( CNN ) -- An 87th minute header from beleaguered striker Andy Carroll handed Liverpool a 2-1 victory over Merseyside rivals Everton in the semifinal of the English FA Cup on Saturday . Carroll 's effort compounded a miserable second half for David Moyes ' team after a promising opening to the match played at Wembley Stadium . Nikica Jelavic pounced on a mix up between Liverpool defender 's Jamie Carragher and Daniel Agger in the 24th minute to side-foot past goalkeeper Brad Jones to hand Everton the lead . It stayed that way until the 62nd minute when Sylvain Distin 's sloppy back-pass gifted Liverpool a way back into the game . Luis Suarez raced onto the mistake before comfortably beating Tim Howard with the outside of his right boot to level the scores . Liverpool perhaps should have been ahead earlier in the half when Andy Carroll missed a gilt-edged chance to equalize but somehow directed his header wide . But the $ 55 million man made amends rising above Everton 's Marouane Fellaini to nod home the winner from a Craig Bellamy free-kick . `` It 's the best feeling ever . We worked hard and getting the goal right there at the end was great , '' Carroll told ESPN afterwards . `` I had a few chances and should have probably scored earlier . But I kept at it and it was a great ball in by Craig ( Bellamy ) , and I just had to score with that one and I did . `` It 's a great feeling . I 've had some criticism but I 've just kept on going , '' Carroll added . His manager Kenny Dalglish , who has also been the subject of criticism after Liverpool 's poor league form in recent weeks , was delighted with the effort of his team . `` I think it was fantastic and although it 's not been too good in the league recently , that 's two cup finals -- one we 've won and won we 're looking forward to , '' Dalglish told ESPN . FA Cup gives Dalglish opportunity to repay owners ' faith . Chelsea take on Tottenham Hotspur in the second semifinal on Sunday . The final will be played on Saturday May 5 . Meanwhile in the English Premier League , Carlos Tevez scored a hat-trick for Manchester City on Saturday in the English Premier League as Manchester City thrashed Norwich City 6-1 at Carrow Road . The win closes the gap on leaders Manchester United to just two points who play Aston Villa at Old Trafford on Sunday . The Argentine put City ahead in the 18th minute , before his compatriot Sergio Aguero added a second nine minutes later . Andrew Surman 's goal for Norwich six minutes after the break gave home fans hope of a comeback but four goals from City in the final quarter of the match killed off the game . Tevez bagged his second in the 73rd minute as did Aguero two minutes later to make the game safe . Tevez , who was starting only his second league game since last September , claimed his hat-trick ten minutes from the end , with Adam Johnson completing the rout in injury time to boost City 's goal difference to plus 58 , eight ahead of United . In the other three Premier League fixtures played Saturday , the teams struggling at the foot of the table all had days to forget . Wolverhampton Wanderers played out a goalless draw against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light -- a result that does little to alleviate their plight at the bottom of the league . Second-from-bottom Blackburn Rovers were beaten 3-0 by Swansea City , while 16th-placed Queens Park Rangers went down 1-0 against West Bromwich Albion at the Hawthorns .
Andy Carroll defies critics with match-winning header at Wembley in FA Cup semifinal against Everton . Liverpool reach second final of English domestic season after winning League Cup in February . Carlos Tevez scores a hat-trick as Manchester City thrash Norwich City 6-1 . Title rivals Manchester United at home to Aston Villa on Sunday .