Former Liverpool player calls on Man City FA Cup semi-final to be played at Old Trafford

A former Liverpool player has called on his old club's FA Cup semi-final with Man City to be played at the home of Manchester United.

Old Trafford has been used as a neutral venue for the semi-finals of the competition in the past however, since 2008, the matches have been played at Wembley Stadium. Fans of both Liverpool and City have been calling for the game to be played away from Wembley as no direct trains from the North West are heading to London on April 16 or 17.

Mayors of both cities have called for the venue to be changed as well as the Labour party but an alternative location has yet to be proposed. John Aldridge believes that Old Trafford would be the perfect venue for the game.

ALSO READ: Labour call for Man City vs Liverpool FA Cup semi-final to be moved from Wembley

He told the Metro : "To be honest we’re not stupid, we know they want the semis at Wembley to pay for Wembley, it was always the case. But logic is logic, come on.

"Manchester and Liverpool clubs – just play it at Manchester United. It is what it is.

"In our day the FA Cup was so great as it was about getting to the final at Wembley. Alex Ferguson used to get accused of devaluing the competition by putting different teams out, but what they are doing is devaluing the competition in many ways to get the money to pay for Wembley.

"For the sake of Manchester City and Liverpool fans there’s not much difference (playing) at Manchester United, which can hold 80,000." Today, the Blues announced that they would be partially subsidising an initial 50 coaches to get City fans down to Wembley for the big clash.

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