know the Carling Cup is not renowned as the most illustrious of competitions but it's still a major trophy and I'm sure if we win it you'll see exactly what it means to me by the look on my face."