The Reds came from behind to beat neighbours Everton and reach the FA Cup final at Wembley. A much improved second half performance from the Reds saw the Reds equalise just after the hour and then win it three minutes from the final whistle thanks to Andy Carroll.
The day was always going to be emotional and I have to say playing Everton was a fitting game a day prior to the 23rd anniversary of Hillsborough. Nearly 90,000 were packed in to Wembley and Everton played their part in the who day and their fans do deserve credit for their part in the silence and tribute to the 96. Both sides also stood shoulder to shoulder in support of Gary Ablett who died at the start of this very cup run.
The two sides came out and both captains presented wreaths for the families of the 96 before getting set for a semi final match. Everton got the game started with the sides defending their own end in the first half.
It was a typically slow start to a semi as both teams looked to take control of the game as a whole. For me the Reds settled down reasonably well and on three minutes Spearing blasted a shot over the bar from the edge of the box after being well set by Carroll.
A few minutes later and Leighton Baines put a free kick just over the bar from a decent position.
It wasn't a case of one team settling fully though as neither could really get a grip of the game. As it did start to settle down though it was Everton who were doing all the hassling of us and pushing their side forward more.
With the Blues being in the ascendancy it meant the play was pushed right up in to our half.
On twenty four minutes Everton took the lead trough Nikica Jelavic and it was so avoidable. The ball fell in to our area in front of Agger and Carragher yet they both stood there and debated who would kick it. Eventually when Carragher cleared he hit it against Cahill and the ball rebounded straight to Jelavic who pushed the ball under the onrushing Jones.
All the noise was coming from that end of the ground now but we had plenty of time to come back but we really hadn't settled down properly for my liking.
We reacted well enough to the goal without overly troubling Everton. For me it was the territory that was doing us the damage. By not using too much pace it allowed them to hunt in their packs and hold their position higher up the pitch.
The first yellow card of the day came on thirty six minutes as Sylvain Distin went through Suarez and although play was allowed to continue at the time as soon as the ball went out the ref went back to book him and rightly so. This was the second time he got far too tight to Suarez and brought him down.
As the half drew to a close Jelavic curled a free kick just wide of the target whilst the Reds continued to leave Suarez and Carroll to isolated and that continued to concede territory to them. Our build up play was too slow and that always allowed them to get behind the ball to easily. Whenever we got near the area and looked up it was like three Reds to eight blues and that's never going to work.
Half time for me was clear - up the pace and push the Everton midfield backwards ten yards. That would allow us to get in to the game more and the chances would come as a result.
The second half came and the Reds started it off with no changes on either side. The half gave me exactly what I thought was needed and that was pace and desire which gave us the territory more and the chances which we would take eventually.
In fact just two minutes in to the half is when we should have been back on level terms when Downing crossed the ball and Andy Carroll met it superbly only to guide the ball wide. It looked easier to score and even seeing it again later on replays I can't believe he missed.
The Reds were the better side in the half now and Everton were struggling for any kind of form which was good for us.
My only concern - a potentially crucial one was how jittery the defence looked for us and Brad Jones gives no confidence with crosses to me and the defence itself looked too dithery.
Just short of the hour Skrtel and Jelavic tangled on half way and after Everton were rightly given the free kick both players were booked for the afters which was more of a storm in a tea cup really.
The pressure was their from the Reds though and it paid off after sixty two minutes when Distin tried a back pass but hit it far too lightly and Suarez who had pressured him was on it like a shot. Suarez sprinted through and managed to get to the ball first and then poked it under Howard as he came out and the scores were all square now.
The sides were level in score now but the play was with the Reds as Everton now struggled to get men up to their forwards.
Jordan Henderson picked up a booking on seventy three minutes for dissent as he continued to moan at the ref for not getting a decision. I might have agree with him but you have to let them go at some point.
It proved to be pretty much the end of his game as he was subbed for Maxi a couple of minutes later despite even Gerrard trying to calm him down.
On seventy eight minutes Andy Carroll went close with a shot which flew just wide of the goal. Seamus Coleman was booked after this as well for a hand ball in the lead up.
The Reds made their second change on eighty four minutes when Craig Bellamy replaced Stewart Downing. The Reds were the better side by a distance at the time and I just thought that if we could create a chance we'd win this.
The clock was running down and the Reds attacked down the left but Coleman hacked Gerrard down from behind. Surely a yellow card offence but the ref spared Coleman I think because he'd already been booked. The Reds though would punish Everton more than a sending off now. The free kick was whipped in by Craig Bellamy and Andy Carroll rose well to head home in front of the Reds fans.
The goal proved enough for the Reds as we saw out he final minutes with some ease to be honest. In fact if anyone was going to score again it was us and Maxi hit the post with a shot after Suarez had run the ball along the goal line.
The final whistle came though and the Reds were now thinking about another trip to Wembley for the cup final with a team to be decided. It's one of the sad things to me these days that both semi finals aren't played at the same time but that would need neutral venue's as well. The good old days eh. That said winning this one was very nice indeed and just three weeks to sort out some good form for a final.
MotM : Luis Suarez - played superbly all day and worked hard throughout - even when he got little service in the first half.
