Familiarity Reigns Supreme in Liverpool’s FA Cup Semifinal Draw, Reds Will Face Either Everton or Sunderland

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Mar 18, 2012

Familiarity Reigns Supreme in Liverpool's FA Cup Semifinal Draw, Reds Will Face Either Everton or SunderlandIf familiarity breeds contempt, expect Liverpool's FA Cup semifinal to be a combustible affair. The Reds will face either Sunderland or Everton at Wembley Stadium. The game will most likely take place on April 14, according to LiverpoolFC.tv.

The semifinal schedule has not been set, but the club has a policy against playing on Apri 15 — the date of the Hillsborough tragedy.

"We won't play on the 15th," Kenny Dalglish said. "The FA and UEFA have always been exemplary and very supportive, and that's great credit to them, so I don't think it's even worth a line in a paper that we might play on the 15th because we won't.

"We've never played on the 15th before, have we? So there you are. Why would they change now?"

Liverpool booked its place in the last four of the historic competition with a 2-1 win over Stoke City on Sunday.

Everton and Sunderland played to a 1-1 stalemate on Saturday. A winner will emerge from the replay, which takes place on March 27 at Sunderland's Stadium of light.

The winner of that game will face the Reds for the third time this season. The Reds have played both teams twice in Premier League play, faring better against neighbors Everton.

LFC won both Merseyside derbies, snatching a 2-0 win in October at Goodison Park. It thumped Everton 3-0 on March 13 at Anfield.

Sunderland has proved to be a tougher test. The Reds were held to a 1-1 draw at Anfield in August. March 10 saw them lose 1-0 on the road.

A third meeting with either team leaves no room for secrets or surprises. At this stage of the season, each team is familiar with their opponents' tactics and tendencies.

The neutral site for the semifinal will take away any home-field advantage. However, Liverpool is more familiar with the iconic venue. The Reds lifted the Carling Cup on Feb. 26, filling the dressing room with champagne and cheer.

Chelsea will play either Bolton or Tottenham in the other semifinal.

Have a question for Marcus Kwesi O'Mard? Send it to him via Twitter at @NESNsoccer, NESN Soccer's Facebook page or send it here. He will pick a few questions to answer every week for his mailbag.

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