Liverpool avoid Hillsborough anniversary as FA Cup semi-final dates announced

It has been announced that Liverpool's FA Cup semi-final against either Everton or Sunderland will take place on Saturday 14 April.

Chelsea will play either Tottenham or Bolton on Sunday 15 April. Both fixtures take place at Wembley Stadium.

The anniversary of the Hillsborough Stadium disaster, which resulted in the deaths of 96 football fans, falls on the Sunday, a date Liverpool have never played on since the tragedy occurred in 1989.

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish said after his team's 2-1 win over Stoke at Anfield that he was sure his team to play on the Saturday so as to avoid a clash.

"We won’t play on the 15th. The FA and Uefa have always been exemplary and very supportive, and that’s great credit to them." he said.

"I don’t think it’s even worth a line in a paper that we might play on the 15th because we won’t.

"We’ve never played on the 15th before, have we? So there you are. Why would they change now?"

There are no details regarding the re-arrangement of Tottenham's match with Bolton after the game was abandoned following the collapse of Trotters midfielder Fabrice Muamba. The Independent reported today that Bolton may pull out of the competition all together with the uncertainty over Muamba's condition ongoing.

The kick-off times and TV details for the semi-finals have not yet been confirmed.

The FA Cup with Budweiser semi-finals:

Saturday 14 April: Liverpool v Everton/Sunderland - at Wembley Stadium

Sunday 15 April: Tottenham/Bolton v Chelsea - at Wembley Stadium