With the Premier League title race still undecided following Man-chester United’s upset to Wigan in midweek, this weekend’s focus shifts to the semis of the FA Cup even though United and nearest pursuers Manchester City will both be in action today and tomorrow.
At Wembley this afternoon, Liverpool take on Everton in a Merseyside derby and tomorrow an all-London tie is on as Tottenham clash against Chelsea.
In the league this season, Liverpool did the double on the Blues – Anfield 2-0 and at Goodison Park 3-0. Down south, both matches between Tottenham and Chelsea were drawn – at White Hart Lane 1-1 and Stamford Bridge 0-0.
Despite the two setbacks in the derby, Everton are still leading Liverpool in the league standings.
Five defeats in eight league matches made some critics suggest Liverpool have all but given up on fourth place to focus instead on the KO competition.
Manager Kenny Dalglish has always told his players that their first task was to climb up the table. Yet, the slump continued. Now, what happens today will surely have a bearing on the manager’s future.
Today, Brazilian goalkeeper Doni was about to make his Wembley debut but on a manic night at Blackburn this week, he was sent off and third keeper Brad Jones will guard the Liverpool posts since first choice Pepe Reina will be serving the last of a three-match ban.
Everton manager David Moyes admitted he made a mistake in not resting more players for this semi-final.
Moyes also insisted that Liverpool would be the favourites at Wembley while ordering a media ban on his players ahead of their FA Cup commitment on his 10th year in charge of Everton.
After winning their quarter-final replay against Sunderland, Everton went on to set up a first Merseyside meeting at Wembley since 1989. On that occasion, Liverpool won the FA Cup with a 3-2 extra-time victory.
Besides this match, there were five other occasions the two rivals met in a semi-final or final, thus:
May 1986 final: Liverpool 3-1.
April 1977 semi-final: Liverpool 3-0.
March 1971 semi-final: Liverpool 2-1.
March 1950 semi-final: Liverpool 2-0.
March 1906 semi-final: Everton 2-0.
Chelsea, who play Barcelona in the Champions League semi-finals, will be engaged in a tight duel against Tottenham tomorrow.
It seems that the persistent rumours linking Spurs boss Harry Redknapp with the England job might have cost the north Londoners crucial points in their attempt to finish in the top four in the Premier League.
Meanwhile, Chelsea’s stand-in manager Roberto Di Matteo accused the FA of ignoring all his team’s concerns about the scheduling of the semi-final at Wembley tomorrow.
Chelsea had asked for their clash with Tottenham to be played earlier, for them to have more time to prepare before facing Barca. But they got a negative answer.
Indeed, the stiff white-collared men of the FA will never learn.
Commonsense failed once more to prevail as other national federations all seem very helpful and assist their clubs involved in Europe.
Tottenham were involved in an emotional quarter-final as the original match was abandoned before half-time when Bolton’s Fabrice Muamba collapsed.
Tottenham and Chelsea met in the final of the competition in May of 1967. That year, Spurs beat Chelsea 2-1. Other direct clashes in the FA Cup were:
2007 March (quarter-final rep-lay Tottenham (home) 2-1.
2002 March (quarter-final Chelsea (away) 4-0.
1982 March (quarter-final Tottenham (away) 3-2.
1965 February (fifth round Chelsea (home) 1-0.
1964 January (third round replay Chelsea (home) 2-0.
1957 January (fourth round Tottenham (home) 4-0.
1910 February (second round Tottenham (away) 1-0.
Fixtures and forecast
English Fa Cup Semi-Finals
Liverpool-Everton 13.301
Tomorrow
Tottenham-Chelsea 19.00 2
Premier League
Norwich-Man. City 13:45 2
Sunderland-Wolves X
Swansea-Blackburn 1
West Brom-QPR1
Tomorrow:
Man. United-Aston Villa 17:00 1
Monday:
Arsenal-Wigan 21.00 1
Standings: Man. United 79; Man. City 74; Arsenal 64; Tottenham, Newcastle 59; Chelsea 57; Everton 47; Liverpool 46; Fulham, Norwich 43; Sunderland, Stoke 42; West Brom, Swansea 39; Aston Villa 35; QPR, Wigan 31; Bolton 29; Black-burn 28; Wolves 22.
The Championship
Barnsley-Cardiff City 2
Birmingham-Bristol City 1
Burnley-Coventry 1
Crystal Palace-Ipswich X
Derby-Middlesbrough X
Doncaster-Portsmouth X
Leeds-Peterborough 1
Millwall-Leicester X
N. Forest-Blackpool X
Watford-Hull City X
West Ham-Brighton 1
League One
Brentford-Notts County 1
Bury-Bournemouth 1
Carlisle-Charlton X
Colchester-Sheffield Wed. 2
Hartlepool-Chesterfield 1
Preston-Huddersfield X
Rochdale-Exeter City 1
Scunthorpe-MK Dons X
Sheffield Utd-Leyton Orient 1
Walsall-Tranmere 1
Wycombe-Oldham X
Yeovil-Stevenage X
League Two
Aldershot-Dagenham1
Bristol-Burton 1
Cheltenham-Accrington 1
Crawley-AFC Wimbledon 1
Macclesfield Town-Crewe 2
Morecambe-Port Vale 1
Northampton-Bradford 1
Oxford-Gillingham 1
Shrewsbury-Rotherham 1
Swindon-Plymouth 1
Torquay-Southend1
Hot Four
Birmingham City
West Ham United
Sheffield United
Swindon Town