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Premier League and FA Cup semi-final weekend preview

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The FA Cup semi-finals take place this weekend and usually, this would take centre stage. However, a lot is going on in the Premier League. So much so, in fact, that despite leaders Manchester City not being in action, the English top-flight isn’t going to be overshadowed. With this in mind, here’s a look ahead at what we believe will be the biggest talking points this weekend across both the League and Cup. 

By Sam McGuire, Premier League expert

Will there be a sting in the tail for Luton?

The Bees travel to Luton Town on Saturday afternoon knowing a win would all but assure them of their Premier League survival. They would move 10 points clear of the drop zone with just four matches left to play. Thomas Frank’s side wouldn’t mathematically be safe but it would be all but a formality. 

The visitors are unbeaten in four, claiming six points during a pivotal stage of the season to give them breathing space after a horrid run of form. The hosts, meanwhile, have just one win since January. However, a win at Kenilworth Road would lift them out of the bottom three. 

It isn’t going to be easy for Rob Edwards’ side though. The Hatters haven’t kept a clean sheet in 13 matches while Brentford have found their shooting boots over recent weeks, scoring five goals in their last two outings. They also have a fairly decent recent record against their hosts, winning the last three meetings between the two sides. 

This game really does have the potential to be season-defining for both teams. 

The bottom two face off

Sheffield United host Burnley this weekend in what is the definition of a six-pointer. 

The Blades are currently bottom of the table having taken just 16 points from their 32 matches this season. Chris Wilder’s men are without a clean sheet in 13 matches and they  are winless in eight. They’ve started to find the back of the net over recent weeks, scoring eight goals in five matches. The problem is that they simply cannot defend and have conceded 12 goals in those games. 

Despite their defensive struggles, they have taken three points from these five outings. A win would see them move to within one point of Burnley and six points of 18th-placed Luton. The likelihood is that Sheffield United will be relegated but a win here prolongs their stay in the English top flight a little longer. 

Burnley recorded an emphatic 5-0 win over the Blades when the two sides met at Turf Moor in December. A win could see them move to within three points of escaping the relegation zone. It would also create a seven-point gap between themselves and their hosts. 

Vincent Kompany’s side have defensive issues though, just like their opponents. They haven’t kept a clean sheet in 16 matches and have just one win since the turn of the year. 

Neither side will want to lose this as it effectively dooms them to the Championship, even though it isn’t mathematically confirmed. 

Can the reigning champions reach the final?

At one stage it appeared as though Manchester City might complete back-to-back trebles. They’d claimed top spot in the Premier League, had a home tie to play against Real Madrid for a place in the semi-finals of the Champions League and then would make the trip to face Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-finals. 

However, Pep Guardiola’s side were knocked out of Europe on Wednesday night on penalties. This could impact them in one of two ways. 

They could be completely focused on completing a domestic double now and Chelsea could suffer on Saturday against a wounded City side. Alternatively, this could be a huge blow to confidence and it could take the Citizens a week or so to recover. By which point, they could be out of the FA Cup and trailing in the Premier League. 

This game against the Blues really is a make-or-break one for their season. And Chelsea do have a good record against Guardiola’s men this term. They are unbeaten in two games having drawn 4-4 and 1-1 in the Premier League. 

Mauricio Pochettino’s team head into this game full of confidence too following the 6-0 thrashing of Everton on Monday night. It could well be the perfect time for them to come up against City. 

Have Arsenal collapsed? 

A little over a week ago, Arsenal had their eyes on a Premier League and Champions League double. The Gunners had a favourable tie in Europe against an out-of-form Bayern Munich side and they’d just reclaimed top-spot after Liverpool’s draw with Manchester United. 

Now, though, Mikel Arteta’s side trail Manchester City by two points following a shock loss at the Emirates to Aston Villa last weekend and they have crashed out of the Champions League, losing 3-2 to the German giants on aggregate. 

In the blink of an eye, Arsenal have gone three games without a win and all of a sudden look bereft of ideas, confidence and energy. They travel to Wolves on Saturday evening needing a reaction to keep their title hopes alive. With Manchester City in FA Cup action this weekend, the Gunners have the opportunity to move back to the top of the Premier League table. With a statement showing, and victory, they heap pressure back onto the reigning champions. 

But do they have it in them after mid-week disappointment? 

Wolves aren’t in the greatest form having lost three of their last five outing across all competitions. Gary O’Neil’s side are without a clean sheet in seven and they are also winless in five against Arsenal. So the omens aren’t good for the hosts, but the psychological blow of being knocked out of the Champions League needs to be taken into account. And O’Neil’s men do have the players to do some damage if given the opportunity. 

