Jamie Redknapp tells Liverpool to favour the FA Cup this season

Ex-Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp has advised his old team to prioritise the FA Cup over the Premier League for the remainder of the season.

Liverpool are currently seven points off fourth-placed Manchester City in the Premier League table, although they have a game in hand against Newcastle United tonight.

On Sunday, they face Aston Villa in the second semi-final of the FA Cup and Redknapp believes that the tournament is their best chance of success this year.

He told Sky Sports News: "Despite Manchester City's 4-2 defeat at Manchester United on Sunday, I can't see them dropping enough points in their final six games to allow Liverpool back in. So Liverpool must switch their focus to the cup.

"It's been a topsy-turvy season for Liverpool. There have been moments of genius and moments of quality, system changes and times when they looked like they'd cracked it. Then they went off a cliff and had some bad results before pulling it back against Blackburn.

"After all that's happened, Liverpool fans will be thinking 'what a way an FA Cup win would be to sign off for Steven Gerrard'."

The date of the Cup final falls on Gerrard's 35th birthday.