⛅️ Friday Forecast: FA Cup quarters await as PL heats up | OneFootball

It’s a mix and match weekend of action in England with the Premier League and the FA Cup quarter-finals to watch out for.

This is what lies in store.

💪 Game of the weekend

Middlesbrough v Chelsea

Before Monday afternoon this maybe wasn’t top of the list for games to watch this weekend.

And then Chelsea released a statement.

Due to their ongoing ownership situation the Blues were unable to sell away tickets for their game at Middlesbrough on the FA Cup on Saturday and instead of taking that with good grace, called for the match – at the Riverside Stadium – to be played behind closed doors.

The west London side cited “sporting integrity” and everyone in the football world laughed at the brass neck of it all.

Boro replied via their own statement calling it “ironic in the extreme” and now we can’t wait to see the atmosphere on Weirside this weekend.

📊 Fun fact: Only against Crystal Palace (10) and Bolton (9) are Chelsea on a longer winning run than against Middlesbrough (8)

🔮 Our prediction: Middlesbrough 1-0 Chelsea

😨 Potential upset

Nottingham Forest v Liverpool

Since their fourth round win over Leicester, Steve Cooper’s Nottingham Forest have been one of the form sides in the country.

Brendan Rodgers’s men were put to the sword in a fiery east Midland derby back in February and since then the City Ground outfit have won five and drawn three of eight games in all competitions.

It’s Liverpool – perhaps the form side in Europe right now – that travel to the banks of the river Trent for what promises to be a brilliant encounter on Sunday evening.

Forest youngster Djed Spence is the man to watch out for here, with the 21-year-old attracting attention from the likes of Arsenal and Tottenham in recent months.

📊 Fun fact: This is the first meeting of any kind between these two sides since a 2-2 Premier League draw in 1999.

🔮 Our prediction: Nottingham Forest 2-2 Liverpool

👍 Big favourites

Southampton v Manchester City

The momentum of the Premier League title race may be moving away from Manchester City and towards Liverpool, but let’s not forget just how good Pep Guardiola’s side have been in recent months.

The reigning champions have dropped just five points since Christmas in the league and now travel to Southampton for an FA Cup quarter-final.

Admittedly, these two sides did draw with each other in January but after their disappointing performance against Crystal Palace on Monday, we’re backing the Citizens to be back to their very best here.

An animal is always at its most dangerous after just being wounded – this could be a cricket score if City are in the mood.

📊 Fun fact: Since Pep Guardiola joined Manchester City in 2017, Southampton have won just one of 13 games.

🔮 Our prediction: Southampton 0-4 Manchester City

🤔 Too close to call

Aston Villa v Arsenal

“Thank you so much to the Premier League for doing that.”

Mikel Arteta was in particularly sarcastic form after Arsenal’s defeat to Liverpool on Wednesday when the subject of a trip to Aston Villa on Saturday lunchtime was raised.

The Gunners boss was clearly fuming with their tight turnaround, and understandably so with a trip to Villa Park no picnic this season.

Steven Gerrard’s side had dipped slightly after the initial honeymoon period under their new manager but were brilliant in their last home game as Southampton were trounced 4-0.

This should be a fascinating encounter.

📊 Fun fact: Aston Villa have won their last two Premier League home games against Arsenal. The last time they did that was 1979.

🔮 Our prediction: Aston Villa 2-1 Arsenal

🔥 Your Fantasy Football captain should be …

Harry Kane (Tottenham)

After a difficult start to the season and a sense that things were coming to an end under Nuno, Harry Kane is back.

The England international has been rejuvenated since Antonio Conte’s hiring back in November with the past few months being especially fruitful in front of goal.

Kane has netted seven in his last six appearances for Spurs and will surely fancy his chances against West Ham on Sunday as the north London side hope to gain ground on Arsenal in the race for fourth.

Other predictions

Premier League

FA Cup