Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge is excited to be meeting Aston Villa in the FA Cup semifinals.

Sturridge will face the club at whose academy he spent four years between 1996 and 2000 before moving to Coventry.

"I used to play for them when I was very young," he said. "I have a lot of family members who are Villa fans.

"It's going to be great to play against them. My little cousin (Dean Junior) plays for Aston Villa Under-13s and he's going to the game with his family.

"I'll have a lot of family members there, too, so I'm looking forward to it. It will be a great occasion for the club. It should be a great day.

"Villa are not an easy side to play against but we'll do whatever it takes to win the game."