• FA Cup

Jubilant Gerrard eyeing more cup glory for Liverpool

ESPN staff
March 18, 2012
Steven Gerrard has his eyes on another trophy © Getty Images
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Steven Gerrard said he was relishing his side's second trip to Wembley in the space of just a few weeks after helping Liverpool into the semi-finals of the FA Cup with a 2-1 victory over Stoke at Anfield.

The Reds have been drawn to face either Everton or Sunderland in the last four, after goals from Luis Suarez and Stewart Downing saw off Stoke. For the Liverpool skipper, the prospect of a domestic Carling Cup and FA Cup double is on the cards.

''It'll be a fantastic feeling if we can deliver another cup for the supporters,'' Gerrard told ITV. ''It's never easy against a tough physical side like Stoke. It was even stevens for the first half, but in the second I think we took over and controlled the game."

The winning goal had a hint of good fortune about it after Gerrard played an inadvertent one-two with Downing after running slightly ahead of the ball and knocking the ball into the path of his England team-mate, but the Liverpudlian was unapologetic afterwards.

''It was a little bit of luck, but against Stoke in two league games this season we had about 30-40 efforts on goal and we never got that little break that you need sometimes to beat these teams.

''Today we got the luck and Stewart took his goal fantastically well, and off we go to Wembley for the second time.''

Downing, meanwhile, was delighted for the chance to return to Wembley but sounded a note of caution ahead of a potentially explosive semi-final against their local rivals. ''We're pleased we're getting there but it's a big job to win again and get to the final,'' the winger said.

Reds boss Kenny Dalglish heaped praise on match-winner Downing, who has had a chequered time during his first full season at the club. ''Stewart's a really good player - a good turn of pace and a great left foot," Dalglish said. "He's done us proud. He's got us in the semi-final with his winning goal so that won't do anybody any harm.''

Dalglish added of his side's overall display: ''If you don't put a decent performance in against Stoke, you don't get a positive result. It's not the best we've passed and moved it, and a great credit goes to Stoke because they've worked really hard.

''It was quite a frenetic game at the beginning but I think we finished the stronger team. We defended really well and we weren't afraid to put our bodies on the line either.''

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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