text: 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 .
target: 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 .