Six matches make up Wednesday's Premier League action and BBC Sport will bring you every kick.
Bournemouth v Ipswich
Brighton v Aston Villa
Man City v Leicester City
Newcastle v Brentford - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra
Southampton v Crystal Palace
Liverpool v Everton (20:00) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live
All kick-off times 19:45 BST unless stated
Mike Taylor
BBC Radio WM reporter
Image source, Getty Images"It's so good, man," said Jacob Ramsey - and it was. He had already taken a moment with the club photographer to see how a great day had been captured for posterity. "Growing up, I was a Villa fan. I know what it means to go to Wembley."
Every good Aston Villa team of recent memory has had at least one player with that authentic local connection - Gary Shaw, Ian Taylor, Lee Hendrie, Stan Collymore, Gabby Agbonlahor and others - able to appreciate the scale of the team's footballing achievements, not only with his head, but with his heart.
Dean Smith took that connection into the manager's office. There is no doubt the Villa players from the rest of the world also get what it means to the fans and give their all accordingly, but if it is the club to which you have been dedicated your whole life, you are going to feel something extra.
Now Premier League squads are collections of worldwide talent, the hometown boy can sometimes be underestimated, almost a sentimental presence in the squad. They can also be viewed mainly as bargaining chips, representing pure profit in PSR terms.
All indications are that Unai Emery does not see Ramsey like this.
For understandable reasons, Ramsey's name was often suggested as a saleable asset last summer, when Villa were flirting with the financial limits. But whenever asked about him, Emery has strongly insisted that he wants Ramsey around.
"Teams may be involved in the possibility to sign him, because he is a potentially big, big player for Aston Villa and England," Emery said last summer. "I want to keep him here - 100%."
Injuries have held him back at times in the past year or two, but Ramsey has re-established himself as a regular pick, even in such a powerful squad. He has proved himself efficient, competitive and smart, working out what the team needs.
On Sunday, he talked thoughtfully about the alterations needed to support Marcus Rashford up front rather than Ollie Watkins, in a manner that suggested a clear thinker of the game at such a high, technical level.
The boy from Great Barr is living out the dreams of the 5,000 in the away end at Preston and many thousands more who will watch him at Wembley.
Ramsey appears not at all dazzled by the experience of playing for his childhood club alongside elite-level talent, and is proving himself worthy of equal billing.
Tune into The West Midlands Football Phone-In from 18:00 on weeknights
Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter
Image source, Getty ImagesAston Villa are one win off the Champions League places, they are in the quarter-final of the Champions league with Paris Saint-Germain waiting and they have just sauntered into the semi-finals of the FA Cup.
Villa are on the brink of the most incredible season. No other team in England are still fighting on all three fronts, but it might still be considered a failure if they slip up now.
The problem is that this slip, or exhausted stumble, is quite likely. They play a gruelling seven games in 22 days from now, including those two against PSG, Crystal Palace in the FA Cup semi at Wembley and three of the others are against direct rivals for that top-five spot.
Villa have faltered at the final fence before so this run-in will seriously test them, but notice the phrase "quite likely" at the start of the last paragraph. Failure is not a certainty, glory is still a possibility. This is a stronger and deeper squad than they have had for some time and with Marcus Rashford being reborn just before Easter the Midlands miracle can still happen.
I am not convinced they will reach all three objectives, but any one of them should make it a season to be celebrated and not bemoaned for opportunities lost.
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Image source, Getty ImagesWe asked for your views on the thing no-one is talking about Aston Villa, but really should be.
Here are some of your comments:
Theo: Nobody is talking about the fact Ezri Konsa is one of the best all-round centre-backs in the league and at this moment, he is the best for his country. Despite our horrid defensive record this season, he has been top quality almost every week, rarely puts a foot wrong, and if he had a consistent partner on his left (bearing in mind he's had, Tyrone Mings, Pau Torres, Diego Carlos, Lamare Bogarde and even Lucas Digne at one point) maybe our record wouldn't be as bad as it is. He's definitely already cemented his ticket to the 2026 World Cup - I think only an injury would cost him that.
Prit: Ezri Konsa. Konsa has been the rock of our defence for the past two years and his versatility means he is an England regular. I would like to postulate that not only is he Villa's best defender, that he must be England's first choice in defence and could even be a future England captain. Secondly, Boubacar Kamara. While the spotlight is on our wonderful strikers and Marco Asensio in midfield, I feel Kamara has been the glue that has held this Villa team together this season. In my opinion, he is our player season and we play much better when he is in the side.
