Dirk Kuyt says Liverpool need to put all thoughts of Wembley on hold for now and concentrate on the small matter of hosting arch-rivals Manchester United in the FA Cup fourth round on Saturday (Liverpol 8/5, United 7/4, draw 9/4 – Match Prices).

The Reds qualified for the Carling Cup final on Wednesday after a 3-2 aggregate win over Manchester City and next month’s visit to Wembley will be the club’s first since the 1996 FA Cup final.

Liverpool did enjoy regular trips to Cardiff between 2001 and 2006 during the national stadium’s redevelopment and ironically it is Cardiff City who they will face in next month’s final (Cardiff 7/2, Liverpool 1/6 – Carling Cup Outright).

But Kuyt says any thought of lifting the first trophy since 2006 must be put on the back-burner because of United’s impending visit to Anfield.

“We can be happy about what we have achieved in reaching Wembley, but we have to put that aside because there’s another massive game coming up on Saturday against Manchester United and it would be great to knock them out as well,” the Dutchman told the club’s website.

“It’s great to have two great games in a week and, like I said, we are all focusing already on the next game and we’re desperate to win it.”

Kuyt was delighted with the Reds’ response to a poor showing at Bolton last weekend and believes the City result proves they can mix it with the best when at the top of their game.

“I think that is one thing we showed against City – that we can compete with the best teams in England – and that’s the only way to reserve (a place in) the final,” he added.

“The performance the team put in was great. I think the team worked really hard and we deserved to go to the final.”