Liverpool target cup final end for Steven Gerrard after beating Wimbledon in FA Cup

The final of the FA Cup falls on Gerrard's birthday

Steven Gerrard celebrates giving Liverpool the lead with the first of his two goals against AFC Wimbledon on Monday night (Getty) (Getty)

Liverpool have targeted a cup win this season, and what could be more appropriate than lifting the FA Cup on May 30, Steven Gerrard’s birthday.

Brendan Rodgers made the birthday connection after Gerrard, in his first match after announcing his end-of-season departure from Anfield, had scored twice to quell the third round resistance of League Two AFC Wimbledon.

“Steven was outstanding,” said Rodgers. “It was a brilliant individual performance from him, he was a real catalyst for us.

“We have targeted progress in the league and a cup win, we’re on target for that. The final is on his birthday, what could be better?

“It was a tough game,” said Rodgers of the Premier League club’s 2-1 win. Adebayo Akinfenwa cancelled out Gerrard’s first goal, scrambling in a corner, and the Liverpool manager added: “After we got one I thought we’d go on and win comfortably but we gave the ball away cheaply. Teams at this level are good at set-pieces if you give them the chance. We passed theball better in the second period and while there were a few chances [for them] we should have scored more goals."

He continued: “But all credit to the players. They knew it would be a tricky game and payed with real intensity.”