Aston Villa v Liverpool preview: Gerrard back from suspension

Aston Villa meet Liverpool in the second FA Cup semi-final of the weekend at Wembley on Sunday.

Villa overcame rivals West Brom 2-0 in a fiery quarter-final encounter last month, while Brendan Rodgers' Reds required a replay to beat Blackburn Rovers to make it to the last-four.

Liverpool last made the FA Cup final in 2012, when they lost 2-1 to Chelsea. Aston Villa's last trip to the final was 15 years ago in 2000, when they also lost to the Blues in the last one played at the old Wembley.

Away from the Cup, Tim Sherwood's side currently sit six points clear of the relegation zone in the Premier League table after a morale-boosting win at Tottenham last weekend, and Liverpool are closing in on Manchester City in fourth as they chase the final Champions League spot.

Team news

Shay Given will start for Aston Villa, boss Tim Sherwood has confirmed.

Carlos Sanchez is suspended while Gabriel Agbonlahor will be assessed as he continues to struggle with a hamstring injury.

Ciaran Clark is out with a knee injury with Alan Hutton also sidelined by an ankle problem but Scott Sinclair and Ashley Westwood have recovered from their own hamstring issues.

Christian Benteke celebrates after scoring for Aston Villa at Tottenham

Liverpool duo Martin Skrtel and Steven Gerrard both return from suspension for the Wembley clash.

However, only the Slovakian centre-back is likely to regain his place in the starting line-up as Gerrard has played just 27 minutes of football since February 10 because of injury and a three-match ban.

Striker Daniel Sturridge is a doubt with a hip problem but fellow forward Mario Balotelli trained this week after a three-match absence through illness and injury. Jordon Ibe is cup-tied.

Betting

Aston Villa are 9/2 outsiders in the match result market, with Liverpool expected to win inside 90 minutes at 8/13. The Reds are second favourites to lift the trophy for an eighth time at 7/4, with Villa given an 8/1chance of doing so for the first time since 1957. According to Sky Bet’s ‘correct score’ odds, a 1-0 win for Liverpool in normal time is the most likely outcome at 11/2. However, a draw (14/5) would force extra-time, and it’s 5/2 for Villa to find a way through to the final via any method, with Liverpool the 2/7favourites.