Predictions and Picks for the FA Cup Semifinal Clashes
The FA Cup semifinal matchups are set: Arsenal will face Reading on Saturday and Liverpool will meet Aston Villa on Sunday, with both games being played at Wembley Stadium.
Arsene Wenger’s Gunners, the holders, are arguably in the best position, having drawn Reading instead of a fellow Premier League team. However, the one remaining Championship side are well aware this is the tournament for giant-killings (skeptics need only note the absence of Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham Hostpur et al.) and certainly won’t be counting themselves out just yet.
As for Liverpool against Villa, the Reds have shown inconsistent form of late despite a solid resurgence following New Year’s Day. Does this mean Liverpool’s good period is over, or were those poor results against Arsenal and Manchester United just blips?
Their FA Cup semifinal opponents, meanwhile, have won just one of their last four Premier League matches. But like Reading, Aston Villa’s run in the FA Cup has proved they are adept at psychologically compartmentalizing so that poor results in the league have not affected their dreams of silverware.
With all that in mind, here’s a look at probable performers, likely results and some bold predictions for the FA Cup semifinals.
Christian Benteke Will Score
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Christian Benteke was the hero as Aston Villa narrowly edged Blackpool 1-0 in the FA Cup third round on January 4. The Villans were in the midst of an abysmal patch of attacking form going into the new year, so the Belgian’s goal in the final minutes was a veritable oasis.
Coming into Sunday’s semifinal, Benteke has so far notched 10 goals in 21 Premier League starts and one FA Cup goal in three FA Cup outings. He is their go-to man up top, and he’s more than willing to carry that weight.
According to talkSPORT's Adam Jones, Benteke believes the semifinal against Liverpool is “the biggest game of his career.” The forward added: “Liverpool are a good team, but the thing with the FA Cup is it's still something special. It's 50-50 for me but some will say they are favorites.”
Benteke is clearly embracing the gravity of this match, and he has the skill to deliver for his team. Expect a goal from him on Sunday.
A Fringe Player Will Become a Villa Hero
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Benteke may be feeling good, but the same can't be said for some of his teammates.
Gabriel Agbonlahor (hamstring) and Ciaran Clark (knee) are serious doubts for Sunday’s match. Carlos Sanchez is guaranteed to be absent through suspension. Meanwhile, Scott Sinclair (hamstring), Ashley Westwood (hamstring), Alan Hutton (ankle) and Aly Cissokho (groin) are also all on the fence.
“I don’t know who else we got,” said Villa manager Tim Sherwood, per Darren Witcoop of the Express. “We’re that bare at the moment, it’s see who comes in fit.”
Look for Sherwood to start 19-year-old midfielder Jack Grealish, and expect the youngster to rise to the occasion.
“I don’t think he’s fazed,” said the manager. “Jack’s got real ability, you can see that. He’s got a big future at this football club. He’s certainly at the right place.”
Mamadou Sakho Will Not Play…
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Speaking of injuries, Mamadou Sakho will not play against the injury-plagued Claret and Blues.
According to BBC Sport, the Liverpool center back could be out for up to a month with the hamstring injury he picked up in the FA Cup quarterfinal replay win at Blackburn Rovers.
Kolo Toure proved to be an admirable replacement for the Reds against Blackburn, while Emre Can is also available to continue his defensive duties.
With Toure, Can and Dejan Lovren all fit, Liverpool won’t be feeling quite as stretched as their opponents. Regardless of injury-list comparisons, however, expect the Reds to look less than their best in defense against Villa.
...But Daniel Sturridge Will Play
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Regardless of his defensive concerns, Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers will be feeling optimistic he can call on goalscoring talisman Daniel Sturridge.
“He feels reasonably fine,” said Rodgers, per Jamie Reid of the FA's official website. “So we are hoping by the middle of the week we will have an indication where he is at.”
Sturridge missed his side’s 2-0 league victory over Newcastle United on Monday after sustaining a hip injury against Manchester United in March.
Confirmation as to whether he will play on Sunday is still forthcoming, as Rodgers clarified: “He will hopefully be okay for the weekend. I will know more in the week.”
Regardless of that uncertainty, expect the England striker to be on the pitch at Wembley. Beleaguered Rodgers will feel forced to use every asset at his disposal to improve Liverpool’s last hope for silverware—and that means playing Sturridge.
