Thursday 9 April 2015 12:21, UK
Talk of a fairytale FA Cup ending for Steven Gerrard in May is premature, according to his old Liverpool team-mate Phil Babb.
Wednesday night's win at Blackburn booked Liverpool a semi-final date with Aston Villa and kept alive the possibility of Gerrard bringing down the curtain on his Anfield career on FA Cup final day.
May 30 is also Gerrard's 35th birthday, and even beaten Blackburn boss Gary Bowyer has urged Liverpool to go on and win the trophy for their departing captain, who leaves for LA Galaxy in the summer.
But Babb, who was still a first-team regular when Gerrard broke through more than 16 years ago, doubts whether the Anfield great would even make the team after some high-profile omissions this season.
"It's a strange one," he told Sky Sports News HQ's Morning View programme. "You'd have thought he'd have started against Manchester United (last month), and even last year against Real Madrid. In key games Brendan Rodgers hasn't played him.
"If they get to final it's all teed up - will Brendan build for the future or he will he go with the emotion of the day and play Steven Gerrard?"
Liverpool's return trip to Wembley depends on beating Villa, whose form has improved since Tim Sherwood replaced Paul Lambert as manager in February.
Gerrard, still banned following his 38-second red card against United, will be available for a semi-final Babb expects to be close.
"It's a great lift for the fans and the city getting back to Wembley," he said, "But it will be a tough game against Villa. Forget about their league form - they'll be tough opponents, and in cup games anything can happen."
