Aston Villa vs. Liverpool: Team News, Predicted Lineups, Live Stream and TV Info

It's FA Cup semi-final weekend, with Aston Villa and Liverpool contesting the second tie at Wembley Stadium on Sunday.

Both sides have endured disappointing Premier League campaigns and are looking to end their 2014/15 season on a high by reaching the final.

For Liverpool, this is their 24th FA Cup semi-final, for Villa it's their 11th. Both have lifted the cup seven times in their history.

Jon Super/Associated Press

The match sees managers Brendan Rodgers and Tim Sherwood go head-to-head for the first time this season, with Sherwood having taken over the Villa hot seat after the last meeting between the two sides. The two Premier League games this season have ended in one victory each; Villa gained a surprise 1-0 win at Anfield back in September, while Liverpool were 2-0 victors at Villa Park in January.

Date: Sunday, 19 April

Time: 3 p.m. BST (10 a.m. ET)

Venue: Wembley Stadium

TV Info: BT Sport 1, Fox Sports 1 and Fox Soccer 2Go

Live Stream: BT Sport 1 (U.K) and Fox Soccer 2Go (U.S. only)

Predicted Formations

Aston Villa are beset by injury problems going into the game, with 10 players listed as either doubtful or definitely ruled out, via PhysioRoom.

Sherwood said he will give key forward Gabriel Agbonlahor every chance to be involved in the game, as he is eager to pair him alongside the in-form Christian Benteke.

"Agbonlahor and Benteke work together," he said at his pre-match press conference on Friday, per the Independent. "Gabby has great pace and we're looking to utilise that if he's fit.

"The Liverpool back line will certainly take a couple of steps back if he's on the pitch."

Jon Super/Associated Press

Liverpool also have injury concerns, primarily over perennial sick note Daniel Sturridge who is again a doubt—this time with the hip injury that kept him out of the Reds' game against Newcastle United on Monday night. Rodgers said, similarly to Sherwood, on his forward, per James Pearce of the Liverpool Echo:

"

Rodgers on Sturridge: "We will give him every possibility to be fit for the game."

— James Pearce (@JamesPearceEcho) April 17, 2015"

Rodgers is at least buoyed by the return of Martin Skrtel and Steven Gerrard from suspension. Skrtel is almost certain to start, while accommodating Gerrard may prove trickier. Jordon Ibe is cup-tied, while Adam Lallana is doubtful, leaving few options in attack.

Aston Villa: Given; Richardson, Vlaar, Baker, Bacuna; Delph, Cleverley, Grealish, N’Zogbia; Benteke, Weimann.

Liverpool: Mignolet; Can, Skrtel, Lovren, Moreno; Lucas, Henderson, Allen, Gerrard, Coutinho; Sterling.

Form Lines (All Competitions)

Liverpool

Won 2-0 vs. Newcastle United

Won 1-0 vs. Blackburn (FA Cup)

Lost 4-1 vs. Arsenal

Lost 2-1 vs. Manchester United

Won 1-0 vs. Swansea City

Aston Villa

Won 1-0 vs. Tottenham

Drew 3-3 vs. QPR

Lost 3-1 vs. Manchester Untied

Lost 1-0 vs. Swansea City

Won 4-0 vs. Sunderland

Player to Watch

Liverpool: Philippe Coutinho

Jon Super/Associated Press

This week saw Philippe Coutinho named among the nominees for the PFA Player of the Year award. The Brazilian attacker has been in good form in 2015 and hit crucial winners in the earlier rounds of the FA Cup against both Bolton Wanderers and Blackburn Rovers.

Coutinho started the Reds' last game in a false-nine role against Newcastle; whether he continues there or drops to behind a centre-forward he'll be a key player for Rodgers' side.

Aston Villa: Christian Benteke

Christian Benteke has hit form at the right time for Villa—and the wrong time for Liverpool. Sherwood has seemingly got the best from the Belgian forward, who has five goals in his last three games, including a hat-trick against Queens Park Rangers.

The powerful 24-year-old has form against Liverpool, with four goals in five appearances against the Reds.

Key Battles

Skrtel vs. Benteke

Rui Vieira/Associated Press

The battle between in-form Benteke and returning Skrtel is clearly a big one ahead of this encounter.

"Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke fires warning to Liverpool ahead of FA Cup semi-final: I love to DESTROY defenders" reads a headline in the Daily Mail ahead of the game. Even if the quotes don't quite marry up to the headline, it's a talking point for media nonetheless.

"He is playing well at the moment," Skrtel told the official Liverpool website. "He is the type of player you have to expect a battle with because he is big and strong. He is quick so it will be difficult, but we are ready for that and we will do everything possible to stop him."

Stopping Benteke will be key for Liverpool defensively.

Sterling vs. Villa's Full-Backs

Jon Super/Associated Press

At the other end, Villa must keep Liverpool dangerman Raheem Sterling quiet. The 20-year-old was deployed in a slightly wider role last time out but, owing to Sturridge's likely absence, he could return to a more orthodox centre-forward position.

Either way, Sterling likes to take up positions between full-back and centre-back and cut inside, just as he did for the opening goal against Newcastle. Villa will be wary of his pace and must be aware of the threat posed when Sterling, Coutinho and Jordan Henderson combine in the final third.

Odds (via Odds Shark)

Liverpool win: 4/7

Aston Villa win: 9/2

Draw: 3/1

Prediction: Liverpool 2-1 Aston Villa