FA Cup Semi Final Preview: Aston Villa vs Liverpool Preview

April 17, 2015
By: Deke Hardman

FA-cup

This weekend’s FA Cup action concludes on Sunday afternoon when Aston Villa face Liverpool at Wembley.

Villa, who booked their place in the last four by beating local rivals West Bromwich Albion last month, have taken four points from their two league games to move six points clear of the Premier League’s bottom three.

They will see this game as a welcome distraction from their battle for survival, as they aim to reach the final for the first time since 2000, when they lost to Chelsea.

The Midlands’ side’s route to the semi-finals saw them beat Championship duo Blackpool and Bournemouth and then Leicester City before their quarter final tie with the Baggies.

Manager Tim Sherwood has a number of injury concerns ahead of the game, not least in defence with Ciaran Clark definitely out and Alan Hutton, Aly Cissokho and Philippe Senderos all doubtful.

Gabriel Agbonlahor is doubtful with a hamstring problem, while Carlos Sanchez is suspended after being sent-off in last weekend’s win over Sherwood’s former club Tottenham Hotspur.
Christian Benteke, who has eight goals in his last six league games, is 9.0 (8/1) to open the scoring with Bet Victor, with Andreas Wiemann a 13.0 (12/1) shot with the same firm.

Villa are as highly priced as the 6.5 (11/2) on offer from Bet Victor to win the game inside ninety minutes, with the draw a 4.33 (10/3) chance with the same company. Liverpool are favourites at a widely available 1.62 (8/13).

Liverpool needed a replay to get past Blackburn Rovers in the last round, and followed that win at Ewood Park with by taking all three points from their league clash with Newcastle United last time out – a result that keeps them in contention for a potential top four finish.

Brendan Rodgers, who’s side also eliminated AFC Wimbledon, Bolton Wanderers and Crystal Palace on route to Wembley, will be without Mamadou Sakho for this game, while both Mario Balotelli and Daniel Sturridge are also unlikely to feature.

Raheem Sterling, who is once again set to lead the line, is favourite to get the first goal of the game at 6.0 (5/1) with a number of firms while Steven Gerrard, who along with Martin Skrtel returns from suspension, is a 9.0 (8/1) chance with several bookmakers.

In both league meetings between the sides this season, the away team has won without conceding, and with the Reds in the visitors dressing room here, you may be tempted to back a Liverpool win to nil at 2.75 (7/4) with Sky Bet.

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