FA Cup Semi-Final: Aston Villa vs Liverpool Pre-Match Thread

[PeterWithesShin]

3 FA Cup games against this lot in my time, 3 defeats and 0 goals scored. Sunday is the day all that changes.

[Brend'Watkins]

Will the winners on Sunday automatically qualify for Europe, assuming Arsenal beat Reading and also finish in the top 4?

Nope.

"From the 2015-16 UEFA Europa League season, however, UEFA will not allow the runners-up to qualify for the Europa League through the competition."

Even if we were to win the thing I'd like us not to compete in the Europa league next season if at all possible.

[PeterWithesShin]

Isn't it something daft like 20 games to win it?

[BoskoDjembaSalifou]

I can't stand the negative attitude towards the Europa League. The format is shit, everyone knows that, but I'd still love to be in a European competition. It's not like it'll get in the way of our challenge for the title.

Anyway, that's a discussion for another time. I think we'll beat Liverpool, they haven't been playing well recently and Benteke is in devastating form.

[Dr Butler]

3 FA Cup games against this lot in my time, 3 defeats and 0 goals scored. Sunday is the day all that changes.

had a quick look and it is something like this in my lifetime....
1967 Villa loss - 1-0
1985 Villa loss - 3-0
1988 Villa loss - 2-0
1992 Villa loss - 1-0
1996 Villa loss - 3-0

doesn't make great reading but it's time we changed it

UTV
The Doc

[PeterWithesShin]

3 FA Cup games against this lot in my time, 3 defeats and 0 goals scored. Sunday is the day all that changes.

had a quick look and it is something like this in my lifetime....
1967 Villa loss - 1-0
1985 Villa loss - 3-0
1988 Villa loss - 2-0
1992 Villa loss - 1-0
1996 Villa loss - 3-0

doesn't make great reading but it's time we changed it

UTV
The Doc

Make it 4 for me, i'd completely forgotten about 1985. It will still all change Sunday!

[Monty]

We can definitely have this lot. One goal will get their heads down, and Sterling has unsettled the whole squad. I hope Emre Can is fit for them, because he's suffered a lot when a big striker has targeted him.

[Jimbo]

Fuck the Norwegian fuckers.

[peter w]

Benteke: Nothing achieved yet

Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke has warned against complacency as the renaissance under new manager Tim Sherwood continues.

Christian Benteke: Wary of 'risky' complacency

The Belgium striker scored the game's only goal on Saturday as Villa claimed a 1-0 win at Tottenham to move six points clear of the relegation zone - but Benteke is urging his team-mates to take one game at a time, starting with Sunday's FA Cup semi-final against Liverpool.

Benteke said: "I think it's risky to say we can take three points and we're finished. We have to try to win every game.

"Saturday was a massive three points because now we're six points clear of QPR so it's very important for us to be far off them."

Asked if Sunday represented the biggest game of his career, the 24-year-old added: "For the moment, yes. It (missing the World Cup) was hard but now it's in the past, I'm looking forward to playing the semi-final.

"Liverpool are a good team but the thing with the FA Cup is it's still something special. It's 50-50 for me but some will say they are favourites.

"Wembley is something good and special because it's a semi-final, it's close to the final and we have to do everything to be there again."

On being deployed alongside the pacy Gabriel Agbonlahor by Sherwood, Benteke said: "He said to the team we have to play to our strengths, to play with me and Gabby.

"He helped me to destroy the defenders, with two we're always better than one. I'm comfortable, it's a good partnership."

[TopDeck113]

3 FA Cup games against this lot in my time, 3 defeats and 0 goals scored. Sunday is the day all that changes.

had a quick look and it is something like this in my lifetime....
1967 Villa loss - 1-0
1985 Villa loss - 3-0
1988 Villa loss - 2-0
1992 Villa loss - 1-0
1996 Villa loss - 3-0

doesn't make great reading but it's time we changed it

UTV
The Doc

Make it 4 for me, i'd completely forgotten about 1985. It will still all change Sunday!

Exactly the same for me: went to the last four of those but had completely forgotten about 1985.

[AV82EC]

3 FA Cup games against this lot in my time, 3 defeats and 0 goals scored. Sunday is the day all that changes.

had a quick look and it is something like this in my lifetime....
1967 Villa loss - 1-0
1985 Villa loss - 3-0
1988 Villa loss - 2-0
1992 Villa loss - 1-0
1996 Villa loss - 3-0

doesn't make great reading but it's time we changed it

UTV
The Doc

Yep only Man U have knocked us out more times since we last won it.

I'll get my anorak.....

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Got to love that line:

"He helped me to destroy the defenders, with two we're always better than one. I'm comfortable, it's a good partnership."

[JUAN PABLO]

Villa win 3 1

[CJ]

Villa to win on penalties, with Gerrard missing his, adding to his slip up last season. How I would just absolutely love that

[silhillvilla]

I think it will go to extra time and we end up losing to a dodgy penalty decision.

Who is Ref ?