By Olaitan Ibrahim
Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer has tipped Aston Villa as his top contender to win the FA Cup, ahead of Manchester City.
Pep Guardiola’s City are seven-time winners and have been in the final of the competition for the last two seasons.
They are heavy favourites among bookmakers to win, especially with Liverpool, Arsenal, and Chelsea out of the running.
However, Shearer believes Aston Villa have enough to claim the prestigious trophy ahead of City.
“Aston Villa have got really good attacking options, Unai Emery can swap them around like he has done,” Shearer said on The Rest is Football podcast.
“I would perhaps have Aston Villa as favourites for this competition now.”
“If they can get one or two defenders back from the treatment room, then they will be hard to beat,” he noted.
Villa face Preston in the quarter-finals, while Guardiola’s men travel to the Vitality Stadium to face Bournemouth in what should be a thrilling affair.