The FA Cup Semi-Finals will take place this weekend. Manchester United and Tottenham will battle it out for a place in the final at Wembley on Saturday while Chelsea, last season’s losing finalists, will face Southampton on Sunday.
*Please note that this article was written prior to Premier League midweek games from 17-19 April.
1st Semi-Final
Manchester United vs Tottenham | Saturday 21 April | Wembley Stadium (18:15)
This competition presents the final chance for both teams to get their hands on a piece of silverware this season.
United lost 2-0 to Spurs during their last visit to the national stadium in January, but won the first meeting of the season 1-0 at Old Trafford in October, thanks to a late Anthony Martial goal.
Both teams will be looking to bounce back after defeats last time out. Can Spurs reach the final for the first time since 1991? Or will United go one step closer to lifting the FA Cup for the second time in three years?
To Win (90 mins)
Man United 9/4
Draw 23/10
Tottenham 23/20
Manchester United
After stopping Manchester City winning the league against them in the Manchester derby, Jose Mourinho’s side handed it to Pep Guardiola’s team on a plate by losing 1-0 at home to relegation-bound West Brom. The big question is, which United side will we see on Saturday? The side that beat the table-toppers on their own turf or the one that lost at home to the team at the bottom of the log?
The Red Devils need to make their quality count by claiming the FA Cup this season. United have lifted the cup 12 times and know that another victory this year would see them go level with Arsenal as the most successful side in the competition’s history.
United have the second-best defence in the Premier League this season, conceding 26 goals, one more than champions Manchester City. However, Mourinho’s side have kept only two clean sheets in their last eight games which is a concern.
Eric Bailly was rested against the Baggies last weekend and is set to return to the starting lineup. The Ivorian has been United’s most consistent performer at the heart of defence this season – in fact, five of United’s six league defeats have been with him out of the side.
The FA Cup represents United’s last chance to end the season with a trophy, but Mourinho said he would only pick players in form when he chooses the team to play Spurs.
“What is the criteria for a manager to choose a team?” he said. “I only know one criteria, is the way they play. It is the only way I can select players.
“Or do you want me to go for the price they cost, or their salary, or their beautiful face? The only way is to go with performance.”
According to reports, Paul Pogba, Alexis Sanchez, Juan Mata and Ander Herrera are the players under threat of being dropped.
Tottenham
Tottenham succumbed to a 3-1 loss at Wembley against newly-crowned Premier League champions Manchester City last weekend – their first league defeat in 2018. The performance was a disappointing one for Mauricio Pochettino’s side, though ultimately, a top four place has been all but secured.
Spurs will be looking to bounce back strongly with Pochettino chasing his first trophy of his managerial career. Victory over United would mean the north Londoners progress to the FA Cup final for the first time since defeating Nottingham Forest 2-1 in 1991.
The Lilywhites have an unfair advantage as they play all their home league games at Wembley. When they faced United at the national stadium on January 31st, Pochettino’s side dominated from first whistle to last.
Pochettino will rely on Harry Kane to bag the goals and fire Spurs to the final. The England international has netted four goals in just three FA Cup appearances so far this term and has also hit 25 goals in his 32 Premier League games as well as seven goals in seven Champions League contests. It’s clear that Kane is a huge threat no matter who he is facing.
Probable line-ups:
Man United: 4-3-3
De Gea; Valencia, Smalling, Bailly, Young; Matic, Pogba, Herrera; Lingard, Sanchez, Lukaku.
Tottenham: 4-2-3-1
Lloris; Trippier, Sanchez, Vertonghen, Davies; Dier, Dembele; Eriksen, Dele, Son; Kane.
Prediction: Kane to Score Anytime & Tottenham Win (19/10)
Pochettino’s side have been superb at Wembley this season and have already beaten United at the national stadium, running out 2-0 winners. With homeground advantage and the goal threat of Kane, my money’s on Spurs to win the tie in 90 minutes. Looking at Hollywoodbets’ Price Boosts and Specials, Kane to Score Anytime & Tottenham to Win looks a top bet.
2nd Semi-Final
Chelsea vs Southampton | Sunday 22 April | Wembley Stadium (16:00)
Chelsea are strong favourites to see off Southampton and reach consecutive FA Cup finals.
These sides met in the Premier League last weekend and it seemed like the relegation-threatened Saints were set to claim a vital win as they were 2-0 up with 20 minutes left at home, but substitute Olivier Giroud scored twice and Eden Hazard also netted to complete the comeback victory for Antonio Conte’s men. It was the Blues’ fifth straight win over the Saints.
The two teams last met in the FA Cup in January 2013, with the Blues running out convincing 5-1 winners at St. Mary’s Stadium.
To Win (90 mins)
Chelsea 9/20
Draw 33/10
Southampton 57/10
Chelsea
After storming to the league title in record-breaking fashion last season, Chelsea have endured a season to forget with the Blues set to miss out on a place in next season’s Champions League. Conte will be hoping for FA Cup success to provide some much-needed cheer to Chelsea’s faltering season, but the big question is whether the motivation is still there within the squad and the coaching staff.
Conte’s side defeated Leicester City last month to reach the semi-finals. Alvaro Morata gave the Blues the lead at the King Power Stadium before Jamie Vardy’s equaliser took the tie into extra-time, when Pedro headed in a winner. The last three times that Chelsea knocked Leicester out of the FA Cup, they went on to win the competition.
Giroud will be hoping his superb performance against the Saints last weekend will earn him a place in the starting lineup. Southampton wouldn’t want to face the Frenchman again which is exactly why he should be on the team-sheet ahead of Morata.
Southampton
Southampton reached the FA Cup semi-finals for the first time in 15 years after a 2-0 victory over Wigan in Mark Hughes’ first game in charge – their only win in seven matches at the time of writing. This is their 12th semi-final outing, having won just four of their previous 11.
The Saints threw away a two-goal lead to lose 3-2 at home to Chelsea last weekend and although they lost the game, there were some positives for Hughes to take. His side were the better team for the first 70 minutes, displaying the sort of aggression and incision that had been so lacking under Mauricio Pellegrino earlier in the season.
However, the defeat left the Saints in the bottom three of the Premier League with five points off safety, while it was Hughes’ fifth straight loss (four with Stoke) against the Blues as a manager – his sides conceding 18 goals in that run.
Probable line-ups
Chelsea: 3-4-3
Courtois; Azpilicueta, Christensen, Rudiger; Moses, Kante, Fabregas, Alonso; Willian, Giroud, Hazard.
Southampton: 3-4-3
McCarthy; Bednarek, Yoshida, Hoedt; Cedric, Romeu, Hojbjerg, Bertrand; Ward-Prowse, Tadic; Long.
Prediction: Chelsea Win & Both Teams to Score (43/20)
Chelsea have already beaten the Saints twice this season, while Mark Hughes has lost his last five meetings as a manager against the Blues. Last weekend produced an exciting five-goal thriller and I’m backing Chelsea to Win & Both Teams to Score at 43/20.
Written by Chadley Nagel
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