Liverpool and Aston Villa will battle for a place in the FA Cup final next month. (Getty)
Two Premier League teams will clash on Sunday in the FA Cup semifinals at Wembley Stadium. Aston Villa and Liverpool split the two league meetings this season and the tiebreaker will likely be the highlight of each one’s season.
Aston Villa appear safe from relegation in 15th place, six clear of 18th. Liverpool’s hopes of qualifying for the Champions League appeared to be dead, but a recent slide by Manchester City has opened the door just a crack. Liverpool is 11-2-2 in the league since Christmas.
It was an emotional week for the Reds, who honored those who died in the Hillsborough disaster of 1989 on Wednesday. Liverpool is coming off a 2-0 win over Newcastle on Monday while Aston Villa upset Spurs on the road.
Liverpool last won the competition in 2005-06 while Villa hasn’t lifted the trophy since 1956-57. Liverpool defeated Blackburn in a quarterfinal replay while Villa defeated West Brom.
Arsenal and Reading will meet in the other semifinal on Saturday.
Here’s what you need to know about the match:
The Basics
Who:
Aston Villa vs. Liverpool
What:
When:
Sunday, April 19
Where:
Wembley Stadium in London, England
Time:
10 AM Eastern Daylight Time
Channel:
Fox sports 1 (US)/BT Sport(UK) (International viewers, click here for your local provider)
Odds:
Aston Villa +500, Liverpool 185, Draw +300
Prediction:
2-1 Liverpool
Stats You Need to Know
Scouting Aston Villa
Record: 8-17-8, 15th (32 points)
Coach: Tim Sherwood, 1st season
Goals Per Game: 0.73
Clean Sheets: 9
Leading Goal Scorer: Christian Benteke, 10
Assist Leader: Leandro Bacuna, 3
Card Leader: Ciaran Clark, 8 yellow cards, 1 red card
Scouting Liverpool
Record: 17-9-6 5th (65 points)
Coach: Brendan Rodgers, 3rd season
Goals Per Game: 1.47
Clean Sheets: 13
Leading Goal Scorer: Raheem Sterling, 7
Assist Leader: Jordan Henderson, 8
Card Leader: Steven Gerrard, 6 yellow cards, 1 red card
