Brendan Rodgers praises Jordan Henderson for playing after birth of daughter

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has praised Jordan Henderson for putting in a "real captain's performance" in last night's FA Cup quarter-final replay just hours after his partner gave birth to their second child.

The midfielder played the entire 90 minutes of the Reds' 1-0 win over Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park, but his preparation was disrupted as his second daughter was born on Tuesday.

"Jordan Henderson actually had to go back from the hotel - his partner had their second child during the night, so he had gone away, hadn't slept so much and travelled back again and put in a performance like he did - a real captain's performance," Rodgers told reporters.

"Some players maybe would have missed the game, but he said to me, 'boss, as soon as the baby's out I'll be coming back!' There was a car waiting. He spent time with his young partner, child and family, which is great, but he said, 'I'll be back', and he was."

Liverpool will face Aston Villa in the semi-final at Wembley.