FA Cup semi-final as it happened: Aston Villa 2-1 Liverpool

It's a typically subdued celebration from Sherwood. Just a few leaps, hugs and hand shakes with anyone in his vicinity. He fully deserves it. As effective as Villa were today, Liverpool were lifeless at times. They may feel slightly aggrieved after Mario Balotelli was wrongly ruled offside having put the ball in the back of the net, but they can have little excuse for this defeat.

That's it! There will be no fairytale ending for Steven Gerrard. Liverpool are out of the FA Cup and Aston Villa march onto the final where they will meet Arsenal. It is fully deserved too, Tim Sherwood got his tactics spot on this afternoon and Brendan Rodgers had no answer to it.

FULL TIME:

Aston Villa 2-1 Liverpool

Oh, Lovren, what are you playing at?! Liverpool are pressing and the ball falls to the centre half 40 yards out. Obviously he takes the shot on. Obviously it flies horribly over the bar.

Henderson finds a yard of space and swings a cross into the box. Balotelli outmuscles his marker but can only power a header over the bar.

Four minutes added on. Four minutes for Liverpool to find an equaliser.

Balotelli has the ball in the back of the net! It won't count though, as the Italian has been ruled offside. Replays suggest he certainly wasn't.

Gerrard's effort is cleared off the line! The Liverpool skipper meets a cross with a fine looping header that is veering into the top corner, but Richardson is well placed to nod it clear.

Balotelli wins a corner and Lovren is on the end of Gerrard's delivery, but powers his diving header well over the bar.

A change for Villa as the very impressive Grealish is replaced by Joe Cole.

Nope. A tame effort is floated straight into the arms of Shay Given. Nothing to see here.

Balotelli and Coutinho combine on the edge of the box before the Brazilian is tripped by Delph. 25 yards out, can Steven Gerrard produce?

Can shows good determination down the right to win a corner for his side. Gerrard's delivery is headed away, only as far as Allen however, but he sees his shot charged down. Villa take advantage and spring clear on the break through Benteke and Grealish but their one two breaks down at the pivotal moment with Moreno intercepting.

What have Liverpool got then? With 20 minutes remaining, they are yet to really pick themselves up after Villa took the lead. N'Zogbia drives towards the Liverpool backline and eventually releases Benteke, but he held onto the ball for far too long and the Belgian is correctly ruled offside.

Nick Howson at Wembley

"Giving Christian Benteke and Jack Grealish the freedom of Wembley is coming back to bite Liverpool who are behind for the first time through Fabian Delph's early second half goal.

"Though Mario Balotelli has come on as the focal point in the Liverpool attack, the Reds look rudderless with Steven Gerrard increasingly cutting a forlorn figure.

"His bow in a Liverpool shirt is at this stage unlikely to come in next month's final. Villa worth their lead."

Grealish does brilliantly again, playing a first time pass to Benteke before continuing his run into the box. Lovren just about gets to the ball ahead of him, but can only prod it into the path of Richardson on the edge of the box. He takes a first time shot, but shanks is horribly over the bar.

Liverpool are panicking a bit at the back now. Two defenders go for the same ball. None of them get it, allowing Benteke to take possession on the edge of the box. He's forced wide however and is unable work it back into the box.

Villa turn it around! Delph starts the move, spraying a ball out to Benteke down the inside left. The Belgian brilliantly backheels the ball into the path of Grealish who plays an excellent reverse ball into the box to find Delph who had continued his run. His first touch is excellent, guiding the ball past Lovren before slotting the ball home at the near post. It's another sublime team goal from Villa.

Goal! Aston Villa 2-1 Liverpool (Fabian Delph)

Villa threaten again as Bacuna lifts a ball in from the right that Benteke catches on the volley but his effort takes a deflection before its collected by Mignolet.

Grealish, who enjoyed an outstanding first half, drifts past a few Liverpool defenders before cutting the ball infield to N'Zogbia. He takes the shot on, but it is a fairly woeful effort that flies over the bar.

We are just about ready for the second half at Wembley and Mario Balotelli will enter the fray for Liverpool, replacing Lazar Markovic.

Nick Howson at Wembley

"The old adage of a goal changing a game has never been more true than at Wembley where the second FA Cup semi-final has been sparked into life.

"Philippe Coutinho had Liverpool ahead with a nicely worked goal after substitute Jores Okore failed to clear, but within six minutes Villa were level as Christian Benteke finished clinically.

"Both goals has seen the shackles relinquished and either side could have been ahead at the break. As it is, we have a fascinating second half in prospect."

HALF TIME:

Aston Villa 1-1 Liverpool

The game has taken a lull as we approach half time with two minutes of injury time added on.

Gerrard's corner finds Skrtel who is unmarked in the box, but he can only nod a header wide.