If Arsenal do show up, it’ll highlight the differences between this group and the team from last season. If they fail to win, it’ll feel like deja vu for many fans. 

Can the Reds react?

Liverpool make the trip to Fulham this weekend looking to reclaim their place at the top of the Premier League table. The Reds are winless in their last two outings in the English top-flight and the game at Craven Cottage could prove to be tricky. After all, Marco Silva’s men have caused Jürgen Klopp’s side a number of issues in their clashes this season. 

Fulham don’t have much to play for, they are going to finish mid-table, but they still have the quality to cause problems. In fact, they’ve been doing that over recent weeks. They have been fairly erratic, losing to Nottingham Forest and Newcastle and drawing with Sheffield United while soundly beating Tottenham and West Ham United. 

It’ll be interesting to see which version of the Cottagers we get on Sunday afternoon. 

Likewise, it’ll be interesting to see which Liverpool side show up. Will it be the dominant one from a couple of weeks back or the team lacking confidence in the final third and giving up ample chances? The latter will struggle to take anything from Craven Cottage. The former could return to Merseyside with three vital points. 

A cup upset?

Since their shock win over Wolves in the FA Cup quarter-final, Coventry City have been inconsistent. They have lost three of their last five Championship matches and were easily beaten by Birmingham City last time out. It is perhaps the worst time to be heading into an FA Cup semi-final. 

Yet they’re up against another fairly inconsistent team in Manchester United. It makes for an intriguing game. 

The pressure is on the Red Devils as they are favourites to progress to a second successive FA Cup final. But when they have been favourites this season, they have tended to struggle. 

Since their 4-3 win over Liverpool in the FA Cup, United have lost 4-3 to Chelsea and drawn with Liverpool, Brentford and Bournemouth. 

Erik Ten Hag’s side have conceded 12 in five and, barring moments of magic from certain individuals, have looked a little blunt in attack, despite their goals tally looking fairly impressive. Coventry might not be favourites for this tie but they will head into this semi-final confident of causing an upset. 

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every match from the Premier League live with FotMob — featuring deep stats coverage and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Premier League and FA Cup semi-final weekend preview

The FA Cup semi-finals take place this weekend and usually, this would take centre stage. However, a lot is going on in the Premier League. So much so, in fact, that despite leaders Manchester City not being in action, the English top-flight isn’t going to be overshadowed. With this in mind, here’s a look ahead at what we believe will be the biggest talking points this weekend across both the League and Cup. 

By Sam McGuire, Premier League expert

Will there be a sting in the tail for Luton?

The Bees travel to Luton Town on Saturday afternoon knowing a win would all but assure them of their Premier League survival. They would move 10 points clear of the drop zone with just four matches left to play. Thomas Frank’s side wouldn’t mathematically be safe but it would be all but a formality. 

The visitors are unbeaten in four, claiming six points during a pivotal stage of the season to give them breathing space after a horrid run of form. The hosts, meanwhile, have just one win since January. However, a win at Kenilworth Road would lift them out of the bottom three. 

It isn’t going to be easy for Rob Edwards’ side though. The Hatters haven’t kept a clean sheet in 13 matches while Brentford have found their shooting boots over recent weeks, scoring five goals in their last two outings. They also have a fairly decent recent record against their hosts, winning the last three meetings between the two sides. 

This game really does have the potential to be season-defining for both teams. 

The bottom two face off

Sheffield United host Burnley this weekend in what is the definition of a six-pointer. 

The Blades are currently bottom of the table having taken just 16 points from their 32 matches this season. Chris Wilder’s men are without a clean sheet in 13 matches and they  are winless in eight. They’ve started to find the back of the net over recent weeks, scoring eight goals in five matches. The problem is that they simply cannot defend and have conceded 12 goals in those games. 

Despite their defensive struggles, they have taken three points from these five outings. A win would see them move to within one point of Burnley and six points of 18th-placed Luton. The likelihood is that Sheffield United will be relegated but a win here prolongs their stay in the English top flight a little longer. 

Burnley recorded an emphatic 5-0 win over the Blades when the two sides met at Turf Moor in December. A win could see them move to within three points of escaping the relegation zone. It would also create a seven-point gap between themselves and their hosts. 

Vincent Kompany’s side have defensive issues though, just like their opponents. They haven’t kept a clean sheet in 16 matches and have just one win since the turn of the year. 

