Reds returning to Wembley
A sensational strike from Luis Suarez helped Liverpool book a place in the FA Cup semi-finals.
The Reds beat Stoke City 2-1 at Anfield, with Stewart Downing netting the winner after a controversial Peter Crouch goal cancelled out the stunning opener.
A trip to Wembley is the prize for Liverpool less than a month after they triumphed there in the Carling Cup final.
The game got underway following a round of applause in support of Bolton midfielder Fabrice Muamba as he receives treatment in hospital.
Kenny Dalglish made just one change to the team that beat Everton 3-0 on Tuesday, Maxi Rodriguez replacing Jordan Henderson. And it was the Argentine who mustered the first attempt on goal after three minutes, nodding marginally over the crossbar from a Steven Gerrard free-kick.
Stoke responded with lofted passes to top scorer Crouch, and though most of his headers were won, Liverpool were usually smart to the second ball.
The match was developing into a nondescript encounter until 23 minutes, when Suarez received possession midway inside the Stoke half. The No.7 found Maxi, who returned the pass first time before watching Suarez control and then thunder into the bottom corner from 20 yards.
It was irresistible stuff, but three minutes later Liverpool had to start over. Crouch, left free inside the box, headed the leveller, but it was the decision by referee Kevin Friend to award a corner in the first place that prompted uproar in the stands. Pepe Reina was booked for his protests, though television replays proved the Spaniard correct: it had been Stoke defender Ryan Shawcross who directed the ball out of play.
Liverpool surged, Andy Carroll volleying acrobatically into the Kop from a Jay Spearing cross. The contest was now alive. For Stoke, Jonathan Walter sprinted down the right but failed to test Reina with his strike.
There was an illustration of intent from the hosts within 30 seconds of the restart, Gerrard drilling towards the corner of the net only for Thomas Sorensen to save.
Not long after that Suarez needed to be more emphatic with his forehead from a Downing dead ball. His header bounced wide.
It was 57 minutes before the lead was restored when Downing performed a give and go with Gerrard before continuing his sprint into the box and finishing calmly past the goalkeeper.
A decent passing move brought possession to Dirk Kuyt- who'd replaced Maxi - but the Dutchman's whack from 20 yards was collected by Sorensen.
Suarez attempted to navigate the Dane with an ambitious effort using the outside of his right foot but 2-1 it remained.
Spearing also tried his luck, while there was a rare moment of danger when substitute Cameron Jerome found space in the penalty area before being challenged by Martin Kelly.
The one sour note for Liverpool was the sight of Suarez limping from the pitch in the closing moments, but the result puts them into the semi-finals of the Cup for the first time since 2006.
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