Liverpool legend John Aldridge has praised the impact of Daniel Agger since returning from injury and implored Kenny Dalglish to start the defender against Everton in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley.

Agger, 27, was instrumental off the bench in the Reds' 3-2 victory against Blackburn Rovers on Tuesday, after his knockdown set-up Andy Carroll's late header to seal victory in injury-time.

And Aldridge insists Agger's involvement will be crucial on Saturday, if Liverpool hope to reach their second cup final of the season.

"There's no question he [Agger] has to start against Everton on Saturday. But does he play him at left-back in place of Jose Enrique or alongside Martin Skrtel in the centre? Jamie Carragher could make way but I don't think Carra has done an awful lot wrong. We just haven't been defending well recently," Aldridge told the Liverpool Echo.

Daniel Agger
Reuters

Liverpool, already League Cup winners at Wembley in February, have endured a disappointing league season, winning just twice since the turn of the year. The club have slipped to eighth in the table, 13 points behind fourth-placed Tottenham and the absence of Agger since the Wembley final has been a key blow to Kenny Dalglish.

Prior to the Dane's most recent injury, a fractured rib sustained in the Carling Cup final, Liverpool had conceded just 23 goals in 25 league games - the second best defensive record behind Manchester City. However, the Reds have shipped 10 goals in six top-flight matches in the intervening period, collecting just seven points from a possible 24.

In addition, Liverpool have kept an notable eight clean sheets in the 20 league games Agger has started this season, compared with just three in the 11 games he has missed. The Danish international has provided some much needed solidity at the back and he recently revealed his frustration at watching the club's deterioration from the sidelines.

"We need to turn this around. What's going wrong at the moment? I think you can see it's a bit of everything. We're not playing well, it's just not working the right way," he told the Liverpool Echo earlier this month.

"But we are trying and we're doing what we can. How do you change things? All you can do is train every day. Hopefully it will turn soon. We have to carry on.

"The good thing about football is there's always another game coming up. When you are playing for a club like Liverpool there is always a lot to play for. It doesn't matter if there's a trophy to compete for or not."

Brad Jones

Meanwhile, former Liverpool goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar does not believes Brad Jones will be nervous ahead of his appearance at Wembley on Saturday. Following red cards to both Pepe Reina and second-choice Alexander Doni, Jones is expected to make only his fourth appearance for the Reds when they face Everton in the FA Cup semi-final.

"I don't think he [Jones] would be apprehensive, not at all," Grobbelaar told the Liverpool Echo. "If you can't be excited about the chance to play at Wembley in an FA Cup semi-final against Everton, then you shouldn't be in the game. It is a chance to put himself in the manager's thoughts."

And Jones himself is relishing the opportunity to prove himself at Wembley and believes the emotional impact of losing his son to leukaemia will aid him in the biggest match of his career.

The Australian is still grieving from the loss of his five-year-old son Luca in November but believes his memory provides him with an invaluable source of motivation.

"Luca is with me every day. I carry him everywhere," Jones told the Telegraph. "His face is on my washbag and his toys are in my travel bag. In that sense I've got someone looking over me.

"It's been difficult not being involved and with everything that has gone on. But I've trained as hard as I can and hopefully that will stand me in good stead."