Neither side will want to lose this as it effectively dooms them to the Championship, even though it isn’t mathematically confirmed. 

Can the reigning champions reach the final?

At one stage it appeared as though Manchester City might complete back-to-back trebles. They’d claimed top spot in the Premier League, had a home tie to play against Real Madrid for a place in the semi-finals of the Champions League and then would make the trip to face Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-finals. 

However, Pep Guardiola’s side were knocked out of Europe on Wednesday night on penalties. This could impact them in one of two ways. 

They could be completely focused on completing a domestic double now and Chelsea could suffer on Saturday against a wounded City side. Alternatively, this could be a huge blow to confidence and it could take the Citizens a week or so to recover. By which point, they could be out of the FA Cup and trailing in the Premier League. 

This game against the Blues really is a make-or-break one for their season. And Chelsea do have a good record against Guardiola’s men this term. They are unbeaten in two games having drawn 4-4 and 1-1 in the Premier League. 

Mauricio Pochettino’s team head into this game full of confidence too following the 6-0 thrashing of Everton on Monday night. It could well be the perfect time for them to come up against City. 

Have Arsenal collapsed? 

A little over a week ago, Arsenal had their eyes on a Premier League and Champions League double. The Gunners had a favourable tie in Europe against an out-of-form Bayern Munich side and they’d just reclaimed top-spot after Liverpool’s draw with Manchester United. 

Now, though, Mikel Arteta’s side trail Manchester City by two points following a shock loss at the Emirates to Aston Villa last weekend and they have crashed out of the Champions League, losing 3-2 to the German giants on aggregate. 

In the blink of an eye, Arsenal have gone three games without a win and all of a sudden look bereft of ideas, confidence and energy. They travel to Wolves on Saturday evening needing a reaction to keep their title hopes alive. With Manchester City in FA Cup action this weekend, the Gunners have the opportunity to move back to the top of the Premier League table. With a statement showing, and victory, they heap pressure back onto the reigning champions. 

But do they have it in them after mid-week disappointment? 

Wolves aren’t in the greatest form having lost three of their last five outing across all competitions. Gary O’Neil’s side are without a clean sheet in seven and they are also winless in five against Arsenal. So the omens aren’t good for the hosts, but the psychological blow of being knocked out of the Champions League needs to be taken into account. And O’Neil’s men do have the players to do some damage if given the opportunity. 

If Arsenal do show up, it’ll highlight the differences between this group and the team from last season. If they fail to win, it’ll feel like deja vu for many fans. 

Can the Reds react?

Liverpool make the trip to Fulham this weekend looking to reclaim their place at the top of the Premier League table. The Reds are winless in their last two outings in the English top-flight and the game at Craven Cottage could prove to be tricky. After all, Marco Silva’s men have caused Jürgen Klopp’s side a number of issues in their clashes this season. 

Fulham don’t have much to play for, they are going to finish mid-table, but they still have the quality to cause problems. In fact, they’ve been doing that over recent weeks. They have been fairly erratic, losing to Nottingham Forest and Newcastle and drawing with Sheffield United while soundly beating Tottenham and West Ham United. 

It’ll be interesting to see which version of the Cottagers we get on Sunday afternoon. 

Likewise, it’ll be interesting to see which Liverpool side show up. Will it be the dominant one from a couple of weeks back or the team lacking confidence in the final third and giving up ample chances? The latter will struggle to take anything from Craven Cottage. The former could return to Merseyside with three vital points. 

A cup upset?

Since their shock win over Wolves in the FA Cup quarter-final, Coventry City have been inconsistent. They have lost three of their last five Championship matches and were easily beaten by Birmingham City last time out. It is perhaps the worst time to be heading into an FA Cup semi-final. 

Yet they’re up against another fairly inconsistent team in Manchester United. It makes for an intriguing game. 

The pressure is on the Red Devils as they are favourites to progress to a second successive FA Cup final. But when they have been favourites this season, they have tended to struggle. 

Since their 4-3 win over Liverpool in the FA Cup, United have lost 4-3 to Chelsea and drawn with Liverpool, Brentford and Bournemouth. 

Erik Ten Hag’s side have conceded 12 in five and, barring moments of magic from certain individuals, have looked a little blunt in attack, despite their goals tally looking fairly impressive. Coventry might not be favourites for this tie but they will head into this semi-final confident of causing an upset. 

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every match from the Premier League live with FotMob — featuring deep stats coverage and player ratings. Download the free app here.