Steven Gerrard was denied the perfect birthday present of playing in an FA Cup final, after Liverpool were beaten 2-1 by Aston Villa in the semi-final.
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Liverpool Goals and Highlights
(Video) Goal! Liverpool 1-0 Aston Villa: Coutinho solo strike breaks the deadlock at Wembley
(Video) Goal: Aston Villa 1-1 Liverpool – Christian Benteke continues hot streak as Villans refuse to give up in FA Cup semi-final clash
Philippe Coutinho had given Brendan Rodgers’s men the perfect start at Wembley, when he opened the scoring after half an hour. But goals from Christian Benteke and Fabian Delph meant that it would Tim Sherwood’s side that would face Arsenal at the end of May.
Simon Mignolet 6
Made a decent save early on, but could have perhaps done better with the two goals he conceded. However, the defeat was certainly not his fault.
Emre Can 5
Not his best game for the club by any means. He looked tired early on, and never really recovered.
Martin Skrtel 5
The centre-back’s three game absence was highlighted by his rustiness today. Failed to lead the back line.
Dejan Lovren 3
It’s difficult to see him having a future at the club with his form continuing to be a worry. Should have definitely done better with the second goal, but let Delph turn him all too easily.
Alberto Moreno 5
Failed to offer anything done the left-hand side, and gave away too many free-kicks.
Jordan Henderson 6
Perhaps Liverpool’s most enterprising player, but was not offered support around him, therefore he lost out to Aston Villa’s midfield.
Joe Allen 5
Looked decent on the ball, but like Henderson, he struggled to deal with the power and pace of Villa.
Steven Gerrard 5
Not long ago this was the kind of game, and the kind of situation which brought the best out of Gerrard. However, he was too quiet, and didn’t repay Rodgers’s faith to include him.
Lazar Markovic 5
Made little impact before the interval, when he was replaced by Mario Balotelli. Rodgers does not appear to trust him to produce something special.
Philippe Coutinho 7
Liverpool’s best player, the Brazilian continued his excellent season with the goal. It is a shame that his team failed to back him up.
Raheem Sterling 6
Got the assist for Coutinho’s goal, and looked useful as a striker. However, when Balotelli came on, he was shifted to the left and offered very little.
Subs
Mario Balotelli 6
It could have been so different for the striker had the flag not gone up when he was through. The experiment with him has failed, and so expect Rodgers to dispose of him at the next opportunity.
Glen Johnson 5
Brought on late when the Reds were chasing the game, perhaps to free up some of the more creative players in front of him.
Rickie Lambert N/A