⛅️ Friday Forecast: FA Cup semi-finals and pivotal top four clashes | OneFootball

It promises to be another fascinating weekend in the Premier League and there’s also the small matter of the FA Cup semi-finals.

Here’s what to expect.

💪 Game of the weekend

Manchester City v Liverpool

If last Sunday’s thrilling clash between these two behemoths wasn’t enough for you, they’re locking horns again at Wembley in Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final.

The two Premier League meetings between the top two could have gone either way this season, but both ultimately ended in 2-2 draws.

That can’t be the case this weekend though, as this match has to be decided one way or another, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see it go all the way to penalties.

With a treble for City and a quadruple for Liverpool still to play for, it remains to be seen whether Pep Guardiola or Jürgen Klopp will go all guns blazing again or look to rotate this time.

Whatever happens, it is guaranteed to be another epic instalment in this burgeoning rivalry between arguably the two best teams on the planet this season.

📊 Fun fact: This is the first FA Cup meeting between the two sides since Gérard Houllier’s Liverpool won 1-0 at Maine Road in 2003.

🔮 Our prediction: Manchester City 1-1 Liverpool – City to win on penalties

😨 Potential upset

Chelsea v Crystal Palace

It was a monumental effort to be proud of from Chelsea in the Bernabéu on Tuesday night, but ultimately they just came up short as the holders exited the Champions League.

How much Thomas Tuchel’s side will have left in the tank after that emotional clash will be the big question heading into Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final.

Crystal Palace will be fresh and hoping to take full advantage of the Blues battle-weariness at Wembley, but they will need to be better than they were in their defeat at Leicester last weekend.

Patrick Vieira has done an impressive job in guiding the Eagles to a comfortable mid-table position this season and a first FA Cup final appearance since 2016 would by the icing on the cake.

But given it’s their last realistic chance at silverware this season, the FA Cup takes on extra meaning for Chelsea now, particularly after they were losing finalists in each of the last two seasons.

📊 Fun fact: Chelsea have won each of their last nine fixtures with Palace, all coming in the Premier League.

🔮 Our prediction: Chelsea 1-1 Crystal Palace – Palace to win on penalties

👍 Big favourites

Tottenham v Brighton

A little under two months ago, Tottenham boss Antonio Conte gave his side just a “1% chance” of finishing in the top four this season.

Few disagreed with the Italian’s assessment at the time, but a run of seven victories in their last nine Premier League matches has put them firmly in the driving seat for top four.

One of those victories came against Brighton on 16 March and this Saturday they meet exactly one month later in the return fixture.

Until last weekend the Seagulls had been on a dismal run of six defeats and one draw, only for them to surprise everyone by beating Arsenal at the Emirates.

Graham Potter’s side will be hoping lightning strikes in the same place twice when they return to north London this weekend but against Spurs in their current vein of form, it’s a big ask.

📊 Fun fact: Brighton have won just one of their last nine away league games against Spurs, losing each of their last five in a row since a 1-0 victory in October 1981.

🔮 Our prediction: Tottenham 3-1 Brighton

🤔 Too close to call

Southampton v Arsenal

Believers in the curse of the Manager of the Month award have been provided with some compelling evidence in recent times.

Everything was going swimmingly for Arsenal until Mikel Arteta landed the award on 1 April. The Gunners have lost back-to-back Premier League matches since then, seriously harming their top four hopes.

This weekend they’re off to face a Southampton side who are one of the most difficult teams to predict in the country.

Saints have taken points off some very good sides on several occasions this season but last weekend they were hammered 6-0 at home by Chelsea and it’s back to the drawing board for Ralph Hasenhüttl.

It’s a huge cliché but this match will likely be decided by which version of these two inconsistent sides turns up on the day.

📊 Fun fact: Arsenal are looking to complete their first league double over Saints since 2016/17.

🔮 Our prediction: Southampton 2-2 Arsenal

🔥 Your Fantasy Football captain should be …

Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)

After a week dominated by post-Everton disappointment and phone-smashing controversy, we’re backing Ronaldo to get back to what he does best again this weekend.

Struggling Norwich are the visitors to Old Trafford on Saturday and the veteran Portuguese has a good opportunity to pick up where he left off last time he played at Old Trafford, when he netted a hat-trick in a win over Spurs.

Other predictions