Downing eyes third time lucky
Stewart Downing admits he's got added incentive to ensure Liverpool secure a hat-trick of Wembley appearances this season - because he doesn't want to accumulate a personal trio of FA Cup semi-final heartbreaks.
The winger netted the winner in Sunday's 2-1 quarter-final triumph over Stoke City to set up a last-four meeting with either Everton or Sunderland at the national stadium next month.
Downing previously reached the semi-final of the competition with former club Middlesbrough twice - but was on the losing side on both occasions.
It's something he doesn't want to experience again this time around.
"The semis is the worst place to lose," Downing said. "I played against West Ham in 2006 and how we lost that one I will never know.
"I was on the bench when Arsenal beat us 1-0 with an own goal so I have lost a couple.
"If you get to the semi-final and lose, I always say that you may as well have got knocked out in the first round because all the hard work means nothing.
"But I'm confident whoever we get, we can go there and get a result. You can see the confidence in the team.
"There is competition for places and everyone is on their toes, itching to play well."
Downing has already starred at Wembley for Liverpool this season, winning the match-of-the-match award for an energetic performance in last month's Carling Cup final success over Cardiff City.
The 27-year-old believes that performance has been the catalyst for an impressive run of form, which he continued against Stoke.
"It was a good performance in the Carling Cup final and I was pleased with everything, right the way through to the penalty I scored," he said.
"I feel as if I have been good since that day. I just want to keep playing well and stay in the team.
"Winning breeds confidence and I am enjoying it.
"It was frustrating at times against Stoke but the manager said 'keep running at them and looking to create'.
"Me and Stevie (Gerrard) played a one-two that didn't quite go as we planned but I managed to put it away for the winner. We got a bit of luck and we were due some of that."
So far this season, Liverpool have successfully navigated 11 domestic cup matches without defeat.
Downing is confident the Reds have what it takes to transfer that form into their Barclays Premier League games.
He said: "The league is all about getting points on the board and we have been disappointing a little bit. We have played good football and created a lot of chances. We just haven't had that clinical finishing.
"Hopefully it will come together in the next couple of weeks and we can push for fourth place. It is a tough ask but we have still got to keep going. You just never know what might happen."
Next up for Liverpool is a trip to Queens Park Rangers on Wednesday night as Kenny Dalglish's side look to build on impressive Anfield victories over Everton and Stoke.
"We have got to beat QPR," added Downing.
"If we keep playing as we are and creating chances, we can go there and win comfortably. It's a big game for us.
"We have got to start better than we did against Stoke. If we do we will win."