Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard believes reaching the FA Cup final will provide some compensation for the club under performing this season. The chances of Champions League qualification have disappeared after just three wins in 2012 but Liverpool still have the chance to add to February's Carling Cup triumph, their first trophy for six years. Despite coming up short in the Barclays Premier League, Gerrard believes two finals in one season will represent progress. But first they have to get past Everton in Saturday's semi-final.
"Everyone's frustrated with the league position, we won't hide that fact," the England midfielder said. "The simple facts are our league campaign hasn't been good enough. "We're all frustrated and the players have under-delivered in the league, all of us. "Not just the new signings, not just certain individuals, all of us have under-delivered in the league but we've done fantastically in the cups. "We had three targets at the beginning of the season. One was top four and then we wanted to have two cup runs and I think we've done fantastically well. "There's one more big hurdle to get over and to deliver two cup finals would be an unbelievable achievement. "I think if this team, this squad, delivers two major cup finals in one season, it can turn the season into a success." Everton may be in better form heading into the semi-final but Gerrard believes Liverpool's successful trip to the capital in February gives them confidence. "It will help us having been to Wembley. It was a lot of our squad's first experience of being there so that experience can only help us," he added. "The Carling Cup run has helped us and given us a taste of Wembley and that is the reason why we have done so well in the FA Cup as well.
"I don't think we played well against Cardiff and I think some players will learn that sometimes when you go to Wembley you have to forget about the occasion and what is going on around you." Liverpool goalkeeper Brad Jones is set to make his first start since December 2010 with Jose Reina and Alexander Doni suspended. Daniel Agger and Glen Johnson are pushing for starting places having made their comebacks from injury in the midweek win at Blackburn.
Everton manager David Moyes believes his side now have all the right ingredients in place to be able to deliver success. The Scot will not accept his side go into the match as favourites despite their vastly superior form since the turn of the year taking them above the Reds in the Premier League. But he does admit the way things have come together since January, having bedded in new signings, gives them the absolute best chance of not only beating their near-neighbours but going one better than in 2009 when they lost in the final to Chelsea.
"We have played really well, we have shown lots of good things and great character in what we have done and have got a bit of momentum," Moyes said. "We couldn't be going into the semi-final in any better form as we are in as good a condition as we possibly could be. "I think teams who have lots of quality and good footballers often need a great heart and desire. "You need all those elements to be a great side and win big games and at this present time we are getting all the qualities I hope you would from Everton, but we are playing well just now. "The players have a feeling they are doing the right things; we are scoring goals, which we weren't at the start of the season, so we have to keep that momentum going. "We know we go into the game not as favourites as Liverpool have beaten us twice this year so we have to put that in perspective. "We are probably underdogs even though we are in fine form at this time. "We feel good about ourselves but we are up against a side we know are as good as anyone on their day. They have won some really big games, but we have as well. "We've beaten Chelsea and Manchester City this season but one of the hardest games we've had has been against Liverpool, as shown by the two results (2-0 and 3-0 defeats)." Moyes is set to revert to his strongest line-up after resting a number of players on Easter Monday. Leighton Baines, Tim Cahill and Nikica Jelavic are all set to return having been left out of the squad for the 4-0 win over Sunderland. On-loan Tottenham midfielder Steven Pienaar is cup-tied but Darron Gibson will return to the team having been an unused substitute earlier in the week.
Liverpool V Everton - view commentary, squad, and statictics of the game live.
Source: PA
