Premier League and FA Cup

When the pressure was on, they failed again to come up trumps going down 3-1 to Leicester last weekend. It’s difficult enough to see where West Brom’s next win is coming from never mind the club staving off the threat of relegation. It’s becoming more apparent by the week that the Baggies will be playing Championship football next term. A trip to Bournemouth this weekend is hardly likely to fill the fans with much optimism ahead of the match on the south coast. Eddie Howe’s side were swept aside by Spurs last Sunday 4-1 but they will be confident, not to mention determined, to put things right.

Huddersfield will have been bitterly disappointed not to have taken three points at home to Swansea last weekend given the fact the visitors had to play 79 minutes with ten men following the dismissal of Jordan Ayew. The hosts saw plenty of the ball as expected, but were unable to convert the chances that came their way. The Terriers now switch their attentions to the visit of Crystal Palace, another club currently in the thick of the relegation battle. Victory for the hosts, however, would edge them closer to safety. Palace’s form must be of huge concern to manager Roy Hodgson, without a win in the Premier League since January and just two points from their last seven outings. This must change quickly if things are to swing in their favour.

The bad news for Chelsea is they’re out of the Champions League after Lionel Messi’s midweek masterclass. The good news is that Antonio Conte’s men don’t have to face the ludicrously good Argentine every time they play. That said, there are easier places for the Blues to go next than the King Power Stadium, where they will face a refreshed Leicester City. Indeed, while Chelsea were being dazzled by magical Messi in Catalonia, Claude Puel’s men were enjoying some winter sun 500-odd miles down the road in Marbella, having jetted off to Andalusia on Tuesday for a four-day training camp in preparation for Sunday’s FA Cup quarter-final. The pressure is now really on Chelsea to reach the semi-finals after Wednesday’s error-ridden display, because with a top four Premier League finish looking unlikely, a second exit from a major competition within a week would effectively end their season. This, arguably, makes the Foxes favourites heading into this one, though much will depend on whether Conte’s men can pick themselves up and dust themselves down in time for Sunday’s match. Knowing defeat will leave them without a trophy for the second time in three seasons should be motivation enough for Chelsea – or at least you’d think that. When the sides last met, at Stamford Bridge in January, the Foxes dominated for large periods and created the better chances. Speaking after the match, Puel was adamant that the decision to send off Ben Chilwell was “harsh” as his side drew a match they should have won. Whether or not he feels there’s a score to settle, Puel heads into this one with almost an entirely fit squad to choose from, while for Chelsea, the likes of Alvaro Morata, Pedro, Gary Cahill, Danny Drinkwater and Davide Zappacosta will all be pushing for a start after being benched in Barcelona.

Following their midweek exit from the Champions League at the hands of 
Sevilla, the only trophy Manchester United still have a shot at is the FA Cup. So, naturally, Saturday’s quarter-final at home to Brighton is a must-win for Jose Mourinho. After a poor performance against the Spaniards, the Portuguese is under pressure to not only beat the Seagulls but to do so in convincing fashion. Unbeaten in five, Brighton will be no pushovers. That said, manager Chris Hughton is under no illusions as to the size of the task. “We’ve got to put in a performance that will give us a chance,” he said. “But I’m also very conscious it’s Manchester United at Old Trafford.” Judging by his words, you suspect Hughton would be delighted to take this to a replay at the Falmer Stadium.

FA Cup fever is about to hit Wigan once again. The celebrations from the previous round’s triumph over Manchester City are about to be cranked up a notch, if they can secure their place in the last four at the expense of Southampton on Sunday. The Latics will be confident and rightly so having knocked out one of the favourites to go on and become champions of Europe in May. Saints earlier this week disposed of manager Mauricio Pellegrino and appointed Mark Hughes until the end of the season following a wretched run of form. An FA Cup quarter-final tie is probably the last thing Saints need at this moment in time but were they to win here it might bode well for a very tough league run-in over the next eight weeks.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp conceded his side left themselves with too much to do at Old Trafford last Saturday. Despite being 2-0 down early on, a spirited second-half showing wasn’t enough to salvage a draw. The defeat has now seen Liverpool slip five points behind United in the race for second spot in fourth. They do crucially, however, have a four-point lead over Chelsea who are fifth. Opponents Watford, meanwhile, didn’t take their chances as they were beaten 3-0 by Arsenal at the Emirates last time out. The Hornets have been mid-table or thereabouts for the vast majority of this season and manager Javi Gracia is sure to be already planning ahead for next season. With the form of Mohamed Salah et al, they can expect a tough afternoon on Merseyside.

If Swansea are to progress to the penultimate round of this season’s FA Cup, it’s going to take an almighty effort against a team who are desperate to land the trophy for the first time in 27 years. Having exited the Champions League last week to Juventus, Spurs now have their eye on English football’s biggest prize. Mauricio Pochettino’s side are in with a real shout of finishing best of the rest behind Premier League champions elect Manchester City but would like some silverware for their endeavours this season. The Swans, meanwhile, are fighting for their Premier League lives and won’t be too downbeat if they go out this weekend.

Stoke manager Paul Lambert was delighted by his side’s spirit despite the 2-0 defeat to Manchester City on Monday night, a result that leaves them second bottom of the Premier League. The Scot was right, to an extent, with his players giving everything they had against Pep Guardiola’s men. That said, performances aren’t going to keep the Potters in the division at this late stage in the season. They do, however, have another opportunity to pick up three points in front of their own supporters this weekend when Everton are the visitors to the bet365 Stadium. The Toffees’ 2-0 win over Brighton last Saturday alleviated any lingering fears that they could still be dragged into a relegation battle.