Video: Big Andy misses a sitter but comes up trumps for Liverpool in the end

Liverpool 2-1 Everton

Critics of Andy Carroll might have had a good chuckle when he missed a sitter in the FA Cup semi-final against Everton, but it was the big man that was laughing loudest come the end.

In one of his best ever displays for Liverpool, Carroll headed the winner at the death in a derby that the Reds deservedly won after a much-improved second half performance at Wembley.

Nikica Jelavic put the Toffees in front midway through the first half after the first of many defensive cock-ups that were to prove a theme throughout the 90 minutes.

The in-form Croat took advantage of some Jamie Carragher-inspired tomfoolery at the heart of the Liverpool defence and finished coolly past Brad Jones to put Everton in front.

Mediocre in the first half, Kenny Dalglish’s men were a different side after the break and should have equalised when Stewart Downing put the ball on a plate for Carroll at the back post. Seemingly unaware that he was stationed two yards wide of the post rather than directly in front of the goal, Carroll steered his header wide of the gaping goal and let Everton off the hook (see below).

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Thankfully for Liverpool, they hadn’t a monopoly on shoddy defensive mishaps and a horrendous blunder from Sylvain Distin allowed man of the match Luis Suarez to equalise around the hour mark.

The Reds looked by far the more likely to snatch a winner and they did just that when Carroll headed Craig Bellamy’s free-kick to the net with three minutes left, his second late winner in the space of a week.

Liverpool 2 – 1 Everton by Anatolly7

Seamus Coleman won’t want to revisit his role in Liverpool’s winner as it was he who scythed down Steven Gerrard on the edge of the area, an offence that should really have earned him a second yellow card, having only been brought on late in the second half.

Hopefully Trap wasn’t watching, because if he was, Coleman’s already slim chances of making it to the Euros might just have evaporated.

All in all, it was a deserved win for Liverpool, who now progress to their second domestic final of the season, where another trophy might just make up for what has been a tumultuous campaign overall.

Let's just hope that it doesn't go to penalties, if only for Charlie Adam's sake.