Per Mertesacker’s Lack of Pace Will Be Exposed
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It’s no secret that Per Mertesacker won’t be winning an Olympic medal in the 100-meter dash anytime soon. OK, so he’s slow—but what will that mean for the match against Reading?
Wenger will feel confident in his side’s ability to retain the ball more than their Championship opponents, so the big German’s lack of pace isn’t likely to keep him out of the lineup. In fact, his experience and strength will be great assets for an Arsenal squad playing in the latter stages of a knockout tournament against a team that will look to capitalize on set plays.
The Gunners will dominate possession, but there will be early fast breaks for Reading led by the speedy Garath McCleary. The 27-year-old English winger may not score, but he’ll be able to threaten Arsenal’s back line.
But don’t worry, Arsenal fans. That won’t be much of a problem...
Francis Coquelin Will Cover the Arsenal Backline
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You would be forgiven for not knowing about 23-year-old Frenchman Francis Coquelin at the start of the season, but you should know about him now.
Coquelin has made a strong case for becoming one of Wenger’s starting midfielders with hard-nosed performances against physical opposition. In his last Premier League match, he showed his confidence both in defending and going forward.
ESPN FC’s Jonathan Molyneux-Carter said of his most recent performance: “Although he does not boast height or incredible physical power, Coquelin was on hand many times to break up Burnley's counterattacks and ensured that whenever he was on the ball, he would distribute it quickly to his more attack-minded teammates.”
Per Mertesacker will be beaten for pace at least once against Reading, but Coquelin will be in the right place at the right time to put out any fires.
Reading Will Not Be a Threat
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Not to pick on Reading, but they are currently 18th in the Championship. They have only scored 44 league goals this season and have a goal differential of negative 20.
Put simply, Reading are not going to be a real threat to the hottest team in the Premier League. They will have moments—like the aforementioned runs by McCleary—but there will not be any sustained attacks.
It is said that anything can happen in the FA Cup, but not in this case.
Reading do not have the pieces to break down Arsenal’s midfield and hold onto the ball for sustained periods—Alexis Sanchez alone would not allow that. And if the game opens up, the Gunners have the forwards to outscore anyone on Reading's books.
It would take something truly magical for Reading to come out on top.
Not Even Professional Magic Will Help Reading
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This was too good not to mention.
Professional illusionist Uri Geller has offered his services to help Reading beat the odds in Saturday’s semifinal, relayed by ESPN FC’s Chris Wright.
It’s not as absurd as it might sound, however, as Geller’s assistance would come in the form of a pep talk rather than, say, making David Ospina disappear during a free-kick.
“I would happily invite the players to my house, amaze them with some spoon-bending—then empower them with some positive thinking and an inspirational speech,” said Geller, per The Sun (h/t ESPN FC).
Geller added: “If [manager] Steve Clarke wanted me to speak in the dressing room before the game or to speak to the players at the training ground then I would do it.”
Positive thinking may not be enough to turn the tide of the tie—but hey, it couldn’t hurt, right?
Final Prediction: Arsenal 3-0 Reading
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Arsenal are too confident and have too much attacking momentum going into Saturday, so an upset isn’t going to be on the cards (OK, we’re done with magic jokes now).
The Gunners will grab the opening goal near the end of the first period and put the match to bed with two more in the second half. Reading will come out with grit and a determined defense, but Mesut Ozil, Santi Cazorla and Alexis Sanchez will break them down.
Expect goals from Sanchez, Aaron Ramsey and a late one from Danny Welbeck.
Final Prediction: Aston Villa 2-1 Liverpool
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We said there would be bold predictions.
It wouldn’t be terribly surprising to see Aston Villa top Liverpool, but, given their respective positions in the EPL table—15th and fifth respectively— it would technically qualify as an upset.
If the Villans can shut down Philippe Coutinho’s influence and frustrate Raheem Sterling, they stand an excellent chance of advancing. Liverpool’s defense is arguably better than it was last season, but it’s not invulnerable to a moment of Benteke brilliance.
Look for goals from Benteke and Andreas Weimann for the Claret and Blues. For Liverpool, look for a consolation goal from Sterling, who will find a moment to break free from some otherwise diligent Villa marking.
