Philippe Coutinho fires Liverpool to Wembley

The Brazilian ace scored a sublime goal to separate the Premier League side from their Championship hosts and set up a tie with Aston Villa under the arch on Sunday 19 April.

It was a goal worthy of the occasion too, and one which Blackburn had made Brendan Rodgers’ side work so hard for.

After holding the Reds to a 0-0 draw in the first tie at Anfield, Gary Bowyer’s men proved just as effective in front of a sold-out crowd at Ewood Park.

Their discipline gave them the chance to really match up to their visitors and it was a cagey opening, with both teams getting a feel for each other again over three weeks since their first meeting.

And it took almost 20 minutes before either side got a real sight of goal, as Daniel Sturridge flashed a shot narrowly over the bar with Rovers keeper Simon Eastwood diving at full-stretch.

Jordan Henderson celebrates as the whistle blows for full-time

The hosts had an even better opportunity in the 26th minute, when Jordan Rhodes lost the attention of the crocked Mamadou Sakho in the box to meet Ben Marshall’s left-wing cross, only to guide his header over the bar. 

Sakho limped off to be replaced by Kolo Toure moments after that let-off.

With 30 minutes on the clock, Eastwood made the first save of the game to easily collect Glen Johnson’s low left-footer at his near post.

And Johnson tested Eastwood again with the last kick of the half, but he was more than equal to the defender’s first-time shot after an Alberto Moreno cross was only half cleared.

Within two minutes of the re-start, Liverpool had their own goalkeeper Simon Mignolet to thank twice, as he firstly turned a Tom Cairney shot over the bar at full stretch.

Liverpool's Raheem Sterling competes for possession

Craig Conway swung over the resulting corner and Rovers came even closer as Marshall won a firm header at goal, with Mignolet making a crucial save to palm the ball onto the post after a slight deflection off Joe Allen.

With striker Rudy Gestede introduced from the bench to partner Rhodes after an hour, Blackburn found new impetus as Bowyer sensed vulnerability and a chance of victory.

But it was Liverpool who broke the deadlock after 70 minutes, when Coutinho’s corner was firstly cleared at the near post by Rhodes. 

The ball came back out to the 22-year-old, who sharply exchanged passes with Jordan Henderson to break into the area before drilling an unstoppable finish into the bottom corner past Eastwood.

Liverpool players salute their fans after booking their spot at Wembley

Sturridge had a chance to double the lead soon after when Raheem Sterling chipped the ball into his path, but his England team-mate shot over the bar from the angle.

And with the game deep into stoppage time, it took a last-gasp save from Mignolet to deny his opposite number Eastwood, who had expertly controlled a long throw-in from Tommy Spurr to turn and shoot inside a packed box.

It was a shade harsh on Blackburn not to have taken the game to extra time, but for Liverpool, they will now have their eyes on their Wembley date with Aston Villa as they continue their quest for a first FA Cup triumph since 2006.

Blackburn Rovers (4-4-1-1): 13 Simon Eastwood; 2 Adam Henley, 15 Alex Baptiste, 4 Matt Kilgallon (c), 14 Markus Olsson; 32 Craig Conway, 17 Lee Williamson, 29 Corry Evans, 12 Ben Marshall; 10 Tom Cairney; 11 Jordan Rhodes

Substitutes: 39 Rudy Gestede for Conway 65, 3 Tommy Spurr for Baptiste 80

Substitutes not used: 30 Jason Steele, 20 Yann Songo'o, 24 Ryan Nyambe, 26 Darragh Lenihan, 31 Connor Mahoney

Goals: N/A

Cautions: Evans 68

Manager: Gary Bowyer

Liverpool (4-3-3): 22 Simon Mignolet; 2 Glen Johnson, 6 Dejan Lovren, 17 Mamadou Sakho, 18 Alberto Moreno; 14 Jordan Henderson (c), 21 Lucas Leiva, 24 Joe Allen; 31 Raheem Sterling; 15 Daniel Sturridge, 10 Philippe Coutinho

Substitutes: 4 Kolo Toure for Sakho 28, 9 Rickie Lambert for Sturridge 85

Substitutes not used: 1 Brad Jones, 19 Javier Manquillo, 29 Fabio Borini, 32 Cameron Brannigan, 50 Lazar Markovic

Goals: Coutinho 70

Cautions: N/A

Manager: Brendan Rodgers

Referee: Kevin Friend