Liverpool stance on FA Cup semi-final venue as travel chaos threatens Wembley date

Liverpool have asked for their FA Cup semi-final clash with Manchester City at Wembley next month to be moved.

Thousands of fans will face a logistical nightmare for the game after it was confirmed there would be no trains running from Liverpool Lime Street to London Euston between April 15 and 18.

Avanti West Coast confirmed it will not be running any trains into the capital from the North West over Easter weekend because of engineering work scheduled to take place across a number of locations. The travel company said further work is also slated on the West Coast Main Line, which will cause further alterations and disruption.

Calls have been growing all week for a change of venue with both Liverpool supporters' union, Spirit of Shankly, and their Man City equivalent, WeAre1894, releasing a joint statement on Monday evening. Metro Mayor, Steve Rotherham, and his Greater Manchester counterpart, Andy Burnham, also released statement on Tuesday evening calling for an urgent review over where the semi-final would be held.

The ECHO understands the issue is being discussed at the highest level at Liverpool as they seek to find a resolution for their supporters. The club have been in talks with Man City and the Football Association since Jurgen Klopp's side beat Nottingham Forest in the quarter-final tie on Sunday evening.

Liverpool have asked for the venue to be changed as they continue to assess how best to help out fans' travel dilemma for the game at the national stadium.

The governing body are reluctant to move the game to the North West, however, with one source saying: "The revenue generated by the semi-finals being at Wembley Stadium is incredibly important for English football as The FA is a not-for-profit