FA Cup action resumes this weekend in England with just eight teams standing, a trip to London’s Wembley Stadium for the semifinals at the end of the month, and eventually a spot in the final on May 16.
The headlining act of the quarterfinals is Liverpool’s trip to Manchester City, a meeting between two of Europe’s heavyweights as they navigate seasons marred by inconsistency. Saturday’s game also marks City’s first match since lifting the EFL Cup in a 2-0 win over Arsenal last month, so there will be plenty of intrigue to see if that triumph can help them turn around their season. On the flip side, the FA Cup marks one of the final opportunities for Mohamed Salah to lift a trophy with the Reds after announcing his intention to leave the club this summer.
The field of quarterfinals is rounded out by West Ham United and Leeds United, who take a break from the Premier League’s relegation race to face each other with a trip to Wembley on the line. Heavy-hitters Arsenal and Chelsea also return to play in the most notable mismatches of the round, each of them facing lower-league opposition. The Gunners take on Southampton, currently in the chase for promotion to the Premier League, while the Blues have the most notable underdog of all – Port Vale, who have become this season’s Cniderella story despite sitting last place in League One.
Here’s what you need to know before tuning in.
FA Cup quarterfinal schedule
All times U.S./Eastern
Saturday, April 4
Manchester City vs. Liverpool, 7:45 a.m. (ESPN)
Chelsea vs. Port Vale, 12:15 p.m. (ESPN Select)
Southampton vs. Arsenal, 3 p.m. (ESPN Select)
Sunday, April 5
West Ham United vs. Leeds United, 11:30 a.m. (ESPN2)
Manchester City, Liverpool face off
The FA Cup weekend kicks off with a bang on Saturday with Manchester City’s clash against Liverpool, a matchup that has delivered several memorable moments in recent years but this time is instead a showcase of two inconsistent sides. It has been hard to guess which version of either team will show up on any given day, and if City’s 2-1 win at Anfield in February is anything to go by, another grueling encounter could be in store.
Though there was plenty of drama as all three goals came after the 73rd minute, quality goalscoring chances were few and far between up until that moment. Whether or not that changes with a trip to Wembley on the line is the big question heading into Saturday’s clash. The Reds have become increasingly reliant on set pieces, and coach Arne Slot is unable to translate their impressive recruitment of attacking talent last summer into a balanced attacking unit. City remain one of the Premier League’s top attacking sides, finding ways to cope as Erling Haaland continues a slump that sees him with just three non-penalty goals in his last 21 matches for club and country.
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Last lower-league teams standing
The later stages of cup competitions usually see Premier League teams take up the final spots, but Southampton and Port Vale are in the midst of deep runs in the FA Cup, the quarterfinals set to offer trying tests in Arsenal and Chelsea, respectively.
While the countdown is on to see if City’s EFL Cup triumph impacts their play for the better, the same is true for the Gunners. Arsenal’s trophy pursuit this season is far from over, but they may be eager to put the disappointment behind them with a dominant performance against Southampton. The Saints are no slouch – they are in the mix for a spot in the Championship’s promotion playoffs, though the challenge of outdoing the Gunners’ consistently impressive defense is easier said than done.
Chelsea’s clash against Port Vale, though, may just be the mismatch of the weekend. Vale currently sit in last place in League One, five points out of safety and reliant on the games in hand to avoid a drop down to the fourth tier. They get a reprieve from that fate, though, with a trip to Stamford Bridge in their first FA Cup quarterfinal since 1954 and chase a rare semifinal berth for a third division team. Vale will not be favored in this tie, but Chelsea have been susceptible in the back — they have just one clean sheet in their last 15 across all competitions, conceding 27 goals along the way.
West Ham, Leeds close it out
West Ham United’s attempt at a great escape from the Premier League’s relegation zone will have to wait another week, the Hammers instead hosting Leeds United in the final FA Cup tie of the weekend. For each of them, the wait for a trip to the FA Cup semifinals has been a lengthy one – West Ham have not been there since 2006, while Leeds’ last time in the final four of the competition came in 1997, each side boasting the potential of creating a special cup run that feels similar to Crystal Palace’s triumph a year ago. The wait for a trophy has also been long for Leeds, who last lifted silverware when they won the Football League title in the 1991-92 season, while West Ham may have to balance this with their priorities in the league since they run the risk of repeating Wigan Athletic’s 2012-13 season, in which they won the FA Cup but were also relegated from the Premier League.
