Jordan Henderson backs Liverpool and Man City supporters’ calls for clash to be moved and insists only FA Cup final should take place at Wembley

Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson has backed fan calls for his side’s FA Cup semi-final clash Manchester City at Wembley to be relocated.

The FA has announced that 100 free coaches will be provided respectively for both sets of supporters to compensate for travel disruption due to planned engineering works.

Supporter groups of both clubs had asked for the tie to be moved after fans were unable to get direct trains to London Euston for the clash on April 16.

Old Trafford and Villa Park were talked about as potential options, although the FA have since opted not to change the venue.

A statement read: “The FA will charter 100 buses from Anfield and the Etihad Stadium respectively to Wembley Stadium and back. This will ensure that up to 5,000 Liverpool and Manchester City supporters will be able to travel to Wembley stadium free of charge for their semi-final tie.

“In addition, The FA is working with its partners at National Highways to ensure that the road networks are running as efficiently as possible over the Easter period.

“Hundreds of miles of unessential roadworks will be put on hold to help supporters enjoy the occasion and enhance their journeys, and these motorists are encouraged to make sure that their vehicles are roadworthy before setting off.”

Henderson, however, believes the venue should be changed and argues FA Cup semi-finals should not take place at Wembley regardless of travel disruption.

“This time, I’ve been thinking a bit more about the fans,” he said.

“In many ways it’s their day and not being able to get down to London for different reasons – the cost of that.

“So in my head it would make sense obviously to change it to a neutral venue, especially with it being two teams from the northwest.

“There’s obviously complications within that. But looking at the fan, and we’ve learned over the past couple of years how important the fans are to football, it is really disappointing to see that it’s a struggle and it’s got to be expensive for them to get there.

“I love playing at Wembley – it’s a fantastic occasion, a fantastic stadium. But I would like to keep Wembley for finals anyway and play semi-finals at another neutral ground like it used to be.”

Liverpool take on Manchester City on April 16, six days after their league clash at the Ethiad, with both sides knowing a win in the Premier League could be decisive in who lifts the trophy at the end of the season.