Through a sea of Red joy, the enduring appeal of the FA Cup shines on

Try telling Kostas Tsimikas, his Liverpool team-mates, Jurgen Klopp or the thousands of Liverpool fans at Wembley that the old pot has lost its lustre

How sweet it is: Liverpool's Jordan Henderson (centre) lifts the trophy as he celebrates with his team-mates after winning the Emirates FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium, London. 

The outpouring of joy and emotion in the red half of Wembley when Kostas Tsimikas calmly put away his penalty kick at the end of a gruelling afternoon was testament once again to the enduring magic of the FA Cup.

Try telling Tsimikas, his team-mates, Jurgen Klopp or the thousands of Liverpool fans at Wembley that the old pot has lost its lustre. The FA Cup final may no longer be the finale of the English season, squeezed as it is between Premier League fixtures and Football League promotion playoffs, but there are few occasions in world sport that can match the atmosphere, drama and emotion of the oldest cup competition in the world's biggest sport.