The quarter-finals of the FA Cup are set and the one clash every football lover is talking about is Arsenal taking on Manchester United at Old Trafford, that tie is set-up perfectly as Arsenal seem to be clicking in the right gears while Manchester United keep on grinding out results even if they have not been playing attractive football.
The other ties see Liverpool host Blackburn, giant killers, Bradford City hosting Reading and an all Premier League clash with Aston Villa taking on rivals West Bromwich Albion. In a competition known for its shocks and upsets, trying to predict one team who can go all the way will be tough, remember the final between City and Wigan? Manchester City should have won the game based on squad strength, yet it was the minnows Wigan who won the FA Cup under Roberto Martinez. We now try to predict just who will win the FA Cup.
Premier League team to win but who?
The first thing to do is figure out just who will progress from the quarter-final stage, Liverpool and Bradford City should make it through from their respective games as they are in form and have the advantage of playing at home, so two of the semi-finalists are done.
The tough calls are the all Premier League ties, Aston Villa at home would be a good choice especially with Tim Sherwood now being the manager at the club but the performance by West Brom against West Ham was simply amazing and if the team does play in a similar style, it would be West Brom who will make it into the semi-finals.
Now comes the toughest choice to make, Arsenal are firing on all cylinders while Manchester United are limping along yet getting the results, even in the earlier games it was United who got the better of the Gunners and based on that alone, Manchester United should just about make it through into the next round.
3 Premier League sides in the semi finals
So we would have 3 Premier League sides in the semi-finals, which would ensure that one Premier League club does make it to the final. The draw for the semi-final takes place and the two matches are played at Wembley, the luck of the draw can help a team immensely but nobody would like to play against the team that defeated Chelsea earlier, Bradford City.
Also, as already discussed, Manchester United are getting the results so backing them would not be a bad choice at all and a Tony Pulis rejuvenated West Brom can be a handful for just about anyone, especially in a cup tie where Pulis will ensure his team is riled up to win the game.
However, the team we would select to win the FA Cup is Liverpool, both from the mind and heart. Liverpool’s long serving captain Steven Gerrard could play his last game for the Reds on his birthday in the FA Cup final and more importantly, Liverpool have been playing some good football and is the team in form in the Premier League. They have got their summer signings to click and providing Gerrard with an FA Cup winner’s medal would be the perfect send off.