JAMIE CARRAGHER has revealed he is “desperate” to make his first-ever Wembley appearance for Liverpool and ensure a difficult season ends with a silver lining.

Carragher admits the Anfield outfit were relieved to earn a replay after being held to a 1-1 draw at Reading in Saturday’s third round tie.

The Coca-Cola Championship strugglers threatened a surprise when Simon Church put them into a 24th-minute lead only for Steven Gerrard to equalise for the visitors 12 minutes later.

With Liverpool already out of the Carling Cup, the Champions League and the race for the Premier League title, manager Rafael Benitez selected an unusually strong line-up for the game.

And while determined to make his club bow at Wembley, Carragher accepts that will only be possible if Liverpool improve on their performance at the weekend.

“The FA Cup has always been massive for me,” said the centre-back. “I’ve been around a long time but I’ve never played at Wembley for Liverpool, I’ve played there for England, but I haven’t even played in a semi-final there with Liverpool.

“I know I don’t have long left so I’m desperate to get to Wembley this year. It’s massive for Liverpool and rightly so.

“I’ve been to Cardiff a few times of course! But I’d love to get to Wembley, I’d love to be able to take my son to watch Liverpool at Wembley.

“I went as a kid to watch games at Wembley, and while Cardiff was great but I’d sooner the fans were going down to Wembley on the coach and going down Wembley way. But if we want to do that, we’ll have to improve on how we played against Reading.”