There's a wonderful pace to this game now. Grealish drifts inside the box past Skrtel put Lovren just manages to intercept to stop his run. Liverpool counter immediately, finding Sterling down the left. He looks inside to Coutinho, who tries to curl one towards the top corner but a deflection takes it out for a corner.

Villa supporters are now kindly informing their Liverpool counterparts that they are no longer singing.

Villa are level! Fabian Delph brilliantly sidesteps two challenges down the left wing before sliding a one two infield to Grealish. The midfielder continues his run and receives the ball back before cutting a fine pass back into the path of Benteke in the box. The Belgian opens his body up and makes no mistake, side footing a precise finish into the far corner. Wonderful team goal from Villa.

Goal! Aston Villa 1-1 Liverpoom(Christian Benteke, 35)

Coutinho does it again for Liverpool. Henderson drove into the Villa box from the left with Okore getting across to intercept, but the substitute makes a mess of his clearance. Delph tries to clean up, but also fails to clear the danger, allowing Sterling to race onto the ball. He finds Coutinho with a clever pass to his left and the Brazilian finds the back of the net, via a big deflection off the outstretched boot of Okore. Not a good start to the game for the man who just came off the bench,

Goal! Aston Villa 0-1 Liverpool (Philippe Coutinho, 30)

Baker's game is over, Jores Okore comes onto replace him.

Tim Sherwood has a problem as Nathan Baker appears to be struggling. The centre half comes over to the sidelines and while Villa re temporarily down to 10 men, Sterling attempts to sneak in behind their defence, but gets his header all wrong and Given can collect.

Nick Howson at Wembley

"This might have the feel of a proper semi-final but the reality is neither side are yet to produce a moment worthy of the stage.

"Villa it is clear are wary of pushing too many players forward in these early stages, with Benteke pulling out to drop on Emre Can, easily the physically inferior of the Liverpool back three.

"Liverpool are showing far more adventure, with Steven Gerrard given license to roam forward ahead of Jordan Henderson and Joe Allen. But bar Charles N'Zogbia's effort, it is a very tense affair thus far."

Villa are growing into this game. Delph and Benteke combine down the inside left with the latter shifting the ball inside to N'Zogbia, who lashes a vicious effort on goal from 25 yards out. Mignolet must have got a hand on it as a corner is awarded, but Villa fail to work anything of note from it.

It;s been an open start to the contest. Moments ago Grealish tested the Liverpool backline for the first time, wriggling his way into the box before winning a corner for his side which he takes. After a neat one tweo with N'Zogbia he is almost in again, dropping a shoulder to beat Can but his cross is wayward.

Liverpool shift the ball infield towards Henderson who slips past his man and lets fly with a shot from 25 yards out. It's a poor attempt, however, and his meek effort rolls wide of the post.

Lazar Markovic rakes on Richardson down the right wing, easily beating the Villa full back who ends up pulling him back. Gerrard swings in the resulting free kick but Ron Vlaar powers a header clear.

And Liverpool get us underway at Wembley.

Nick Howson at Wembley

"The script is very much written at Wembley as Steven Gerrard starts for Liverpool on his return to action following suspension. The former England skipper turns 35 on the day of this year's FA Cup final and he comes back into the Reds team to attempt to set up that fateful date with Arsenal.

Villa boss Tim Sherwood might not have been faced with a selection dilemma of such significance but he is without a host of injured players. Gabriel Agbonlahor, Ciaran Clark and Carlos Sanchez all miss out. Nathan Baker, Charles N'Zogbia and Tom Cleverley are the stand-ins."

BREAKING: Gabby Agbonlahor misses out due to injury while Shay Given retains his spot in goal.

Aston Villa team to face Liverpool: Given, Bacuna, Baker, Vlaar, Richardson, Westwood, Delph (c), Cleverley, Grealish, N'Zogbia, Benteke.

Subs: Guzan, Okore, Sinclair, Weimann, Cole, Lowton, Gil

BREAKING: Martin Skrtel and Steven Gerrard both start, Daniel Sturridge left out of the match day squad.

Liverpool team to face Aston Villa: Mignolet, Can, Skrtel, Lovren, Moreno, Allen, Henderson, Gerrard, Markovic, Coutinho, Sterling

Subs: Jones, Johnson, Toure, Lambert, Manquillo, Borini, Balotelli

Villa meanwhile will make a late decision on Gabby Agbonlahor's fitness, while Ciaran Clarke is suspended.

As it seems to have been the case all season, Daniel Sturridge remains a doubt ahead of kick off for Liverpool. A hip injury ruled the England international out of the win over Newcastle United last Monday but Brendan Rodgers does have Martin Skrtel and captain Steven Gerrard available once again following the pair's suspensions.

Jordon Ibe is cup-tied, while Mamadou Sakho is also ruled out with a hamstring injury.

Arsenal booked their place in May's FA Cup final on Saturday, who will join them?