Tariq: Can Marcus Rashford push Ollie Watkins out of the team? He has shown he can play up front on his own as per Unai Emery's preference. Watkins, who can offer more than goals, isn't as prolific at the moment and Rashford offers more from set-pieces.
Jason: No-one is talking about how frustrating Watkins can be. If only he had that split-second ruthless streak. Over thinking everything is his downfall and we'd be far better off with him instantly pulling the trigger more often or a forward who has Alexander Isak-like qualities. Arsenal are welcome to Watkins for £70-80m in my opinion.
David: How will Villa comply with PSR? After aggregate losses of over £200m in the past two financial years that implies we will need to make a profit of around £100m this year to comply with the £105m 3 year rolling allowed losses rule. The dramatic increase in revenue will help as will the sale of Jhon Duran but I fear we may have to sell a key player again (after Douglas Luiz last year and Duran this year), which will weaken the team.
Chris: The amount of money we are spending on players wages as a percentage of turnover. Players wages don't go down, do they? Even if you regularly sell your high earners (who are, in theory, your better players), there surely aren't many players of the required level coming to sign on and replace them for a significant reduction in wages that would bring the wage bill down? We have the manager and squad geared up for regular European football just as the top half of the league has become more competitive than ever. What happens when our income drops? Emery has worked miracles so far but there's only so much he can do.
What a season Aston Villa are having, with a Champions League quarter-final and FA Cup semi-final to look forward to.
Their recruitment in January has been key - a lot has been made of how well Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio are playing after joining on loan, and rightly so.
Whether Villa can turn them into permanent signings in the summer might depend on whether they get in next season's Champions League, however.
While this is exactly the scenario they want, finishing in the top five is going to be tough on top of everything else, and it is games like this where everything might catch up with them.
Brighton drew a blank against Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup on Saturday but Villa are a bit more expansive, and I feel like the Seagulls will have plenty of chances here.
Sutton's prediction: 2-1
Image source, Getty ImagesBrighton have won just one of their five Premier League home games against Aston Villa, which was in this exact fixture last season (1-0 in May).
Brighton have won each of their past three Premier League games at Amex Stadium and are looking to win four home matches in a row for the very first time in the top flight.
Excluding penalties, no side has scored more goals from set-pieces in the Premier League this season than Aston Villa (13), but only Brentford (three) and Manchester City (five) have conceded fewer goals from set plays in the competition this term than Brighton (six).
It has been a strange season at Villa Park, but one that could end up being truly historic.
Despite inconsistent league form at times, Villa are in a Champions League quarter-final, an FA Cup semi-final, and only three points behind Manchester City in fifth.
But, aside from the trophy quest and push to ensure Champions League football once again, we want you to tell us the thing no-one is talking about at Villa Park but really should be.
After all, you know your team best.
Katie Stafford
BBC Sport journalist
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has been speaking to the media before Wednesday's Premier League game at Brighton (kick-off 19:45 BST).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
"It will be difficult" for forward Leon Bailey to be available after suffering a knock and missing Tuesday's training session.
Midfielder Ross Barkley has returned to training so could be in contention.
On being the only team left fighting on three fronts: "We have demanded ourselves to be focused in the last two months and we remain in three competitions. I would like to reduce the number of goals conceded. That was better on Sunday but tomorrow is a very good test again."
He said "there are a lot of teams fighting" for a European spot so they need to "be more consistent playing at the level" he expects from them.
On the quick turnaround from Sunday's FA Cup quarter-final at Preston: "We are happy. Of course, four days to rest is better than three, but it is not an excuse. We are not focusing on that. We are just trying to prepare as best as possible for this match. Rest, good food and being less on the field, and more analysis."
He said he will be assessing which of his players are "full of energy and physically ready to play" again and a decision will be made hours before the game.
Follow all of Tuesday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news
David Michael
Fan writer
Image source, PA MediaAston Villa's FA Cup semi-final place at Wembley brings a sheen of success to a season that is fascinatingly teetering between defining glory and missed opportunity.
It also drops yet another fixture into a jam-packed April that already includes a two-legged Champions League quarter-final against Paris St-Germain and pivotal Premier League games. It is the kind of congested calendar that can either forge heroes or drain momentum.
For Villa, the first of hopefully two trips to Wembley offers a vital safety net. Even if their Champions League push falters in the league and they come unstuck against PSG, the FA Cup provides a tangible shot at silverware and, crucially, a route to European football next season.
