In the wake of securing an FA Cup final spot with a 2-1 win over Everton at Wembley, Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish has expressed his pride in the players.
The red half of Merseyside battled back after trailing at half-time to dispose their local neighbours and book a third visit to Wembley this season as a result. A delighted Dalglish subsequently told his post-match press conference: “I think the players that were out there – and the players that have made a contribution throughout the whole run in the FA Cup – have been fantastic for the football club.
“Their attitude, application and intent in getting that positive result from today’s game was there for everybody to see.
“Whether it’s deserved or not, people are going to have their own opinion on it – but everything needed to win a football game, we showed today as a team.”
A late headed goal from Andy Carroll put Liverpool through after strike partner Luis Suarez had equalised in the 62nd minute. The Carling Cup winners will now face either Tottenham Hotspur or Chelsea in the final on Saturday 5th May 2012.
“We started the game well, Everton scored and came into it, and then we picked up again just after half-time,” continued Dalglish.
“As a group of players, and as a football club, I think it was fantastic. Although it’s not been too good over the past few weeks in the league, that is now two cup finals (this season) – one we’ve won and the other one we’re now looking forward to. That gives everybody who supports Liverpool Football Club a lift.
“We’ve got a great deal of respect for David Moyes and Everton Football Club, and coming from the same city as ourselves we’re not sitting here gloating – but we’re very proud and pleased it’s us in the final.”
The opportunity to secure a domestic cup double will go some way to softening the pain of a disastrous league campaign which had seen Liverpool embark on their worse run of results since 1956. The club’s Director of Football Damien Comolli has since lost his job and the owners Fenway Sports Group have left nobody in any doubt that their patience is running out.
“It’s testimony to everybody’s character at the football club,” claimed the 61-year-old Scot. “They’ve held themselves together, held their resolve and they’ve come back and responded very positively to what has not been a great period in the football club’s history.
“It’s not time for us to sit down and individualise performances and go through each and everybody that was on the pitch.
“It’s a time for us to enjoy the moment, be respectful to Everton Football Club, and also over the next two or three days get ourselves back to work and make sure we get ourselves really focused in the league games and the cup final that’s due to come up because it’s not a tap you can turn on and off, if they don’t keep going, then we won’t get any success.”
The semi-final was played against the backdrop of the 23rd anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster and the recent death of Gary Ablett, who starred for both clubs. Together the two sets of fans impeccably observed a minute’s silence ahead of kick-off and combined to produce a great atmosphere throughout the contest.
Dalglish rightly highlighted the point by adding: “Once again, both sets of fans were an absolute credit to the city of Liverpool. The way they conducted themselves was as good as it has been on the previous occasions I’ve been here.
“I’d be saying that whether we’d won or lost. It’s a city that should be very proud of the football clubs that represent it.”
Click here to read the full Vital Liverpool match report of the game
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