Manchester City aims to reach their fourth consecutive FA Cup final against Southampton on Saturday. Chris Sutton discusses potential team changes by Pep Guardiola.
Key points
Manchester City aims for fourth consecutive FA Cup final
Match against Southampton on Saturday at 17:15 BST
Chris Sutton comments on Pep Guardiola's potential team changes
City holds record for most consecutive FA Cup semi-finals
Mentioned in this story
Chris Sutton
Manchester CitySouthamptonFA Cup
A picture of Chris Sutton with wording next to it that says BBC Sport columnist Chris Sutton
[BBC]
Manchester City already hold the record for most consecutive FA Cup semi-finals - eight between 2019 and 2026 - but can they become the first team to reach four finals in a row?
That is their target when they play Championship side Southampton at Wembley on Saturday at 17:15 BST, live on BBC One and Radio 5 Live.
"It will be interesting to see whether City boss Pep Guardiola changes his team up much," said BBC Sport football expert Chris Sutton.
"They don't play again until they go to Everton on 4 May, so I don't think he will.
"But, whoever Pep picks, he will be looking for his team to connect again, the way they were playing before they played Burnley."
As well as the FA Cup, Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League games this season, against AI, BBC Sport readers and a variety of guests.
For all of this weekend's games, he takes on Tottenham fanAlfie Watts, co-host of the Race Across the World: The Detour visual podcast.
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Hosts Tyler West and Alfie Watts pose for a promotional poster
Watts (right) became the youngest winner of Race Across the World last year, when he won series four. Race Across the World: The Detour is on BBC iPlayer and BBC Sounds every Thursday at 21:00 BST [BBC]
Alfie is a qualified referee who officiates at step three and four of the football pyramid - the Isthmian League and the Southern League Premier Division.
Things are not quite so bad for Spurs that he could be working on their games next season, but he is still not feeling very optimistic about their chances of beating the drop.
"I am from Hertfordshire and grew up near London Colney, where Arsenal and Watford both train," he told BBC Sport. "My early days of refereeing were always at their academies.
"I grew up with football but weirdly it was not through my family - they are not interested in it at all. I loved playing it in the playground at school but the reason I support Spurs is down to my uncle's closest mate, who is a fan.
"I sometimes wish they weren't friends - it would have made my life a lot easier if I supported someone else!
"I guess for some Spurs fans, what is happening now is almost back to normality, but I grew up in the Mauricio Pochettino era, when the top four was the expectation.
"I was in year seven when Pochettino arrived in 2014, and I left school just after we'd lost the Champions League final in 2019. I expected more of the same after that - wrongly, so far!
"There was a time when, if we lost, the result would literally ruin my weekend but as I've got a bit older I am a bit more relaxed about it. Even if we go down this season, football will go on... and so will Spurs.
"The way I see it, we don't deserve to stay up this season so, if we do, it's a bonus."
Chris Sutton and Alfie Watts were speaking to BBC Sport's Chris Bevan.
The AI predictions were generated using Microsoft Copilot Chat - we simply asked the tool to 'predict this weekend's Premier League scores'.
FA Cup and Premier League predictions
There are no replays in the FA Cup semi-finals. If level after 90 minutes, games will be decided by extra time and, if necessary, penalties.
Gap = league places between the two teams
Friday, 24 April
Premier League
Stadium of Light, 20:00 BST
Sunderland lost last week, in an absolute thriller against Aston Villa, but the way they fought back in that game kind of summed up why they have had such a good season.
They kept having a go and got back from 3-1 to 3-3 in the final few minutes before Villa's last-gasp winner.
Forest got in the goals last time out too, scoring four against Burnley, but this game feels like it will be far tighter and quite cagey.
A draw would be a decent result for Forest in the circumstances, with them sitting five points above Spurs who are in the final relegation place.
Vitor Pereira's side have been tough to beat recently - they have not lost any of their past seven games in all competitions and they have been good on the road too.
Even so, I have a sneaky feeling Sunderland will find a way of winning this one at home, and leave Forest with a bit more work to do.
Sutton's prediction: 1-0
Alfie's prediction: Sunderland are brilliant and they have looked so good. It just shows that the right recruitment is the way to stay up in the Premier League. 2-0
AI's prediction: 1-1
Saturday, 25 April
Premier League
Craven Cottage, 12:30
Aston Villa have got next week's Europa League semi-final against Forest to look forward to, but they are also trying to secure Champions League football through their league position.
So, I don't see Villa boss Unai Emery making many changes for this game, but it is still a hard one to call because I am not sure what to expect from Fulham.
Looking at Fulham's recent form, they have not scored in their past two games - but that just makes me think they will definitely score on Saturday.
Villa are on a good little run of results but they have not won any of their past four league away games. I don't want to say this will be a draw, but I think I have to.
Sutton's prediction: 1-1
Alfie's prediction: I do wonder if Marco Silva's time at Fulham is coming to a natural end. I am going for them to get a point here because they are good at home. 1-1
AI's prediction: 1-2
Premier League
Anfield, 15:00
I watched Liverpool win at Hill Dickinson Stadium last week and they got away with it.
Virgil van Dijk's 100th-minute winner was harsh on Everton and harsh on me too - I would have had the BBC predictions title wrapped up again if the score had stayed at 1-1, and I could have been celebrating already.
The result was what mattered for Reds boss Arne Slot, though, not the performance. I mentioned last week how Slot really needs a strong end to the campaign and to secure Champions League football for next season, and another win here would move them even closer to that.