With Unai Emery having coached in European competition for 16 consecutive seasons, you sense it is almost non-negotiable - for him, for the club's upward trajectory and for a fan base now used to midweek continental nights.
Yet the stakes remain cruelly high. This team could end up in two finals and still walk away with nothing - no trophy, no Europe. That uncertainty might explain why Villa have not released their ticket prices for next season yet; the persona of next season could be entirely different depending on how this one finishes.
If you are Emery looking at the run-in, the first priority now is restoring clarity and calm. Strip back the noise. Nail down the strongest XI. Introduce rotation only where necessary, not for the sake of it.
And, most importantly, get the players believing again that this is not a campaign to survive - it is one they can define. Because the moment the fear of failure overtakes the opportunity of glory, it has already gone.
Find more from David Michael at My Old Man Said, external
Some 31 of the past 36 FA Cups have been won by one of five teams - but only one of those remains in this season's competition, and that is Manchester City.
Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea were all knocked out before the quarter-final stage this season and that has opened the door to other clubs to have a chance at getting their hands on the trophy.
"The cup used to be a lot more democratic and dominance of the cup used to be unthinkable," said New York Times chief football correspondent Rory Smith on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club. "That is unhealthy and it gets boring.
"It takes away a lot of the magic because if you go to seven semi-finals in seven years it takes the shine off.
"But most people don't support those clubs and they support other teams, so Newcastle have been a great advert to why other teams should be going all in for those tournaments."
Former Premier League striker Chris Sutton added: "Newcastle's win will change the perception of the competitions that have almost felt second in importance to most Premier League teams."
Watch the full episode on BBC iPlayer or listen on BBC Sounds
Image source, Getty ImagesAston Villa have reported an £85.4m loss after tax for 2023-24, a lower figure compared with a £119.6m loss in the previous year.
The club has also posted a 27% rise in revenue from £217.7m to £275.7m, with a fourth-placed Premier League finish and a run to the Conference League semi-finals integral to the increase.
In a statement,, external Villa said the latest figures are "in line with the strategic business plan" and that the club "continues to operate within the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability rules".
"The owners of Aston Villa remain committed to the long-term and sustainable development of the club, and we look forward to continued progress on the delivery of our strategic plan," the statement added.
FA Cup highlights: Preston North End 0-3 Aston Villa
We asked for your views on Aston Villa's victory over Preston in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.
Here are some of your comments:
Ian: Very solid performance and got through a tricky tie on paper fairly comfortably and bonus with Rashford scoring his first Villa goals. Could and should have doubled the score in second half - can we dare to dream yet?
Tracey: Absolutely brilliant. Good for Rashford to score two goals and to get man of the match just sums it all up. Keep up the good work and let's hope that we can keep the two loanees permanently. They will be well worth the money.
Malcolm: A solid performance from Villa. Preston had a good first half, missing the game's best chance but Villa dominated the second half with two goals at last for Marcus and a cracker from Jacob Ramsey.
Trevor: Villa were lacklustre in the first half. Feel sure they should have started with Ollie Watkins and left Boubacar Kamara out. Enough talent in that starting line-up to cope in midfield against Preston and only one team was ever going to win this game. They will though need four in midfield against a quality Crystal Palace side. Anything less and Palace will win easily. Sorry boss, that's how I see it.
Dave: Thought it was a well measured, patient performance. The first half was holding possession and not doing anything stupid, the second half was turning the screw on a plucky opponent. Job done.
Prit: I'm ecstatic that we have reached the semi-finals but I must confess I was a bit nervous in the first half. I thought the young Preston wing-back (Jayden Meghoma) looked a real prospect. But Villa work really well when they are quick in transition as can be seen by Rashford's delightful first goal for us. I'm a bit nervous about Palace as they definitely have the sign over us in the last few games, but I am convinced the mighty Unai Emery will have a plan.
Image source, Getty ImagesFormer Aston Villa player Ian Taylor told BBC 5 Live Breakfast he believes Unai Emery is "one of the best out there" after the Spaniard oversaw his side's 3-0 FA Cup quarter-final win over Championship side Preston North End.
Having not taken home the FA Cup since 1957, Taylor is hoping his old team can make it happen in May.
"It would be fantastic to win the FA Cup," Taylor said. "A lot of Villa fans wouldn't have dreamed about getting to a cup final, but since Unai Emery has come in he's just changed the whole club. Being in the Champions League where we are is unbelievable and now we also have an FA Cup semi-final.
"Tactically, Emery is one of the best out there. He's gradually changed the whole philosophy of the football club.
