Kenny Dalglish today paid tribute to fans of both Everton and Liverpool for the way they helped one another in the aftermath of Hillsborough - and predicted an emotional day when the clubs meet at Wembley on the weekend of the disaster's 23rd anniversary. Liverpool face Everton in the capital on Saturday with a place in the FA Cup final at stake. A minute's silence will be held beforehand to remember the 96 victims of the Hillsborough tragedy which unfolded during an FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest 23 years ago this Sunday. Dalglish said: "A minute's silence at Wembley - it's ironic that it's Liverpool and Everton at Wembley again because that was the final that year. "It's going to be very emotive for everybody. The Evertonians were affected by Hillsborough as well as the Liverpool fans, with family members who never came home. "It will be poignant and I'm sure both sets of fans will grace the minute's silence with the dignity they've shown since 1989. "The support the Liverpool people have had from Evertonians and vice versa has been magnificent, and they're a credit to the city with the way they've handled themselves in a dignified manner, and I'm sure that'll continue." Liverpool have not featured at this stage of the competition since they lifted the trophy in 2006, and Dalglish knows this is no ordinary semi-final. "There's probably a bit more added to it because it's a local derby," he told reporters at Melwood. "It seems strange playing a local derby in London but every time the clubs have met in London, both sets of fans have been an absolute credit to the city. "I'm sure Saturday will be another occasion when they both represent the city of Liverpool very proudly. "Both clubs have served the city fantastically well." Asked if having played at Wembley already this season - in the victorious Carling Cup final - would help Liverpool, Dalglish quipped: "Maybe for directions it might help a wee bit." Liverpool enter the game without first-choice goalkeeper Pepe Reina and his stand-in Alexander Doni - both of whom are suspended. That means Brad Jones is set to start in a week when he named his new born son Nico Luca after his sadly deceased son Luca. Jones was introduced during our 3-2 win at Blackburn on Tuesday after Doni's dismissal. It was his first Barclays Premier League outing for the club. Dalglish reflected: "He'll be happy he got a few minutes under his belt at Blackburn. He'll be excited, as everyone else is, about playing. "It's credit to Doni that he kept himself fit and active and sharp, and Brad's the same. "We're not here to delve into the players' personal lives but what's happened to Brad would have tested most people. "He's come through it a really strong character. "You can only guess what it must be like to go through what he's been through, but he has done and I'm sure he enjoyed his first bit of action on Tuesday night, saving a penalty. "We know that to do what he's done has shown a great deal of strength of character." Goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi is now back from his loan spell at Hull City and will hope to take his place in the squad. "We'll see how he is," said the boss. "We've got him back from his loan at Hull. He was in this morning." Dalglish was also quizzed on what reaching a second major cup final in one season would mean. "Other people will judge that," he said. "We don't want to get ahead of ourselves. We know how difficult the game is going to be. Everton will be equally as determined as we are to win the match. "Just winning the game will be important for us. After the match you can discuss what's happened."
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