FA Cup quarter-finals talking points: Preview, analysis, questions and latest odds for sixth round games
The FA Cup returns and as we get ever closer to Wembley we look at the major talking points for the eight teams still involved over the weekend.
Just eight teams remain on the road to Wembley and with a host of big guns having fallen by the wayside there are a number of lesser lights in with a great shout now of making it to Wembley.
That said, Manchester City and United are still in the hunt and they're the two favourites to lift the FA Cup in May, and we could yet see an all-Manchester final if the draw works out.
Let's look at the major talking points for the FA Cup quarter-finals.
Saturday
Sunday
- 14:00 Millwall v Brighton
City to continue quadruple hunt
With the Carabao Cup already in the trophy cabinet, easy Champions League progression this week and sitting on top of the Premier League, Manchester City will now turn their attention to the next stage of their quadruple mission.
They are certainly favourites to make it to the semi-final as they visit Swansea, but Pep Guardiola, whose best FA Cup achievement at City is the last four, will be wary after his side were embarrassed at Wigan last season. Guardiola is unlikely to waver too much from his strongest team as he will not be ready to take any chances in south Wales.
Any hope for the Championship challengers?
Swansea and Millwall are flying the flag for the EFL in this year's competition as the two Championship sides eye a semi-final berth. Swansea, then a Premier League side, got to this stage last season before losing to Tottenham and their task is not any easier this year as they host Manchester City, so not too many people will be backing them to reach a first semi-final since 1964.
Millwall, in a relegation battle, were in the last four as recently as 2013 and they have saved their best form for the FA Cup this year, memorably beating Everton in the earlier rounds. Their home clash with Brighton looks entirely winnable, so the 2004 finalists will fancy their chances of heading back to Wembley.
FA Cup betting preview
Seagulls seeking rare semi
Brighton have their eye on just their second ever FA Cup semi-final and first since 1983 when they went on to reach the final. It is their second quarter-final in two years, having also reached the last eight last season, and their task on paper at least looks easier than last year's.
In 2018 they were beaten by Manchester United whereas this year a trip to Championship Millwall beckons. Seagulls boss Chris Hughton has a special affiliation with the FA Cup, having been in the Tottenham side that won it back-to-back in 1981 and 1982 and he would love to lead his current club out at Wembley.
Road warriors United face another tough away day
If Manchester United get to the last four of the FA Cup then they will have had to do it the hard way. After seeing off Reading in the third round they were handed consecutive away ties at Arsenal and Chelsea, which they passed with flying colours.
That set up a visit to Wolves, who have enjoyed playing the big teams in the Premier League this season. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who won this competition twice with United as a player, will be eyeing this as a very good chance to mark his caretaker spell with a trip to the national stadium. Wolves, though, will be a tough test as they are eyeing a first semi-final since 1998.
Revenge or repeat in Watford v Palace?
Watford's clash with Crystal Palace is a repeat of the semi-final three years ago, which Palace won before going on to lose the final against Manchester United.
Palace triumphed 2-1 on that day at Wembley, but the Hornets' superior league form - they won both games this season - and home advantage might make them favourites in just their fourth quarter-final in 31 years.
Quiz time...
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