Jamie Carragher has backed Raheem Sterling to shine on the Wembley stage and fire Liverpool to an FA Cup semi-final victory when the Reds lock horns with Aston Villa on Sunday.

The former Anfield defender insists the pace and direct running of the England international can cause Tim Sherwood's side problems as they try to book a return to the national stadium in May.

Speaking at the players' awards dinner for the Telford Tigers, who won ice hockey's version of the Barclays Premier League this season, as well as the British Challenge Cup, Carragher cited the influence of the No.31.

"I think Raheem is massively important because he adds that penetration and pace, especially when we don't have Daniel Sturridge playing," he said.

"We've got a lot of good footballers with [Philippe] Coutinho and [Adam] Lallana in there but Sterling adds that energy, pace and penetration at times we've lacked, especially earlier in the season.

"Before Christmas he was Liverpool's best player. He had a bit of a dip afterwards, which is to be expected from any young player, but he is vitally important to the Liverpool team."

Further discussing the impact of Coutinho and Sterling, he added: "If you play for Liverpool, no matter what your age is, you've got to deal with playing in big games, semi-finals and cup finals hopefully.

"They will have to deal with the expectation of being seen as two of our best players. You want to score goals and you want to create goals on the day so the onus will be on them.

"I think they dealt with it fantastically well last season when they were going for the title and in the run-in they were fantastic in some of those games, and now we need it more than most because we rely on them for the team."

Steven Gerrard comes back into the squad after completing his three-game suspension and Carragher admits he will have a vital role, whether the manager chooses to play him in the starting XI or by coming off the bench.

"I think Steven will be very important," explained the Scouser. "Who knows if he will play, that's the manager's decision, but I think at some stage he will be on the pitch.

"Looking back on that first 45 minutes against Manchester United when he was on the bench and we were without Stevie in a big game, I thought some players froze that day and you can't allow that to happen in a semi-final.

"If I was picking the team he would be in mine on that reason alone but if Brendan decides not to, I'm sure he will be on the pitch at some stage.

"If anyone can come on and make a difference it's Steven Gerrard."

Carragher insists he would love nothing more than seeing Liverpool get to the final and going on to win the FA Cup, with Gerrard marking his final game for the club on his birthday.

He said: "It would be a brilliant way for him to go out at Liverpool.

"I've said it before that cup finals are about Liverpool winning for the supporters, the players and Brendan getting his first trophy, but for Stevie to be able to lift that cup in his final game for the club in front of all his family and friends, that would be a great send-off for him."

The Academy graduate also feels a trophy would be a fitting reward for his former club and a great accolade for Brendan Rodgers to claim his first honour in charge of Liverpool.

He said: "I think it is important. Three years on, the manager will want a trophy. He got them back into the Champions League last year and ran them so close to winning the title.

"You don't get a trophy for qualifying for the Champions League but it was a fantastic season from the players and the manager.

"But three years on it would be nice to put a trophy on the board. I think the manager has done a terrific job and it would add something if he wins a trophy."

Carragher was speaking at the players' awards dinner for the Telford Tigers. The team's parent company, Red Touch Media, sponsored the recent All-Star charity match at Anfield.