Brendan Rodgers: Win at 'Anfield South' will be for fans

Saturday 18 Apr 2015
Reds fans hold an 'Anfield South' banner on Wembley Way

Brendan Rodgers is keen to see his Liverpool side lift The FA Cup this season and says, if they can, it will be for the fans.

The Reds manager is looking for his first piece of silverware since taking over at Anfield in 2012, soon after their Cup Final defeat to Chelsea at Wembley.

But the Irishman told TheFA.com he's looking forward to coming to where the Liverpool fans call 'Anfield South' to take on Aston Villa in Sunday's semi-final.  

Aston Villa v Liverpool

The FA Cup Semi-Final
3pm, Sunday 19 April 2015
Wembley Stadium connected by EE
Live on BT Sport

"The history of the competition is set here at Liverpool, with the great victories they've had in the past. And this is a club that is based around winning trophies," said Rodgers, who hopes to add an eighth FA Cup to the club's trophy cabinet.

"Wembley was somewhere that used to be known as 'Anfield South'. Liverpool used to visit Wembley so much it was a regular occurrence for them.

"I know how much it means to the supporters and it's something that goes deep. If we could get a victory it would be very much for them this season."

FATV exclusive with Brendan Rodgers

As well as a day out for the fans, Rodgers also believes success in The FA Cup would give his players a great experience of winning.

After just missing out on the Premier League title last season, Liverpool's last trophy joy was in 2012 when they won the League Cup.

The former Swansea City gaffer knows a meeting with Tim Sherwood's resurgent Villa side will be a tricky game for his team, but is focused on taking his team back to Wembley on 30 May.

"We have some gifted young players who we want to springboard their careers by allowing them to feel the mentality of winning and that would really help us," he said.

Brendan Rodgers

Brendan Rodgers is looking for his first trophy at Liverpool

"Aston Villa are a team who are good on the counter-attack. They've been playing a diamond recently with Agbonlahor and Benteke through the middle.

"Their speed, strength and pace can give you a problem, so we have to look to nullify that as much as we can."

He added: "[The FA Cup] is synonymous throughout the world. It's the real competition in domestic football that the players love to win.

"I want to be in the game for a long time, and be renowned as someone who is up there at the elite level and looking to win trophies.

"This game against Aston Villa can bring us a step closer to achieving that for the club."

You can read more from the Liverpool boss in the official Aston Villa v Liverpool semi-final match programme, which is available from Wembley Stadium on Sunday, priced £5, or you can order online from the England store.

Fans are also able to download the digital version of the programme directly to their device from the Apple Newsstand, or the audio edition here.

By Jamie Bradbury FA Editor