Tim Sherwood has confirmed he will start Shay Given against Liverpool in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley on Sunday , a day before the Irishman turns 39 . Given has been selected each round of the competition , beginning under Paul Lambert , and Sherwood said he would keep faith with his deputy goalkeeper . Brad Guzan , Villa ’ s No 1 , suffered heartbreak in 2010 , when he was understudy to Brad Friedel but played every round of the League Cup – before being left out of the final against Manchester United by manager Martin O ’ Neill . Shay Given will start for Aston Villa against Liverpool in Sunday 's FA Cup semi-final at Wembley . The 38-year-old has played in all four of Villa 's FA Cup matches this season and has kept two clean-sheets . Villa manager Tim Sherwood confirmed Given will start on Sunday , a day before the Irishman turns 39 . But Sherwood said there would be no such turnaround this year , with Given lasting until the final if Villa make it there . ‘ Shay plays . Absolutely , ’ said Sherwood . ‘ He ’ s done nothing wrong Shay , he ’ s a large part of the reason we ’ re in this semi-final . ‘ The saves he made against Leicester were fantastic and at the right time . He trains fantastically well and he ’ s pushing Brad all the way for that No 1 spot. ’ Sherwood watched his Villa side in training on Friday as they prepare for the weekend 's crunch clash . Tom Cleverley will be hoping to start at Wembley as he bids to impress with his loan expiring in the summer . Carlos Sanchez signed for Aston Villa from Elche during the summer and has made 31 appearences . 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 added . ‘ I ’ ve lost 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 on Sunday it is about us maybe getting some glory for the football club . ‘ We have the mindest 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 and we hope we can affect Liverpool. ’ Fabian Delph ( left ) and Christian Benteke ( right ) were put through their paces ahead of Sunday 's semi-final . Joe Cole lifted the FA Cup three times during a seven-year stint at Premier League leaders Chelsea . Aston Villa defeated rivals West Brom 2-0 in the last round to book their semi-final appearance at Wembley .
he agrees to start against Liverpool in FA Cup a day before he turns 39 . Tim Sherwood watches the news as he prepares for Sunday 's semi - final . he has played in all four of Aston Villa 's challenge matches during this term .