Preston vs Aston Villa LIVE: Team information and line-ups earlier than FA Cup quarter-final at the moment

Marcus Rashford could lead the line for Villa as they look to reach the semis at Wembley
Marcus Rashford could lead the line for Villa as they look to reach the semis at Wembley (Getty Images)

Preston North End face Aston Villa at Deepdale today in the third of the four FA Cup quarter-finals this weekend.

Preston, the only Championship club left in the competition, are looking to make their first semi-final since 1964, though Paul Heckingbottom’s side have it all to do despite home advantage against Villa.

Unai Emery’s side are on a run of positive results and sit just four points off the top four in the Premier League, while they are preparing for their biggest match in decades as they face PSG in the Champions League last-eight in April.

Despite that, Emery will not dismiss the Lilywhites as an easy match as his makeshift team of stars bids to reach a first FA Cup final since 2015.

Follow all the latest build-up, team news and updates from Deepdale below:

Team news

For Villa, Emery has made three changes to the side that beat Club Brugge in the Champions League.

In defence, Lucas Digne comes in for Ian Maatsen, while upfront, Marcus Rashford leads the line in place of Ollie Watkins, who picked up an injury on England duty. The striker is replaced by Jacob Ramsey, who moves to left wing.

John McGinn is the other player benched, as he comes out for Marco Asensio, with Morgan Rogers presumably moving into the central attacking midfield role.

Chris Wilson30 March 2025 12:48

Team news

Preston boss Heckingbottom has made five changes to the side that beat Portsmouth 2-1 last time out.

In goal, Freddie Woodman drops out for David Cornell, while it looks like a back-three in defence with Jordan Storey and Andrew Hughes replacing Liam Lindsay and Ryan Porteous.

It looks like Robbie Brady comes in for Kaine Kesler-Hayden at wing-back, while in midfield, Ryan Ledson is replaced by Ben Whiteman.

It all stays the same in the attacking positions, with Will Keane and Emil Riis Jakobsen leading the line.

Chris Wilson30 March 2025 12:45

Line-ups

Preston XI: Cornell; Storey, Gibson, Hughes, Brady, Whiteman, Thordarson, Meghoma, Frokjaer, Keane, Riis.

Subs: Stowell; Lindsay, Bauer, Pasiek, Tarry, Carroll, T. Mawene, Evans, Osmajic.

Chris Wilson30 March 2025 12:37

Villa line-up

Villa XI: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Digne; Tielemans, Kamara; Asensio, Rogers, Ramsey; Rashford.

Subs: Olsen, Bogarde, Maatsen, Garcia, Torres, Onana, Malen, Watkins, McGinn.

Chris Wilson30 March 2025 12:35

Team news

We’re expecting the line-ups to be released in the next five minutes…

Chris Wilson30 March 2025 12:25

The Aston Villa star who represents remarkable rise and offers Champions League boost

The report from Villa’s last match…

Six years ago, Aston Villa’s April included a trip to Rotherham. Now they will visit Paris next month. Their horizons have broadened, their life got more glamorous. A Championship club in 2019 are Champions Leaguequarter-finalists in 2025. “It’s mad,” said the captain John McGinn, a veteran of the journey to Rotherham. “A lot of years of hard work.”

They will face Paris Saint-Germain in the last eight after a brace from a loaned PSG player, Marco Asensio, with the added benefit that he will be eligible to play his parent club at the Parc des Princes. It is another indication of how far and how fast Villa have come that a triple Champions League winner was on the scoresheet for them again. So, too, was Ian Maatsen, a Champions League finalist with Borussia Dortmund last season. Club Brugge, who scarcely boast the resources to attract such players, were eliminated.

Chris Wilson30 March 2025 12:15

Is the match on TV?

When is Preston vs Aston Villa?

The FA Cup quarter-final will kick off at 1.30pm on Sunday, 30 March at Deepdale Stadium in Preston.

How can I watch it?

The match will be shown free-to-air on BBC One, with coverage starting at 1.15pm. Subscribers can also stream the action online via BBC iPlayer.

Chris Wilson30 March 2025 12:05

Predicted line-ups

Preston XI: Woodman; Kesler-Hayden, Porteous, Lindsay, Gibson, Meghoma; Ledson, Þórðarson, Frokjaer-Jensen; Keane, Jakobsen.

Aston Villa XI: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Maatsen; Kamara, Tielemans; Rogers, McGinn, Asensio; Rashford.

Chris Wilson30 March 2025 11:50

Team news

For Villa, Ollie Watkins is the only new injury doubt after the international break, as the England striker was forced off due to a knee issue against Albania.

Ross Barkley is the other player who will likely be out, so Emery has almost a full squad to pick from – though the question remains how strong a line-up he will choose.

Marcus Rashford could make a start at striker in Watkins’ absence, while Marco Asensio will be looking to build upon his good recent performances.

Chris Wilson30 March 2025 11:45

Team news

Preston boss Heckingbottom has a number of potential absentees ahead of the match, with right-back Brad Potts a doubt alongside midfielder Ali McCann and centre-back Jack Whatmough.

Defender Jordan Storey had a recent injury lay-off but returned and should be fine to face Villa.

Chris Wilson30 March 2025 11:30