"Villa fans have had to be patient with the way he wants to play, but everyone has fully bought in to what he wants to do. The mindset is totally different, we are really heading in the right direction."
Villa will play Crystal Palace in the semi-finals at Wembley next month.
Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter
Image source, PA MediaMarcus Rashford ended his 120-day goal drought with a second-half double at Preston on Sunday to help Unai Emery's side set up an FA Cup semi-final against Crystal Palace - so why wouldn't Aston Villa want to make the loan move permanent?
The deal United struck with Aston Villa to let Rashford leave is not straightforward.
The precise nature of the loan deal is complicated. United have said 75% of Rashford's wages are being covered, although they have not explained exactly how.
That could rise to 90% if certain performance-related bonuses are met.
That, presumably, will include an extended run in the Champions League as well as the FA Cup.
Unai Emery's side face Crystal Palace at Wembley next month as the next step in their quest to win the trophy for the first time since 1957.
In addition, they are ninth in the Premier League, three points behind fifth-placed Manchester City, who occupy what is virtually certain to be the final Champions League spot.
That proliferation of targets underscores why Emery did not really want to talk about the likelihood of Villa triggering their £40m option to turn Rashford's move into a permanent deal.
"We can't waste time speaking about that," he said
"If next year we are in the Champions League, in the Europa, or Conference League or not. Or we don't win a trophy - it is completely different."
Match of the Day pundits Dion Dublin and Micah Richards showered praise on Aston Villa's on-loan forward Marcus Rashford after his double helped Unai Emery's side into the FA Cup semi-finals.
Having not scored for more than 100 days, the England striker demonstrated his enduring sharpness in front of goal to fire Villa to Wembley.
Image source, Getty Images"If you had to pick a player to be the story of the FA Cup weekend, then it has to be Marcus Rashford," former Aston Villa midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast.
The on-loan forward broke his four-month drought by scoring twice for Villa at Preston on Sunday and left the field to a standing ovation from supporters who are fully on board with what he is bringing to their team.
"Rashford has received a lot of criticism since leaving Manchester United and going to Aston Villa, but he is now back in the England fold, and the two goals on Sunday will have done him a world of good," Reo-Coker said.
"I like the fact he is talking about getting into games and rhythm because that does not happen overnight. It can sometimes take a run of five or six games to get that strength and belief in yourself and he seems to be getting there.
"It is nice to hear him saying he is enjoying his football and see him playing with a smile on his face.
"He has come into a team that has good leadership and solid foundation and he has come to be part of the team. All the pressure and emphasis isn't just on Rashford.
"We know the ability he has but he has to find that fire now to go and do that week in, week out. He has got that in him but it just needs to come to the forefront."
Image source, Getty ImagesUnai Emery has been speaking after Aston Villa's 3-0 victory against Preston in the FA Cup. "We played a serious match. Of course we are concerned about our goals in every competition, we try to reduce chances for the opponent and today the best work we did playing seriously.
"The first half was equal more or less but we didn't concede chances, we were more in their box. The second half we scored the first goal and after that it was more difficult for them and we felt more comfortable. We played 90 minutes being so responsible in our work."
On Rashford: "Firstly his commitment to work, to adapt quickly is very important and he is doing that. Then to feel comfortable playing in his best level, there's still work to do but today he made one step forward, feeling comfortable and scoring goals."
On the chance of winning a trophy: "Firstly I am proud of how the owners and the club is responding. When we arrived here we were speaking about how much we want to work here together.
"To play in Europe and we did, to be in contention for a trophy and last year we were in the Conference League. We are increasing our level, our demands. We are in the top eight of the Premier League more or less, we are in Europe, we are going to play in the quarter-finals of the Champions League, I think the ambition the owners showed is on the field. I am very demanding to try and do my best."
On reaching the semi-finals: "This competition means a lot for supporters and to play at Wembley will be fantastic and the supporters are the very heart of the club. It is always very important to try and get our responsibility to give them a moment like that."
Image source, Getty ImagesAston Villa forward Marcus Rashford, has been speaking to the BBC after today's victory: "It's a great feeling, I feel like I've been getting fitter and playing better football since I've been here. It's always nice for a forward to get a goal so hopefully, it continues.
"We have to take it one game at a time and give it 100% on the pitch and see where it takes us. We're very ambitious."
On if he's getting back to full fitness: "Step by step. I think I can still get fitter. I missed a lot of football before joining up (with the team). My body feels good and I'm enjoying my football for now."
