Liverpool won the League Cup for the first time on 1 April 1981, coming from behind to beat West Ham United 2–1 at Villa Park. Kenny Dalglish and Alan Hansen scored in quick succession during the first half, and Bob Paisley's side held their lead to the finish.
The Wembley final had ended 1–1 after extra time, Ray Stewart's last-minute penalty cancelling out Alan Kennedy's late goal. Liverpool's only previous final appearance, against Nottingham Forest in 1978, had also gone to a replay. On that occasion they had lost.
Phil Thompson returned to captain the side at Villa Park, with Ian Rush partnering Dalglish in attack. Jimmy Case also started after coming off the bench at Wembley. Colin Irwin, Steve Heighway and Graeme Souness were the players displaced from the original final's starting eleven.
Paul Goddard gave West Ham an early advantage. Liverpool answered after 25 minutes when Dalglish volleyed in, supplied by Terry McDermott. Hansen then headed home from a corner, with Case credited with the assist, to put Liverpool ahead before the half-hour.
There were no further goals. The replay had produced all its scoring before the interval, and this time West Ham found no late equaliser. Before a crowd of 36,693, Thompson lifted a trophy Liverpool had never previously won.