Goals from Stewart Downing and Luis Suarez helped the Reds book a second Wembley appearance this season, after a successful trip to the national stadium in the Carling Cup final in February.

And the Scot admitted that while the win was not pretty, he was delighted to get the result.

"It was as difficult, yes," Dalglish said in his post-match press conference.

"They started really competitively at a high tempo the first 20 or 30 minutes and we had to match them and I think it was a fantastic performance by us in many ways.

"I don’t think it's the best we have ever passed a ball but I think the way we competed and the way they put their bodies on the line was a great example for Liverpool Football Club, what it meant for them to get through this tie.

"I was very pleased with our performance; I think we put in a great display. Obviously there are always going to be things that upset you but we got the 2-1 victory."

Liverpool will face either Everton or Sunderland at Wembley in their semi-final, with the two sides set for a replay following Saturday's draw at Goodison Park.

However, Dalglish remained unnerved on the possibility of facing their city rivals in such a prestigious fixture.

"It's the same incentive for everybody to get to Wembley so although we’ve been there it doesn't mean to say we will be any less hungry for it," he said.

"We know we have got either Everton or Sunderland but we are already there but whoever we get we know it’s going to be a very difficult game.

"Obviously Merseyside will be hoping Everton get through and they can all have a day-out again but it's a real difficult place to go Sunderland to get a result."

Stoke City manager Tony Pulis paid tribute to the club's loyal supporters after crashing out of the Cup.

Pulis could not fault the contribution from the travelling Stoke fans, who loudly backed their team throughout.

"I'm disappointed for them (the fans)," Pulis told reporters.

"They have been the bedrock of what this club has achieved in the last five or six years that I have been here and I think it shows what we are like as a football club in respect to the community.

"We need them to get behind us now for the last six or seven home games of the season and we still need to get to 40 points."

The Welshman also felt his side failed to capitalise on a period of pressure following Peter Crouch's equaliser and was disappointed in the manner they conceded the eventual winner.

He added: "We were a bit unlucky not to go into half-time not winning the game. I think (Jonathon) Walters should have hit the target and I think we were playing well.

"Second half again we started slow and gave them a bit of a leg-up with a goal.

"It was a poor goal to concede losing possession in our own half of the pitch and when you do that against one of the top four or five teams in the country they punish you and that's what the lad has done."

Despite defeat, Pulis expressed pride at his side's achievements this season and underlined the progress they have made in the past few years.

"We have had a remarkable in season, with many things ground-breaking," he added.

"It's our third time in a FA Cup quarter-final on the bounce the club has never done that before and going into Europe and doing very, very well in Europe.

"We have done really, really well. We have just stumbled at the last hurdle and that has been a disappointment but you have to give credit for what the players have done so far."