The FA Cup is BACK! Quarter-final preview

After enduring a long 114-day wait, the FA Cup returns this weekend with an all-Premier League line-up at the quarter-final stage.

Not since the 2005-06 season has the FA Cup’s final eight consisted of just topflight clubs, after the last round saw the last of the EFL contenders knocked out of the competition by higher-ranked opposition. League One side Portsmouth, who were the lowest ranked team remaining in the final 16, suffered defeat to Arsenal as Premier League clubs reigned supreme. 

The rescheduled competition will hold the semi-finals on Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th July and the final is set to be played on August 1st. Both semi-final matches and the final will be played at Wembley Stadium as usual. 

Current holders Manchester City are favourites to lift the trophy, as they turn their attentions to achieving cup glory after dealing with the bitter taste of losing their Premier League crown to Liverpool on Thursday night. 

City manager Pep Guardiola has ensured that their focus is on cup success as they travel to Newcastle United, who have enjoyed positive results since the Premier League’s restart, calling it his club’s ‘final’.

Elsewhere, relegation-bound Norwich City host Manchester United in Saturday’s solitary match. Daniel Farke’s side look destined for the drop in the league so will welcome a shift of attention to cup duty instead. 

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s United will be eyeing up this tie as a great opportunity to reach the final four of the competition, after their impressive start since the enforced break.

Leicester City host Chelsea in potentially the tightest of the four fixtures with both still heavily engrossed in clinching a top four finish in the league. 

The outcome of Sunday’s match at the King Power Stadium could have a colossal effect on the race for top four – as Chelsea have closed the gap on third-placed Leicester to just one point after the Foxes slow restart. A mental boost over one another could make all the difference as they are both balancing attentions between the league and the cup. 

Sheffield United are another club who have made a less than favourable start to life post-lockdown and will look to the FA Cup as a realistic possibility to win silverware. 

Chris Wilder’s side host Arsenal on Sunday, who have been dealing with their own problems through injuries and poor performances, with both clubs looking to up their game for the quarter finals.  

Norwich City vs Manchester United 

The FA Cup quarter-finals kick-off at Carrow Road with Norwich City hosting Manchester United. 

Norwich are still fighting for Premier League survival but after two defeats against Southampton and Everton since the restart, holding on to their topflight status looks to be a bleak endeavour. 

Despite the probable doom and gloom from the outcome of their league campaign, they still have everything to play for on Saturday and have impressed on their cup run so far with wins over Tottenham, Burnley and Preston.

Standing in the way of the relegation strugglers are a United side who seem to be enjoying their football under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. They made a respectable start in the league’s return with a draw against Spurs followed by a 3-0 victory over Southampton.

Whilst they find themselves fifth in the league – a position which could secure them Champions League football next season depending on Man City’s appeal outcome to their two-year ban – and in the race for top four, United are a club in demand to win trophies so rest assured they will not be holding back on Saturday evening.

VERDICT – Manchester United win 

Sheffield United vs Arsenal

Sheffield United and Arsenal face each other in the first instalment of an FA Cup trilogy on Sunday. 

The Blades have endured a frustrating restart to the Premier League after their goal-line technology blunder against Aston Villa and two 3-0 defeats against Manchester United and Newcastle have all but retired them from the top four race.

This match will mark their first of the competition against Premier League opposition as they have beaten Reading, Millwall and AFC Fylde up until this round. 

A cup victory would give United’s season a sense of justice, after their top four hopes have petered out despite an outstanding season from Wilder’s side. 

Arsenal will look to this fixture with a greater sense of desperation than their opponents, as they continue to struggle in the Premier League. 

Whilst they enter this cup tie on the back of a 2-0 victory, the Gunners have not impressed to the standards expected of them and a successful cup run is more of a need than a want for them at this point. 

VERDICT – Draw (to be settled on penalties)

Leicester City vs Chelsea

As if battling it out for a top four finish wasn’t enough for Leicester City and Chelsea, they are now also fighting for a spot in the last four of the FA Cup.

The hosts have made a slow start since their return to action, with two draws against relegation-threatened sides in the Premier League. 

Manager Brendan Rodgers has had a stellar season in charge of the Foxes, regardless of their recent form, and to top if off with a trophy would go above and beyond the club’s expectations. However, whilst a top four finish is not mathematically secured, the league campaign will hold their focus.

Chelsea find themselves in a very similar position to their opponents but are in much better form.

Frank Lampard’s side have looked like a force to be reckoned with since the restart with key players like Christian Pulisic coming back with a bang. 

They have had to fight hard to reach the quarter-final stage, after they beat Premier League champions Liverpool in the last round. 

VERDICT – Chelsea win 

Newcastle United vs Manchester City

Newcastle United host a wounded Manchester City side in the last quarter-final on Sunday evening.

Steve Bruce’s side have claimed four points from a possible six since they returned to the pitch and have all but secured their topflight status for another season. 

Whilst a cup run would be a nice end to a respectable season for the North East outfit, it is unlikely as they face a City side hungry for silverware after losing their Premier League crown on Thursday. 

City manager Pep Guardiola insisted that their focus has shifted to their remaining cup competitions after they suffered a 2-1 defeat to Chelsea during midweek. 

The current holders of the FA Cup have eased through to the quarter-final stage with victories over Sheffield Wednesday, Fulham and Port Vale. Despite some injuries to key players, they are likely to name a very strong side as they shift their attention away from the league.

VERDICT – Manchester City win