Aston Villa boss Tim Sherwood has defended Liverpool midfielder Raheem Sterling over his off-the-field antics.

Sterling has been pictured smoking shisha pipes as well as taking so-called 'hippy crack' through a balloon.

"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," said Sherwood.

Villa meet Liverpool in the FA Cup semifinal tomorrow.