Steven Gerrard fired Liverpool into the Carling Cup final and ended brave Watford's dreams of Cardiff glory at Vicarage Road.

The England midfielder had given the Reds the narrowest of margins to defend from the first leg two weeks ago.

And the Reds' skipper made sure there would be no repeat of their FA Cup humiliation at Burnley with a late second-half strike to give boss Rafael Benitez the chance to secure some silverware in his maiden season at Anfield against either Manchester United or Chelsea next month.

The Coca-Cola Championship side had already put out top-flight clubs Southampton and Portsmouth here this season but knew they had to score to stand any chance of progressing further.

And they started brightly in front of a partisan crowd, Hameur Bouazza almost getting away down the left channel before Steve Finnan hacked clear.

Gerrard was, though, also full of early running, and a neat one-two with John Arne Riise nearly made an opening for a shot from the edge of the Watford box.

Watford hustled well around the midfield and restricted the Barclays Premiership club to some hopeful punts into the box rather than anything which would cause former Red Paul Jones much concern in the host's goal.

The Hornets were looking to get Heidar Helguson clear behind the Liverpool backline as often as possible. In the 11th minute, Gavin Mahon's run and pass put the Icelander through but the assistant's flag was swiftly raised.

Liverpool could have taken the upper hand after 17 minutes when Riise swung the ball in from the left and it needed a timely header from Jay Demerit to clear, with Fernando Morientes lurking in the six-yard box.

The home crowd were then warmed when Paul Devlin sent James Chambers away down the right but his centre was cut out and the resulting corner came to nothing.

In the 27th minute, Gerrard fed Morientes on the edge of the Watford box. The former Real Madrid striker got plenty on his shot but crucially so did Neil Cox and the ball spun just wide of Jones' left-hand post.

At the other end, Helguson's knockdown set up a chance for Mahon but the Hornet's skipper could not keep his effort on target.

In the 32nd minute, Liverpool should have better when Gerrard broke down the left after his defence had cleared a Watford free-kick.

The England man surged to the edge of the area, only to then make a complete hash of his attempted square ball to Morientes, delivering an uncharacteristic stray pass a couple of yards behind the Spain striker who would have had a clear shot on goal.

Watford upped the tempo as the break approached but despite some positive approach play they did not really trouble the Liverpool back four.

However, the Watford fans were screaming for a penalty when Bouazza went to ground in the box following Finnan's challenge but referee Mike Riley was unmoved.

It needed a saving tackle from Cox to stop Baros in his tracks as the Czech striker raced into the Watford box not long after the start of the second half, before Morientes sent an ambitious 15-yard bicycle kick over the crossbar.

Helguson held the ball up well on the edge of the Liverpool box but could not find Bouazza with a pass inside the defence.

Jermaine Darlington's drilled cross from the left then had to be hacked away by Mauricio Pellegrino as the home supporters turned up the volume.

With 55 minutes gone Lewington introduced former Manchester United youngster Danny Webber for Bouazza but it was soon Liverpool's turn to have an appeal for a penalty turned away when Gerrard collapsed somewhat theatrically under pressure from Chambers, Riley again unimpressed.

With the match entering its closing stages and Liverpool still ahead, the Hornets had to raise their game if they were to revive the tie.

Morientes could have made sure of the result when the ball dropped to him just inside the box but was soon crowded out by a determined home defence.

And it was left to skipper Gerrard to book his side's place in the final with a well-worked goal after 77 minutes.

The England midfielder won the ball in the air, before collecting Riise's quick pass and holding off the Watford defence to slot past Jones' right hand from the edge of the box.

Helguson headed over from a corner with six minutes left but it was not to be for the Championship side as the travelling Liverpool fans celebrated another appearance in the final of the League Cup.

The only worry for Liverpool was an injury to Florent Sinama-Pongolle who, two minutes after coming on as an 85th-minute substitute for Baros, was carried off on a stretcher after falling awkwardly and appearing to injure his right knee.

Teams:

Watford Jones, Darlington, Cox, Demerit, Chambers, Devlin (McNamee 80), Gunnarsson (Dyer 77), Mahon, Ardley, Bouazza (Webber 56), Helguson.

Subs Not Used: Chamberlain, Doyley.

Liverpool Dudek, Carragher, Pellegrino, Traore, Riise, Finnan, Gerrard (Potter 90), Hamann, Biscan, Baros (Sinama Pongolle 85), Morientes, Sinama Pongolle (Luis Garcia 89).

Subs Not Used: Carson, Warnock.

Goals: Gerrard 77.

Agg (0-2) Att: 19,797

Ref: M Riley (W Yorkshire).