ROBBIE FOWLER scored two cracking goals and Jason McAteer rowed in with a third as Liverpool beat Aston Villa for third time this season to set up a 'dream' English FA Cup final against Manchester United at Wembley on May 11.

Villa hardly deserved to lose a thrilling semi-final at Old Trafford by three goals, two of which came in the closing stages as Brian Little's went all-out in search of an equaliser, but there is no denying that Liverpool were by far the more accomplished team.

Liverpool fans made the short journey back to Merseyside once again singing the praises of Fowler, who seems to be conducting a one-man campaign against Villa.

Yesterday's double strike he maintained his record of scoring in every round of this season's FA Cup and brought his tally for the season to 33, five of which have come against Villa.

It would be unwise, come Wembley, to bet against the best young striker in England adding to the six goals he has already scored in the competition.

Liverpool took the lead in the 16th minute when, with Gareth Southgate was having treatment for a knee injury that forced him to be substituted six minutes later, Andy Townsend fouled Steve McManaman to concede a free kick on the right.

The break in play enabled Southgate to come back on, which proved to be an unwise decision. Villa would have been better off defending with 10 men, because Southgate was not fit physically or mentally to deal with Fowler.

Jamie Redknapp. making his first Liverpool start in 25 games, swung in the free and Fowler threw himself at the ball to claim the 32nd and most important score of a goal-laden campaign with a diving header.

Villa needed a boost and they might have got one three minutes later. when lan Taylor went down under the challenge of McManaman and John Scales. McManaman clearly played the ball, but Scales' contact was only with Taylor.

The Villa fans howled, but, to Taylor's astonishment and Dwight Yorke's fury, referee Paul Durkin waved play on. It was a decision that appeared to give Villa the spark to right their perceived injustice.

Fowler snatched another effort wide when the flag stayed down, but this was an end-to-end thriller. a warning from an ugly clash with Jones, Scales blocked Ehiogu's strike.

In the 59th minute James pulled off a fantastic repeat of his earlier save when Milosevic headed down Draper's ball and John Barnes could not have been closer to sealing it with a left-footer from 25 yards that crashed against the upright with Bosnich beaten, before, with 11 minutes left, Little sent on Tommy Johnson for Milosevic.

But this was Fowler's day. With four minutes remaining another free-kick by Redknapp was floated into the Villa goal-mouth.

Steve Staunton headed the ball to the edge of the penalty area to where Fowler, showing brilliant anticipation, had dropped. He allowed the ball to bounce before firing a half-volley past Mark Bosnich. Game, set and the match to Liverpool.

Two minutes into stoppage time McManaman set up the opening for McAteer to rub salt into the Villa wounds.