DIRK KUYT hopes making the Carling Cup final can finally see him end his Liverpool FC trophy drought - but the Dutchman says focus must be on the visit of Manchester United.

Kenny Dalglish's men booked their place at Wembley next month after beating Manchester City 3-2 on aggregate on a scintillating night at Anfield this week and Kuyt dreams it can mark the end of an unwanted personal record.

Signed in the summer of 2006, Kuyt has endured a frustrating wait to lift silverware with Liverpool and not since the days of Emlyn Hughes has a bought first team regular gone so long without lifting a winners' medal.

Hughes, signed in 1967, won the League Championship and UEFA Cup in 1973 to end his barren run and though 2006 acquisition Daniel Agger still looks for a winners' medal, his Liverpool career has been blighted by serious injury.

Kuyt, who played in the 2007 Champions League final defeat to AC Milan, wants February's game with Cardiff City to end of his series of near misses.

But the 31-year-old insists thoughts must be on extending a run in the FA Cup this weekend as bitter rivals United come to Anfield on Saturday (12.45pm) before any dreams of Wembley.

And to make progress into the fifth round, Kuyt says Liverpool cannot slip from the standard they set in midweek against City.