What absolutely will happen in the Premier League and FA Cup this weekend
A distracted Liverpool, an emotional Arsenal, a record-hunting Manchester City, a tinkered-with Manchester United and a motivated Chelsea: this is how the weekend’s football will probably unfold in the Premier League and FA Cup, according to Adam Hurrey’s crystal ball…
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West Brom vs Liverpool
Put your mortgage on…
West Brom’s last stand. It’s too little, much too late, but – with Liverpool keeping one eye (and a half) on their midweek appointment with Roma – the Baggies have another chance to restore some pride at the end of a miserable season. Manchester United were dreadful last weekend, Liverpool might be distracted this time round, but the Hawthorns faithful will take what they can get.
The match, according to Ceefax…
Retro indulgence
September, 1981: Liverpool get their title-winning momentum going with a 4-0 demolition of Albion at Anfield, which is given a helping hand by a very young-looking Bryan Robson (it’s actually an incredible save, if only he’d been the goalkeeper…)
Watford vs Crystal Palace
Put your mortgage on…
Crystal Palace to leapfrog Watford and further emphasise the muddled mid-table of the Premier League. Anywhere between 8th and 17th is something of a lottery, it seems, but Watford – as always – are finishing with a bit of a whimper.
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The match, according to Ceefax…
Retro indulgence
May, 2006: Watford go to Crystal Palace in the Championship play-off semi-finals and finish it in the first leg, thanks in part to a lovely free-kick from *squints* a very young Ashley Young.
Manchester United vs Tottenham (FA Cup semi-final)
Put your mortgage on…
Jose Mourinho to make one big team-selection call. His big names should have got the message after a recent bout of early substitutions (Paul Pogba) and benchings (Alexis Sanchez).
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The beneficiary of this ought to be Marcus Rashford, who is perhaps now the most thrilling sight in a Manchester United shirt. More importantly, he appears to relish a big game.
The match, according to Ceefax…
Retro indulgence
January, 1997: Spurs travel to Old Trafford with an FA Cup strikeforce of Neale Fenn and Rory Allen…but United respond with Paul Scholes and, stunningly, David Beckham.
Arsenal vs West Ham
Put your mortgage on…
The biggest sigh of relief in Premier League history.
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All the fan banners, the angry YouTubers, the hired planes…your work is done, and Arsene Wenger is finally, officially presiding over his last few games as Arsenal manager.
The match, according to Ceefax…
Retro indulgence
March, 1998: West Ham’s Steve Lomas has a little tug of Dennis Bergkamp’s shirt. Big mistake, as it turns out, and bad news for Steve Lomas’ good looks.
Stoke vs Burnley
Put your mortgage on…
Stereotypes aside, has there ever been a game more likely to feature the referee stopping a corner being taken to have a word with jostling players to tell them to cut it out or he won’t hesitate to blow for a foul? No.
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The match, according to Ceefax…
Retro indulgence
Ever seen a drop-ball, in the penalty area, involving a goalkeeper? You have now! Chaos at Stoke back in September 1997…
Chelsea vs Southampton (FA Cup semi-final)
Put your mortgage on…
Chelsea to make lighter work of Southampton than they did in the dress-rehearsal last weekend. Eden Hazard and Willian’s legs will be fresh after their midweek rest – as Southampton toiled to a goalless draw with Leicester – and Olivier Giroud is making a big case to start ahead of Alvaro Morata up front.
The match, according to Ceefax…
Retro indulgence
November 1997: Chelsea edge a League Cup fourth-rounder at Stamford Bridge, with some lovely goals from Tore Andre Flo and Jody Morris to cancel out Kevin Davies’ opener.
Manchester City vs Swansea
Put your mortgage on…
City to start embellishing their imperfect season with some impressive benchmarks. Well within their reach are a trio of records held by Chelsea: most wins (30, City have 28), most goals (103, City need another 10 from five games) and most points (Pep Guardiola is nine short of Jose Mourinho’s record of 95).
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Pep might not admit it, but these achievements will matter.
The match, according to Ceefax…
Retro indulgence
Vetch Field, April 1982: Skip to 1:50 here to see an absolute screamer into the top corner from Swansea’s Gary Stanley. Woof!
Everton vs Newcastle
Put your mortgage on…
Rafa Benitez to show Sam Allardyce what a well-supported manager looks like. Everton’s bizarre customer survey this week – which asked fans to rate Big Sam’s performance out of 10 – was the ultimate act of undermining. It doesn’t bode well for the rest of this season or the next.
The match, according to Ceefax…
Retro indulgence
August, 1996: Newcastle bring Alan Shearer, the world’s most expensive player, to Goodison Park for his debut…only for Everton to spoil his big day.
