⛅ Friday Forecast: Trembly Tottenham and FA Cup close encounters | OneFootball

Here we are, the backend of the season, a beautiful time of year when we see four of the countries’ top Premier League clubs play at a sun-drenched Wembley.

Well, three and Southampton. And Wembley is a bit less special when one of the FA Cup semi-finalists has already played there 25 times this season.

Nonetheless, we’re excited for that and we’re (a bit less) excited for this weekend’s five Premier League games too.

😀 Game of the weekend

Manchester United v Tottenham

This could be a classic or it could turn into a damp squib. There’s no telling.

José Mourinho’s sides have always tended to kill the buzz of big games, quietening the crowd and wearing down the opposition. That’s become decreasingly effective in recent years and Manchester United blew Manchester City away when they were staring at defeat and the shackles were released two weekends back.

Like the first half at the Etihad that day, they found themselves humbled last time they visited Wembley to face Tottenham, who, in turn, were not up to standard when they hosted City last weekend.

Will Spurs have home advantage or will it be strange for them to play at a Wembley divided in half? Will Alexis Sánchez play or will it be Anthony Martial? Will Paul Pogba pick up the gauntlet he threw down at Manchester City and launch it back at the floor again? This one could have everything.

😢 Potential upset

Chelsea v Southampton

Saturday 14th April 2018, 1:52pm: Southampton lead Chelsea by two goals as they desperately fight for Premier League survival.

Saturday 14th April 2018, 2:06pm: Substitute Olivier Giroud scores his second to complete a spectacular turnaround and put Chelsea 3-2 up at St. Mary’s.

Did Chelsea learn their lesson last weekend or just give Southampton some hope?

Saints scored twice against both Arsenal and Chelsea since Mark Hughes took over but lost both games. Those defensive frailties weren’t so prevalent on Thursday as they drew 0-0 with Leicester. It was possibly too little too late in the league but a step in the right direction.

Sunday’s semi-final is a nice distraction from the weekly grind (and it has been a grind) of the relegation battle. A one-off game for a place in the FA Cup final. There’s no better platform for an upset.

Easiest 3️⃣ points

Liverpool v West Brom

Time to turn a quick eye to the Premier League, where the easiest three points will be won by Liverpool at the Hawthorns.

West Brom can’t officially be relegated until Sunday but they will move one step closer to the Championship when Liverpool quite comfortably see them off.

📜 For the record

Semi-finalists

On Saturday, Manchester United will equal Arsenal’s record of 29 FA Cup semi-finals. A win would see them equal Arsenal’s record of 20 semi-final wins.

At the other end of the pitch they’ll face Tottenham, the club with the worst running semi-final record in FA Cup history. Spurs have played in seven semi-finals since 1993 and lost every single one.

“Ossie’s going to Wembley, his knees have gone all trembly,” Tottenham sang in the 1980s. That couldn’t have been truer in the FA Cup in recent seasons.

🙏 We hope to see

Close encounters 👽

Every title race in Europe – bar one – is over. The relegation places look all but decided in the Premier League and Wolves – already promoted – are certain to win the Championship.

We finally want some more drama.

Nothing like Tottenham sweeping Manchester United aside as they did in January, please. Two games like Chelsea’s visit to Southampton last weekend would be perfect.