Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish has praised the performances of his defenders this afternoon.

After Stewart Downing had put the Reds 2-1 up against Stoke City, the Liverpool rearguard held firm to book their place in the semi-finals of the FA Cup.

Speaking after the victory, Dalglish admitted that the visitors made it difficult for his side.

"If we didn't put on a decent performance then we wouldn't have got a positive result," the boss told ITV Sport. "Great credit goes to Stoke because they worked really hard, especially in the first 20 or 30 minutes when they really closed us down and made it difficult.

"But we finished the stronger team. I thought we defended really well and we weren't afraid to put our bodies on the line."

Liverpool last won the FA Cup in 2006.