Premier League and FA Cup quarter-finals: what to look out for this weekend

Gary O’Neil conceded his decision to start Pedro Neto against Fulham backfired, with the Portuguese winger set to miss Wolves’ date with Coventry on Saturday after aggravating a hamstring problem. Jean-Ricner Bellegarde is also a doubt with a knee injury sustained in the same game, so opportunities could arise for those on the periphery. Nathan Fraser, the 19-year-old forward, made his full debut last time out. Noha Lemina, the 18-year-old brother of midfielder Mario who was on the bench against Fulham, could get his first minutes in old gold while the 18-year-old striker Leon Chiwome – tipped for a bright future last year in our Next Generation series – is another untried option. The 20-year-old midfielder Tawanda Chirewa could also feature but O’Neil, with last week’s big calls fresh in the memory, will be careful not to be too bold given what is at stake.

Brentford will be nursing an understandable grievance at Turf Moor having seen Kai Havertz escape a second yellow card for a blatant act of cheating before scoring Arsenal’s late winner against them last weekend. Channelled the right way against a Burnley team that appear destined to return to the Championship, it could mute the undeserved criticism that has been thrown Thomas Frank’s way during a run of five Premier League games without a win. That winless sequence includes matches against the current top three, Chelsea and away to West Ham, where overall standards undoubtedly dropped in the 4-2 defeat. But Frank should not have to ask for perspective. Ivan Toney has not scored in his last four games but against a vulnerable Burnley defence, and at a stadium that has witnessed 11 home league defeats this season, the striker and Brentford will be confident of venting their frustrations.

There is only one relegation spot up for grabs – Burnley and Sheffield United are essentially down – making the prospect of 18th hosting 17th an intriguing one. With 10 games to go we can officially look at this as a six-pointer, especially with Forest facing potential deductions depending on their Premier League profitability and sustainability rules hearing. The bad news for both is they are in pretty awful form. Luton gave up a three-goal lead to lose to Bournemouth, while Forest have lost their last three matches and their main striker is struggling with his fitness. Whatever happens at Kenilworth Road could be a turning point for either side and the game will require strong characters. Nerves are jangling at the bottom and the psychological impact of a win for either will knock the confidence of their relegation rivals. However each manager wants to spin it, a loss would be disastrous and neither can afford it.

Well, that wasn’t so hard, was it? Spurs’ mega-clash last weekend with fellow top-four chasers Aston Villa changed quickly from tense to joyous, four second-half goals cutting the gap between the two sides to just a couple of points. With Villa not playing until Sunday, Ange Postecoglou’s side have an opportunity to jump to fourth; with Manchester United busy seeking salvation in the FA Cup, they can extend the gap there too. James Maddison was the first to celebrate at Villa Park, getting on the end of a fine Pape Sarr cross, while Son Heung-min scored one and laid on a couple elsewhere. Maddison’s comeback from an ankle injury, allied with Son’s return from the Asian Cup, is making it feel like the good ol’ days, when the Postecoglou honeymoon began with an unbeaten 10-match run in the league. A trip to Craven Cottage may bring up bad memories from a League Cup exit in August, but perhaps also the 2-0 victory over Fulham in October. The goalscorers that day? Maddison and Son.

By their vaunted standards, Manchester City are not quite the same force this season. Yet they are still good enough to be tilting at an historic and second consecutive treble. Newcastle arrive for this FA Cup quarter-final 10th in the Premier League, 15 points below fourth place, as Eddie Howe’s position as manager continues to be scrutinised. Pep Guardiola tends to find a way to turn his team on when it truly matters. As seen with Kevin De Bruyne’s disgruntlement at being taken off against Liverpool, City’s players are particularly exercised to make an impact. This is bad news for Howe and his side, even if De Bruyne is sidelined. Expect City to eliminate the visitors and move on to yet another Wembley trip.

West Ham and Aston Villa both have issues to resolve in midfield. For David Moyes, the challenge of reviving Kalvin Phillips’s career has proved harder than anticipated. West Ham could do with rotating after playing in Europe on Thursday night but can Moyes risk starting Phillips again after his disappointing display against Burnley? Probably not, although at least Villa are unlikely to be any fresher than West Ham. Villa, who beat Ajax in the Europa Conference League, also have a selection dilemma in the middle. The influential John McGinn is suspended after his red card during last weekend’s defeat to Spurs, the excellent Boubacar Kamara is a long-term absentee and Jacob Ramsey injured an ankle against Luton earlier this month.

Erik ten Hag and Manchester United are in the last-chance saloon marked “FA Cup glory” regarding claiming silverware this season and if arch-rivals Liverpool kick them out of the tavern it will be particularly bitter. To stretch the metaphor further: what hangover might there be for the manager, who is auditioning before Jim Ratcliffe’s new minority ownership to retain his job? United tend to sack managers when Champions League qualification is no longer possible, so while the gap to Aston Villa in fourth is only eight points the Dutchman may stay in place. The flip side is that, should United end Jürgen Klopp’s dream of closing his tenure with a quadruple, Ten Hag’s stock jags upward.

Paul

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