Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers hailed a match-winning performance by Steven Gerrard and says an FA Cup victory in May would be a perfect send-off for the captain.
Gerrard announced last week that he’ll be leaving Anfield after nearly 17 years at the club and he began his last FA Cup campaign with the Reds in perfect fashion.
With The Final taking place at Wembley on his 35th birthday, Gerrard helped Liverpool take their first steps along the way by scoring twice to edge a 2-1 victory over AFC Wimbledon.
AFC Wimbledon 1-2 Liverpool
The FA Cup
Third Round Proper
Monday 5 January 2015
Kingsmeadow, AFC Wimbledon
Winners receive £67,500 from FA Prize Fund
Playing in an attacking role in Liverpool’s midfield, Gerrard headed the opener early in the first half. He bagged the decisive second with a curling free-kick on the hour mark after Ade Akinfenwa had levelled matters for the Dons.
And Rodgers says his side, who are also in the semi-final of the League Cup, are targeting silverware this season which would be a ‘special’ way to mark the departure of the former England skipper.
“It was an outstanding performance from him and a real catalyst for us,” said Rodgers after the Third Round tie at Kingsmeadow.
“He scored two and if he was a really selfish player he probably would have stayed on the ball and tried to get himself a hat-trick, but he was still trying to create opportunities for other players.
“I’ve played him in a number of positions in my time here because he is an incredible footballer.
“His intelligence and football brain is second to none. He played in the top of that midfield box and his creativity, cleverness and brightness you’ve seen tonight.”
Rodgers continued: “I think The FA Cup Final is on his birthday. For him it would be a perfect send-off. There are a lot of games in between, but we’ve targeted a cup victory this season and progress in the League.
“We are still very much in line for that moving into the second half of the season, the team is still very focused. The idea is to get a cup win and if we can do it, then that will be special.”
Gerrard celebrates his opener with provider Javier Manquillo
Liverpool started well and Gerrard’s first goal looked to have set them on the way to a comfortable victory, but Neal Ardley’s side had other ideas.
When burly striker Akinfenwa scored from close-range, Wimbledon were very much on top and finding spaces in behind Liverpool’s defence. But some re-jigging from Rodgers at the break saw the visitors come out looking more solid for the second period.
“It was a tough game overall. We started well, but gave the ball away cheaply. Second half we were much better. It was a good win for us,” he added.
“After we got the goal I thought we’d go on and maybe win more comfortably, but we started to lose our positions which doesn’t allow us to keep the ball as well as we like.
“That offered them the opportunities in the space that we were leaving. Once we organised it better in the second half, we controlled it more and had one or two scares which you’ll get playing against that type of team who can deliver it into the box.
"Maybe we should have gone on to score three or four more goals.
“Neal has done a brilliant job with his team tonight and I thought they were very well-organised, passed it well at the right times.
“But for us, I give credit to our players. They knew it was going to be a tricky game, we’ve finished the Christmas period in a good moment.”
Next up on the Road to Wembley for the Reds is a home tie against Bolton Wanderers, after the Fourth Round draw was made prior to Monday night’s kick-off.
And it will give Rodgers a chance to meet up with an old friend – Trotters boss and fellow Irishman Neil Lennon.
“It’s a good draw. Any team will tell you they want to be at home,” he said.
“I’m looking forward to it because it’s at Anfield and we love playing there in front of our supporters.
“Secondly, it's against a good friend of mine, Neil Lennon. I’ll look forward to coming across Lenny, he’s done great since he’s gone to Bolton.
“We’ll look forward to that one when it comes around but it’s a really important game for us now at the weekend against Sunderland.”
One player who is unlikely to feature at the weekend for the Reds is England play-maker Adam Lallana, who was watching the 2-1 victory from the Kingsmeadow stand.
Early indications were that the 26-year-old would be out for around a month after limping off during their New Year’s Day draw with Leicester City.
But Rodgers is confident he’ll be back available for selection sooner: “It may be a bit shorter than [a month],” he added.
“It’s a slight strain he has, we have no real timeline, but hopefully it won’t be as long as that.”
