Tim Sherwood wants to wipe any smile from Raheem Sterling ’ s face by causing an FA Cup shock at Wembley on Sunday . Footage this week emerged showing the Liverpool forward inhaling nitrous oxide , a legal high commonly known as laughing gas because it creates feelings of euphoria . But Sherwood said : ‘ Let 's hope he 's not laughing after Sunday. ’ Aston Villa boss Tim Sherwood is hoping they can cause a FA Cup semi-final shock vs Liverpool on Sunday . Raheem Sterling ( right ) was pictured smoking a shisha pipe with team-mate Jordon Ibe earlier this season . The Aston Villa manager knows his ambitions to beat Liverpool and reach the FA Cup final may rest on taming Sterling , a player he tried to sign for Tottenham Hotpur ’ s academy as a schoolboy . The 20-year-old is enduring a tough time off the pitch , in a contract stand-off with Liverpool and coming under question for his recreational activities . Sterling has been pictured smoking shisha pipes as well as taking so-called ‘ hippy crack ’ through a balloon . Sherwood said that was wrong but added : ‘ I have a wee bit of sympathy . I am not condoning it , but he is a young man , isn ’ t he ? He obviously has fortunes but is growing up like everyone else . It is tough in the public eye. ’ Sherwood can remember being wowed by a 14-year-old Sterling on the books at Queens Park Rangers , but was unable to convince Spurs to commit the money required to sign him . Instead , Sterling headed to Anfield for £600,000 in 2010 . ‘ A lot of academies pick players on size because the bigger kids normally push the little kids over and their teams can win the games , ’ said Sherwood . ‘ He wouldn ’ t be much different from what he is now but you wouldn ’ t want to fight him would you ? ’ Sherwood has been a fan of Liverpool starlet Sterling ( left ) ever since he was 14 and on the books at QPR . Another Liverpool player Sherwood discussed on Friday was Steven Gerrard , whose birthday falls on the FA Cup final on May 30 . Those associated with the Merseyside club feel an ideal silverware send-off is brewing before Gerrard heads to LA Galaxy . ‘ Believe it or not it ’ s not about spoiling the party for Steven Gerrard , ’ insisted Sherwood . ‘ It ’ s about what we can do . To be honest we ’ re hoping he ’ s on his holiday in May. ’ Sherwood played against a teenage Gerrard in his latter days and hailed the 34-year-old ’ s clear talent from the off . He added : ‘ I ’ m sure Steven could still do a job for a Premier League side but I ’ m not sure he can go and play for anyone other than Liverpool . He can earn £1 a week or £200,000 , he ’ ll still play the same way . That ’ s a dying breed – there aren ’ t many of them about. ’ Sherwood has led a Villa resurgence since taking over in February , steering the club away from relegation danger and into this Wembley showpiece . They are on a run of four wins in seven . Liverpool have captain Steven Gerrard ( centre ) back for the FA Cup semi after serving a three-match ban . The match could be Gerrard 's ( left ) last in the competition before his move to LA Galaxy in the summer . Sherwood believes Villa can upset favourites Liverpool . ‘ It ’ s a very exciting game , a great opportunity for this club to get to an FA Cup final , ’ he said . ‘ I ’ ve lost a few semi-finals myself , not a great feeling . ‘ We ’ re going in with a positive state of mind . This club ’ s relegation is not at stake , it is about us maybe getting some glory for the football club . ‘ We have the mindset to win the game , impose ourselves on a very good Liverpool side , that ’ s what we intend to do . ‘ We think we ’ re capable , we have a good blend of players who can play and maybe go direct at time . We ’ re prepared to mix it up , we have a plan. ’ Despite the possible return of Gerrard , Sherwood is confident his Villa side can cause a shock at Wembley .
Aston Villa play Liverpool in their FA Cup semi-final on Sunday at Wembley . Raheem Sterling was pictured smoking a shisha pipe earlier in the season . Steven Gerrard will be leaving Liverpool at the end of the campaign .