The much-maligned Andy Carroll went from zero to hero again as Liverpool produced a second-half comeback to beat Everton 2-1 and reach the FA Cup final ... to ruin Everton's European hopes of qualifying through the back door.
Carroll appeared to be enduring a personal nightmare at Wembley as he missed an absolute sitter - but the £35million striker (for the second game in succession) nodded home a very late winner.
Luis Suarez had earlier cancelled out Nikica Jelavic's first-half opener, with both goals the result of defensive howlers.
Having already won the Carling Cup in February Liverpool remain on course for a cup double, which has only been achieved three times previously - and once by themselves.
BBC pundit Lee Dixon (pictured right) didn't give Carroll the "lickings of a dog" during the match, saying "replacing him with ANYBODY would improve Liverpool's chances because he has missed some sitters in this game.
"As many of said, he's just an ordinary player, like so many in this team who are NOT Liverpool-type of players."
Only for him to backtrack when Carroll finally scored: "Carroll deserves that goal because he had missed so many chances before it, and he kept on plugging away."
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, who had his head in his hands when the former Toon striker "bottled it" early in the game, said of Carroll: "He doesn't hide and he takes criticism on the chin. That's what we bought him for, to score big goals, and he's delivered today."
Liverpool’s victory meant that sixth place in the Premier League should mean a place in the Europa League for the Magpies.