Gerrard’s 40th-minute penalty cancelled out Nigel de Jong’s opener at Anfield before Edin Dzeko fired the visitors back in front mid-way through the second half.

But the impressive Craig Bellamy netted a brilliant aggregate winner in the 74th minute as Kenny Dalglish’s men held on to book their place in the final against Cardiff City.

“It’s been too long for this club to not be in a major cup final, so it’s nice to finally get there,” Gerrard told Liverpool’s website.

“It’s going to be superb for myself. I’ve led the boys out at Cardiff before but to lead them out at the new Wembley stadium is going to be a special occasion for myself.

“Tonight was a tough game but we were brave, we were bold and we attacked, and we got our reward.”

The 31-year-old Liverpool skipper reserved particular praise for Bellamy, whose sparkling display was key to the Reds’ victory.

“Craig has been superb since he’s come in, he’s a fantastic professional who works really hard and he got his rewards here,” he continued.

Well, all eyes in Liverpool have shifted from the transfer buzz and drama to the current state of affairs. The game against Bolton last weekend, simply put, was a reality check. Yes, the fans can go on about how Carroll just isn’t worth the money even if we get back to the Stone Age, how Henderson and Downing aren’t living up to expectations irrespective of Dalglish defending them day-in day-out in the papers. Charlie Adam’s dip in form is now making its way to the forefront and it won’t be long before he gets to sit on the hot-seat.

However, do the aforementioned so-called “issues” justify the reality check we are talking about? Well, the answer is Yes and No. Yes, because Liverpool’s least expectation this season is to finish in the top four and get back to Champions League football. Under their current form, this path isn’t really looking like one laid with roses. Clearly, there are some under-performers who are taken to the gallows everyday by the media. Fair enough, one would think. But on the other hand, these issues don’t really go beyond bringing Liverpool’s Champions League dream alive simply because their arrival, along with the new owners, management and the plans, are here for Liverpool’s future. Not just the present.

It is easy to play the blame game while swimming in a pool of negativity. Easy to wake up to a bitter victory and rant about it endlessly on social networking sites. But can this behavior be pointed towards a team of Liverpool’s stature? The word ‘stature’ here is not time-bound. So if you are thinking of defaming the club by going into the whole perch thing again, then you really shouldn’t read further than this.