Rafael Benitez gave first starts to Nabil El Zhar and Jack Hobbs yesterday and both played their parts in Liverpool's win. El Zhar opened the scoring with a fine shot from 25 yards while Hobbs was a commanding presence at the back alongside Jamie Carragher.
It was returning hero Robbie Fowler who had the game's first chance, a free kick on the edge of the 18 yard box. His shot was comfortably saved by Charles Itandje.
Three minutes later it was the Reds' turn to attack. Ryan Babel and Peter Crouch combined well before the Dutch international fired his shot over the bar. Crouch then shot just wide before Fabio Aurelio had a rasping 30 yard shot pushed out for a corner.
After 20 minutes Alvaro Arbeloa sent a lovely cross into the six yard box and Lucas rose free at the back post but sent his header over the bar. Sebastian Leto then fired a shot over the bar and into the Anfield Road end.
The Reds started the second half well and finally took a deserved lead after 48 minutes. El Zhar received the ball 25 yards out from Steven Gerrard and with the Cardiff defence backing off he tried his luck. A marvellous finish found the top right hand corner and Liverpool were 1-0 up.
Cardiff hadn't troubled Carragher and Hobbs to this point but the Championship side forced an equaliser after 65 minutes when Darren Purse rose highest to meet a free kick and headed home.
Parity was restored for less than sixty seconds. From the re-start subsitute Yossi Benayoun powered towards goal and with everyone expecting him to shoot he instead slid the ball across the area to the waiting Gerrard to score his third goal in three successive games and restore the Reds' lead.
Peter Crouch could have added a third late on when he met a good cross from Babel put his header was saved by the keeper. Benayoun also came close but in the end 2-1 was enough to see Liverpool through.
