Liverpool 2 – 1 Stoke City (Match report) (Liverpool fan’s perspective)

Liverpool continued the pursuit for a domestic cup double at Anfield as Stewart Downing’s goal sent the Reds off to Wembley for the 2^nd time this season after Peter Crouch had cancelled out Luis Suarez’s opener.

The domestic cups have been a welcome distraction from some of the frustrating league results this season for Liverpool and once again Wembley is beginning to feel like a 2^nd home.

But it was a weekend when football was put into perspective as Bolton midfielder, Fabrice Muamba, was rushed to hospital, fighting for his life, after collapsing during Bolton’s FA Cup tie at White Hart Lane. The football world united together as everyone was left praying for his recovery. Real Madrid wore special shirts with his name on and his name echoed from the stands at Anfield.

The Uruguayan striker, Luis Suarez, dedicated his goal to Muamba after the game. Suarez exchanged a neat one-two with Maxi Rodriguez on the edge of the Stoke box before curling the ball into the bottom corner from 20 yards in front of the Kop to score his 4^th goal in 4 games against Stoke City.

But Liverpool’s lead lasted no more than a few minutes as it was cancelled out by former Liverpool player, Peter Crouch. The Englishman fired in a header at the near post from a corner which should not have been awarded and gave Stoke, the runners up of last year’s competition, hope of returning to Wembley again.

Stewart Downing was the man who had the final say in this FA Cup quarter final. The winger, who has been much criticised this season, played a one-two with Gerrard on the edge of the area, before skipping past two men and firing the ball back across Thomas Sorensen into the corner. It was this goal, by Liverpool’s man of the match at Wembley in February, which guided the Reds back to the capital again for the FA Cup Semi Finals.

Liverpool will now face either Sunderland or Everton in an FA Cup Semi Final at Wembley on the 14^th of April. The whole of Merseyside will be hoping for another derby down at Wembley, but for now Liverpool’s attention must now be back on the league to try and secure three more points against QPR on Wednesday.