Preston North End vs Aston Villa team news: Lineups named for FA Cup quarter-final
The confirmed lineups for Preston North End vs Aston Villa in the FA Cup.
Kick-off is fast approaching for this afternoon’s highly-anticipated FA Cup quarter-final clash between Preston and Aston Villa.
The Villans arrive at Deepdale with the opportunity to book a ticket to Wembley for the first time since 2020, when they lost to Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final.
Relieved to have had nearly three weeks without a game following an intense January and February, Unai Emery’s side will be determined to return to action in style. Villa are undoubtedly the favourites to win today, giving them an excellent opportunity to progress to the final four.
It probably won’t be easy to see off Preston, however, as the Lilywhites are unbeaten in their last 15 home games and have kept four clean sheets in their last six. Led by head coach Paul Heckingbottom, the North End haven’t conceded more than once in a home fixture since November.
Emery has opted to make three changes from the XI that beat Club Brugge 3-0 before the international break, bringing in Lucas Digne, Jacob Ramsey and Marco Asensio for Ian Maatsen, John McGinn and Ollie Watkins. The North End, meanwhile, have swapped out six of their starters from the 2-1 win over Portsmouth.
Preston vs Aston Villa lineups
Without further ado, here’s how both teams shape up in full.
Preston XI: Cornell (GK); Storey, Gibson, Hughes; Brady, Whiteman, Thordarson, Meghoma; Frokjaer, Keane, Riis.
Preston subs: Stowell (GK), Lindsay, Bauer, Pasiek, Tarry, Carroll, T. Mawene, Evans, Osmajic.
Villa XI: Martinez (GK); Cash, Konsa, Mings, Digne; Kamara, Tielemans, Rogers, Asensio, Ramsey; Rashford.
Villa subs: Olsen (GK), Bogarde, Maatsen, Garcia, Pau, Onana, Malen, Watkins, McGinn.