Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson hits out at ‘really disappointing’ FA Cup semi-final mess

Jordan Henderson has criticized the decision not to move Liverpool’s Wembley showdown with Manchester City and hopes the FA Cup semi-finals will return to neutral venues.

Liverpool captain Henderson has spent this week studying the ramifications of no train travel to London from the north over the Easter weekend and is disappointed that a solution – which would have seen the draw end play closer to home – was not found.

The Football Association announced on Friday that it would provide 100 free buses, split equally between the two clubs, to provide a route to Wembley; the services, which will run from Anfield and the Etihad Stadium, are expected to transport 5,000 supporters to the stadium.

The semi-final is due to take place at Wembley Stadium in London on April 16, meaning fans in the North West will have to travel despite no trains over the Easter weekend.

City have already said they will put in place 50 coaches, who fans will have to pay for, to travel to London, while Liverpool are still drawing up plans on what they will do to help with travel for their supporters.

The April 16 kick-off has been brought forward to 3.30pm and – with only a handful of Premier League games taking place this Saturday afternoon – there is special dispensation for the match to be shown live during what would typically be a blackout.

It was a far from satisfactory result, however, with Liverpool and City fans united in their criticism. So it was significant that Henderson, who will start England’s friendly against Switzerland at Wembley on Saturday, spoke with such purpose on the subject.

“I thought about the fans a little more,” Henderson said. “I think in many ways it’s their day and (it’s hard) not being able to go to London for different reasons – the cost (which is involved) of that.

“So in my head it would make sense to change it to a (different) neutral venue – especially with two teams from the North West. That’s just my opinion. There are obviously complications in there, which I am sure the FA must overcome.

“But looking at the situation as a fan – which is probably the most important thing for me and something we’ve learned over the last couple of years how important fans are to football – that it’s really disappointing to see that it’s a struggle. It must be expensive for them to go there.

Reds skipper Henderson slammed FA decision ahead of England v Switzerland game

sports mail reported on Tuesday that the FA had been warned six months ago of engineering work which would make London Euston inaccessible, but no consideration has been given to play the penultimate round of the competition elsewhere.

The last time neutral sites were used for the last four was in 2007, when Manchester United played Watford at Villa Park and Chelsea traveled to Old Trafford to take on Blackburn. Since then, every semi-final has been staged at Wembley and Henderson played in one in April 2012.

It was when Liverpool and Everton fans had to travel from Merseyside for a lunchtime kick-off on a Saturday and as much as Henderson fondly remembers the occasion – Liverpool have won 2-1 – he thinks the shard is taken out of the final itself because the teams have already been to Wembley.

“To be honest – and, again, this is my opinion – I love playing at Wembley,” Henderson said. I think it’s a fantastic opportunity, a fantastic stadium. But, for me, I would still like to keep Wembley for the finals. I think (we should) play the semi-finals on neutral grounds, like before.

“I think it was pretty exciting, pretty good and then obviously the final at Wembley to make it even more special.” That’s just my opinion, that’s another topic. But it’s disappointing for the fans and I know the FA have changed the kick-off time to try to help.

“They also put in coaches for the fans to come down, both for Liverpool and for City, which hopefully helps. But yeah, it’s not ideal for fans, that’s for sure.