The domestic calendar is once again put to one side this weekend as the FA Cup quarter-finals roll into town.
Their will still be Premier League and Championship action for those unaffected by fixture postponements, but the attention of Manchester City, Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea are firmly on booking a place at Wembley.
One of Wolverhampton Wanderers and Coventry City will definitely make the last four, while Newcastle United and Leicester City have aspirations of upsetting the apple cart in games they are second favourites to win.
Here’s how 90min sees the four games panning out.
Saturday 16 March
The magic of the FA Cup is not lost on Wolves, who last reached the semi-finals in 2019 and last won the competition way back in 1960, nor Coventry – one of only two Championship sides remaining.
Brentford, West Brom and Brighton have been swatted away by Gary O’Neil’s impressive Wolves, though they are blunted a little in attack with star player Matheus Cunha missing through injury.
Coventry smashed six past Oxford United to reach round four but required a replay to get past a spirited Sheffield Wednesday. The Sky Blues were then responsible for ending Maidstone United’s fairytale run through the competition – a 5-0 demolition indicative of the mindset instilled into the players by Mark Robins.
They should give Wolves a good going over at Molineux and will certainly have their fair share of chances – whether or not they have the quality to get over the line is another matter.
Pep Guardiola’s Man City, meanwhile, welcome Newcastle to the Etihad Stadium for Saturday’s late game – a tie they are overwhelming favourites to win.
The seven-time FA Cup winners are starting to hit their usual spring stride, seemingly inspired by the return to action of Kevin De Bruyne. They also have one of the country’s most in-form players among their ranks – Phil Foden the one who has risen to prominence in recent weeks.
Eddie Howe’s Newcastle are plagued by injury worries and their season is in danger of petering out after the high of returning to the Champions League. City should have more than enough in the tank to book another last four spot.
Kick-off Time (GMT) |
Fixture |
Score prediction |
---|---|---|
12:15 |
Wolves vs Coventry |
2-1 |
17:30 |
Man City vs Newcastle |
3-1 |
Sunday 17 March
Sunday’s ties kick off with a clash between Chelsea…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at 90min EN…