JOHN ALDRIDGE has warned Liverpool they will be facing “a very different Everton” when the Merseyside rivals clash at Wembley in their FA Cup semi-final.

The Reds completed a Premier League double over the Blues earlier this month when they cruised to an emphatic 3-0 victory at Anfield.

Skipper Steven Gerrard became the first Liverpool player to score a league derby hat-trick for 30 years as he settled a one-sided contest.

However, Everton boss David Moyes decided to rest a host of players that night with one eye on their FA Cup tie with Sunderland and Aldridge expects a full strength Blues side to pose a much greater threat.

The Anfield legend was impressed by the manner in which Moyes’ men dumped out the Black Cats at the Stadium of Light on Tuesday night to set up the capital showdown with the Reds on April 14.

“It’s going to be a great occasion,” Aldridge said.

“We’ve beaten them twice this season but the big question is can we make it three?

“Everton will be out for revenge after what happened at Anfield recently. They will feel like they have got a score to settle.

“We will certainly be up against a very different Everton to the one which got beaten heavily that night.

“David Moyes took a big gamble by leaving players out of that game and got criticised for doing so.

“But with Everton getting past Sunderland the gamble has paid off and it has worked out well for them.

“They were tremendous the other night and outplayed Sunderland from start to finish.

“They worked so hard for each other and thoroughly deserved to go through. They have done magnificently to turn their season around after such a poor start.

“With the semi being at a neutral venue I think it’s going to be very tight and Liverpool will need to be at their best to go through.

“Our league form may be poor but in the Cups we’ve been very consistent and hopefully that will continue.”

Aldridge was part of the last Liverpool side to face Everton at Wembley in the 1989 FA Cup final. With that game coming just weeks after the Hillsborough disaster, it was a hugely emotional day.

The striker opened the scoring with a classy strike early on only for Stuart McCall’s late effort to force extra time.

Substitute Ian Rush, who had replaced Aldridge, restored the Reds’ lead in the added half hour and then struck again to clinch the trophy after McCall had made it 2-2.

“What I remember best about that day is that both sets of supporters were an absolute credit to the city,” Aldridge added. “The atmosphere was actually quite subdued because it was so soon after Hillsborough.

“Winning the Cup was great but it was in the back of your mind that 96 people had lost their lives.

“It’s fitting that this game between the clubs at Wembley is on the weekend of the Hillsborough anniversary.

“With the Grand National also taking place that day, the eyes of the world are going to be on Liverpool and our two major football clubs.

“I just hope no-one spoils it. We don’t want anyone to tarnish the good name of Liverpool.

“It might not be the friendly derby any more like it was 20 or 30 years ago but we want everyone to behave and enjoy what will be a day to remember.”