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Fowler's golden touch fired Reds to Wembley
Robbie Fowler's golden touch set up a Wembley clash of the Titans as Aston Villa's cup double hopes were killed off by the Liverpool strike ace at Old Trafford.
The 20-year-old made a 16-minute appearance for England in midweek and that was how long it took for him to continue his one-man war against Brian Little's side and point Liverpool to their 11th FA Cup final appearance.
Fowler had scored three times against Villa in the Premiership this term and had netted seven goals in his six games against them during his short career.
And when Jamie Redknapp, making his first Liverpool start in 25 games, swung in a free kick, it was Fowler who threw himself at the ball to claim his 32nd and most important score of a goal-laden campaign.
If that was class, his killer blow four minutes from time was even better -- a sumptuous volley.
Villa, who had been so close so often, were finally beaten and salt was poured into their gaping wounds when Jason McAteer converted Steve McManaman's cross in injury time.
Fowler led the celebrations at the end and the travelling Kop were already beginning to practise their Wembley concertos and baiting Manchester United. If both can reproduce their semi-final form, it will be a memorable occasion.
Roy Evans sprang the pre-match surprise, Redknapp making his first start since damaging his hamstring on England duty against Switzerland in November in place of Michael Thomas.
Villa, in their first FA Cup semi-final since 1960, stuck with the side who tasted Wembley glory seven days ago, although after their Anfield mauling their concern at the start would have been surviving the first seven minutes.
They might not have done, a communcations breakdown seeing Ugo Ehiogu heading straight to Rob Jones with Mark Bosnich stranded. Jones' lob cleared the backpedalling Bosnich, but also flew over the bar.
It was an escape that woke Villa up, Dwight Yorke forcing David James into the first save of the game, but they were rocked when Gareth Southgate hobbled off with a knee problem.
The England man had treatment on the sidelines, but when he went back on in the 16th minute, Liverpool went in front.
Andy Townsend was cautioned for a foul on McManaman and while Villa seemed set defensively, Southgate's problem proved crucial. Redknapp floated the ball in and Fowler escaped Southgate's attentions as he stooped to conquer, his powerful low header eluding Bosnich's dive as it sped into the bottom corner.
Villa needed a boost and they thought they had one three minutes later. Ehiogu picked out Yorke and his header sent Wembley goalscorer Ian Taylor bursting between John Scales and McManaman.
McManaman clearly played the ball, but Scales' contact was only with Taylor and he tumbled. The Villa fans howled, but, to Taylor's astonishment and Yorke's fury, referee Paul Durkin saw nothing wrong. It was a decision that appeared to give Villa the spark to right their perceived injustice.
Savo Milosevic went close to repeating his Wembley magic, beating two defenders, but firing just wide.
Then, after Steve Staunton -- an FA Cup winner with Liverpool in 1989 -- replaced the unfortunate Southgate, Little's men renewed their pressure.
A Mark Draper free-kick came to nothing, but did expose Liverpool's defensive nerves and from Draper's 25th minute corner the equaliser was so close. Ehiogu, rising superbly, turned the ball towards goal and Yorke spun on a sixpence to apply what looked like the finishing touch, but James got down at point-blank range to make a brilliant stop.
The keeper had an easier task when Yorke steered a header from Alan Wright into his hands, but while the pace of Stan Collymore, Fowler and McManaman threatened to catch Villa out, the Midlanders were the more dangerous side.
Draper, influential throughout, threaded through to Milosevic six yards out in the 42nd minute. Milosevic had time, but not as much as he took and when he did try to place it past James, he found himself crowded out.
The half ended with McAteer dragging his 20-yarder just wide and if Fowler's pass to the unmarked Collymore three minutes after the break had not hit Gary Charles, it might have been all over.
Fowler snatched another effort wide when the flag stayed down, but this was an end-to-end thriller. In the 59th minute James pulled off a fantastic repeat of his earlier save when Milosevic headed down Draper's ball and Ehiogu nudged towards goal, the roars of the Villa fans stopped in their throats.
But Liverpool were being forced on to the back foot as Villa, with Draper to the fore, probed for the leveller, although Fowler so nearly cashed in when Paul McGrath under-hit a 71st minute backpass.
Collymore blazed wide from McManaman and then, after Milosevic had escaped with barely a warning from an ugly clash with Jones, Scales blocked Ehiogu's strike. John Barnes could not have been closer to sealing it with a left-footer from 25 yards that crashed against the upright with Bosnich beaten, before, with 11 minutes left, Little sent on Tommy Johnson for Milosevic.
But this was Fowler's day and four minutes from time he ensured another Wembley excursion.
Redknapp again delivered a perfect dead-ball, although Staunton might have felt he had cleared the danger with a header.
That was counting without Fowler's genius as he controlled on his chest before sending in a dipping left-foot volley that went in off the post. It was a glorious finish, yet so tough on Villa, who had given their all in vain. McAteer's final thrust was less than they deserved -- a simple tap-in as Villa wilted.
James denied them even a crumb of comfort by saving Johnson's free-kick. Their performance merited at least that, but it was not to be.
England new boy Robbie Fowler scored two more goals to take his season's tally to 33 as Liverpool denied Aston Villa a second Wembley appearance with a 3-0 FA Cup semi-final victory at Old Trafford.
And as the Anfield aces prepared to meet Manchester United in the final, Fowler said: "The FA Cup is the best competition in the world and to score twice in the semis is brilliant."
Coca-Cola Cup winners Villa, already beaten twice in the Premiership by Liverpool this season, trailed to an early Fowler header but were only sunk in the final 10 minutes.
"All through the game Villa kept us on our toes and we only won it late on. At 1-0 you are not guaranteed a place in the final but once we got the second goal there was only really one winner," added Fowler.
Jason McAteer, who has supported Liverpool since he was a boy, struck the third goal in injury time after Fowler had made it 2-0. The Republic of Ireland star said: "Things just seem to get better and better for me. I've got to pinch myself to make sure it's real. It's unbelievable. They tell you there is nothing like playing in an FA Cup semi-final and having played today I can understand why."
Liverpool boss Roy Evans, who must now prepare his side to face Premiership title rivals Newcastle on Wednesday, was thrilled at today's victory and with Fowler's contribution in particular.
"Sometimes he can be frustrating with the things he does wrong but the goals he scores are fantastic," said Evans. "Playing Manchester United at Wembley will be fantastic and a great day out. But we must put the final on hold for now and concentrate on playing Newcastle. It would be criminal to put all our eggs in one basket and rely on the FA Cup for a place in Europe next season. We must pick up as many Premiership points as possible to guarantee it."
