Aston Villa boss Tim Sherwood has said it is
"touch and go" whether Gabriel Agbonlahor
will overcome a hamstring strain in time to
face Liverpool.
Ciaran Clark and the suspended Carlos
Sanchez are definitely out but Scott Sinclair
and Ashley Westwood are fit.
Liverpool's Jordon Ibe is cup-tied, while
Daniel Sturridge is a major doubt with a hip
problem.
Mamadou Sakho is out with a hamstring
injury but Martin Skrtel and Steve Gerrard are
available after suspension.
"He always produces big goals and big
moments. He knows Wembley very well. He's
got special quality".
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has set
the stage for Steven Gerrard to play a
limelight role in what could be a fascinating
FA Cup semi-final.
Back from his three-match ban, the Reds'
captain will have his heart set on winning a
third FA Cup in his final game for the club on
his 35th birthday next month. It would be the
last chapter of his epic FA Cup history.
He became a Liverpool legend with his
performance against Patrick Vieira in the 2001
cup final against Arsenal, and his stoppage
time rasper in 2006 saved them against West
Ham.
The script seems to have already been written.
But there's a major problem in the
assumption that Liverpool will win this as
easily as some bookies suggest with odds of
8/13 and Villa 5/1 outsiders.
Can the Red's defence hold Christian Benteke
in his current form. He's scored eight goals in
his last six games on his personal quest to
make up for lost time after injury wrecked last
summer's World Cup dream and shabby form
ruined the early part of his comeback.
Tim Sherwood, a beaten semi finalist twice in
his playing days at Tottenham, has his Villa
side now perfectly set up to play to Benteke's
strengths. They are getting the ball up to him
early and they're creating far more chances
from a more direct style.
The real pressure is on Liverpool in this one.
No Liverpool manager has failed to lift
silverware in his first three years in charge
since Phil Taylor in the 1950's. Rodgers
knows the significance this competition could
have on his career. Jurgen Klopp's sudden
availability will cast a shadow over a few
current managers.
The head says Liverpool. The heart, ruled by
the Gerrard story, says Liverpool. But
somewhere deep deep down in my gut (and
that's not a pleasant thought!) I have a
feeling Benteke will win it.
Head-to-head
Liverpool and Villa have met in a FA
Cup semi-final on three previous
occasions, with the Villans winning in
1897 and Liverpool progressing in 1914
and 1996. Villa went on to win the
trophy, while Liverpool were beaten in
the final on both occasions.
They have met seven times in total in
the FA Cup. Villa won that first meeting
in 1897, but have lost the subsequent
six matches.
In their last meeting in 1996, Liverpool
won the semi-final 3-0 at Old Trafford
thanks to a brace from Robbie Fowler
and a Jason McAteer goal.
Aston Villa
Villa's most recent FA Cup triumph
back in 1957 was then a competition-
record seventh victory.
Their only appearance in an FA Cup
final since 1957 was in 2000 when they
lost 1-0 to Chelsea.
The Villans have made the FA Cup
semi-final on 20 previous occasions,
winning 10 and losing 10. However,
they have lost seven of the last nine
times they have reached this stage.
The clean sheet they kept in the last
round against West Brom was only their
second in their last 20 FA Cup matches.
Villa's previous four FA Cup ties this
season have been at home.
Five of the nine goals in their three FA
Cup ties this year have been netted in
the 85th minute or later.
Since Tim Sherwood took over, Christian
Benteke is the top scorer in the Premier
League with eight goals.
Liverpool
This is Liverpool's 24th appearance in
an FA Cup semi-final - only Arsenal,
Manchester United and Everton have
played in more.
They have lost just one of their last nine
semi-finals.
The seven-time winners' last
appearance in an FA Cup final was in
2012 when they lost to Chelsea 2-1,
and they last won it in 2006.
Jordan Henderson and Simon Mignolet
have played 47 games in all
competitions this season, which is the
joint most across Europe's top five
leagues with Jose Callejon of Napoli,
Mikel Rico of Athletic Bilbao and
Stephane Ruffier of Saint-Etienne.
Liverpool have five players in their
squad to have won the FA Cup before:
Glen Johnson (Portsmouth 2008), Mario
Balotelli (Manchester City 2011), Steven
Gerrard (Liverpool 2001 & 2006), Daniel
Sturridge (2010 & 2012), and Kolo
Toure (Arsenal 2003 & 2005;
Manchester City 2011).
Steven Gerrard has scored more league
goals (12) against Aston Villa than any
other side in his career.

http://m.bbc.com/sport/football/32273487

Christian benteke is in form as he single handedly scored 8 goals in 6 matches so we should be wary of him.... Mod this is a Wembley match so should make front page...

I already see Us in d finals.. Mukina2.. Take ds match 2 front page n knw your fate of who U meeting in d final... We try to sound polite now if thats y U avnt b movin our matches to front page... THANK u....