Liverpool lost and was eliminated in the FA Cup semi-finals

The Reds were left empty-handed for the third year under manager Brendan Rodgers after losing 2-1 to Aston Villa in the semi-finals on April 19.

Gerrard ended his final season at Liverpool unsuccessfully. Photo: Reuters.

"Send Gerrard to Wembley." Liverpool fans unfurled banners like that when they heard the news that the devoted captain was playing in the United States at the end of this season. A title in his final season at Anfield would be a meaningful gift for Steven Gerrard. However, the 35-year-old midfielder's dream of winning the FA Cup on his birthday has been shattered.

Liverpool took Gerrard to Wembley for their semi-final against Aston Villa but could not get him further. Goals from Christian Benteke and Fabian Delph gave Villa the win, although Philippe Coutinho gave Liverpool an early lead. Aston Villa will face Arsenal in the final on 30 May.

This was Gerrard’s first game back since his red card against Man Utd. Fans were hoping the captain could redeem himself or at least have a watchable game. But perhaps age has taken a toll on Gerrard. The midfielder wearing the number 8 shirt was lackluster throughout the match. Corner kicks and passes were no longer dangerous. Even direct free kicks only went straight to the goalkeeper.

Gerrard wasn't the only Reds player to underperform. Liverpool's midfield three were held back by Aston Villa's trio. The two teams are 10 places apart in the Premier League table at the moment, but that doesn't show in a cup game. The spirit is what manager Tim Sherwood and his players have. Liverpool continue to fail in big games.

Coutinho opened the scoring. Photo: AH.

Simon Mignolets made the first save when he flew to block N'Zogbia's shot from 20m. The first few minutes were a nightmare for the Anfield team as Villa's attacking trio pressed fiercely, as Arsenal and Man Utd have done recently.

It was only when Rodgers switched to a 4-3-3 formation with Gerrard playing behind Sterling that Liverpool took the lead. In the 30th minute, after a chaotic situation, Coutinho received a pass from Sterling and quickly escaped into the penalty area, overcoming the Aston Villa defender to score the opening goal.

Aston Villa did not lose their confidence from the start of the match. Just six minutes later, Villa equalized the score from a sharp counter-attack. Delph broke down the left wing, passed back into the middle for Benteke to finish cleverly, defeating Mignolets.

Benteke celebrates Villa's equalizer. Photo: AH.

10 minutes into the second half, Villa punished Liverpool's loose defense. Benteke and Delph danced in front of the opponent's players so that Delph could get past Lovren and finish close to the goal to score the decisive goal.

Liverpool's resistance in the final minutes was too little with headers going over the crossbar. Balotelli had a chance to get down and shoot but the referee judged the Italian striker was offside, although slow-motion replays did not show it.

According to VNE