All the noise coming out of Anfield doesn't indicate there is going to be a managerial change come the end of the season, but that can always change if results drop off - look at what happened to Liam Rosenior at Chelsea.
It would not surprise me if Crystal Palace went to Anfield and won because they have done it already this season, and appear well-suited to playing Liverpool.
The Eagles have already got the better of them three times this season - on penalties at Wembley to decide the Community Shield, in the Premier League at Selhurst Park and then at Anfield in the Carabao Cup.
Palace are over their mid-season blip too but, on the flip side, they don't have much to play for in the league now they are essentially safe.
They may also have Europe on their mind, because the Conference League gives them a chance of another trophy and they play Shakhtar on Thursday.
But Liverpool are far from convincing at the moment - Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz look miles off it - so why I do I still feel myself edging towards Liverpool here?
Sutton's prediction: 2-1
Alfie's prediction: Palace are pre-occupied with Europe and I just see Liverpool coasting home, especially because of what a win would do for their top-five hopes. 3-1
AI's prediction: 3-0
Premier League
London Stadium, 15:00
What a great game this will be, with Everton boss David Moyes going back to his old club.
We know how big a win would be for West Ham in their relegation fight but I was impressed by Everton against Liverpool, especially Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's performance.
I thought the Hammers' point at Palace last time out was a decent result, but the pressure is still on them to win this one at home.
I am expecting West Ham to play with the kind of intensity that is required but Everton can be a tough nut to crack.
It finished 1-1 when these two sides met earlier in the season, and this smells of another draw to me.
Sutton's prediction: 1-1
Alfie's prediction: I am really hoping Everton do us a favour here and they have been good away from home this season. But I don't really think they have got enough to play for, whereas West Ham will really want this.
I am going to go for a draw but I do think West Ham could nick the win, I am just pretending that isn't going to happen. 1-1
Can Roberto de Zerbi's side win three of their final five games and save themselves from the drop?
Of course they can, but it has to start here. Imagine the psychological damage to the Spurs players and their fans if they don't win this one.
Wolves are officially down now, but we have known that will happen for a while.
The pressure is all on Spurs, and for them to find a way of winning this game.
If Thomas Frank had stayed in charge and maintained his record of 1.12 points per game, then Spurs would be on 37 points now, in 16th.
Instead, they are in the relegation zone and worrying about how the teams above them are doing as well as trying to pick up points themselves.
From watching them, there is nothing that suggests Tottenham will win this time after failing to win any of their previous 15 league games.
Similarly, they have not kept a clean sheet for 14 league games, so why would they manage one now?
But I am going to go against the grain here. Spurs absolutely must win this game, so I am going to say they will - and also that Wolves won't score.
I know that is a ridiculous prediction, and I don't even really believe it will happen myself, but then nothing about Spurs' season makes sense when you study it.
Sutton's prediction: 0-1
Alfie's prediction: I just feel like if we lose this, we are down. There would be no coming back from it, because we still have to go to Villa Park and Stamford Bridge.
It is possible that we have got a couple more attacking players back available for this game but I am going to be positive here anyway - I can't go against my own team, especially when we are against the team who are bottom of the league and have won three games all season. 1-2
Alfie on why Spurs are struggling: We've had lots of injuries but I don't think we can hide behind that. We've had the same back five for most of this season and we haven't stopped conceding.
You can probably put our lack of goals down to some players being out, but when you are conceding four home and away against Arsenal and three at home to Forest, can you blame injuries - or are we just rubbish?
AI's prediction: 1-2
FA Cup semi-final
Wembley, 17:15
1st in the Premier League v 4th in the Championship
Gap = 23
Last major trophy? City: 2026 Carabao Cup. Southampton: 1976 FA Cup
FA Cup wins? City: 7 between 1904 and 2023. Southampton: 1
Southampton drew with Bristol City on Tuesday but, before then, they had won seven in a row in the Championship, and they played really well to knock Arsenal out in the last round too.
Tonda Eckert has done a phenomenal job with Saints but I still think City will come out comfortable winners, as long as they are not as wasteful as they were against Burnley.
Sutton's prediction: 3-0
Alfie's prediction: Southampton have been so good, that City can't take this for granted. I thought Saints were heading for League One under Will Still but Eckert took over in December and has turned things around so much that it looks like they are going up instead.
I am pretty sure City will still win the game, because they never really miss a beat when they are at Wembley, but Southampton will not just roll over. 3-0
AI's prediction: 3-0
Premier League
Emirates Stadium, 17:30
I did not think Arsenal's defeat at City last week spelt the end of their title hopes, and watching City struggle to put Burnley away on Wednesday must have been a boost for their players.
I know the result still knocked the Gunners off the top of the table but that was not the kind of performance that suggested Pep Guardiola's side are just going to march to the title from here.
However you want to view Arsenal's recent form, they know they are still in the race - especially because goal difference could decide the title.
I've been in this situation myself in a title race and, while I am sure both managers will say that it is just about making sure they win their own games, you cannot ignore the fact that the season starts now, and goal difference could be important.
That's why, if I was an Arsenal player sat at home watching City against Burnley, I would have been thinking that 1-0 is OK for us.
They are level now, on points and goal difference, and the Gunners still have Burnley to play, but at home.
So, it is there for them, but they have to get past this game first.
Newcastle have given Arsenal a good game when they've met in recent seasons and there has been a bit of needle between the two sides.
Right now, though, Eddie Howe's side have a few injury problems on top of their dismal form.
They have dropped off their usual level, and they look a bit flimsy to me. It feels like a good time to play them, and I don't think this will be as close.
Sutton's prediction: 2-0
Alfie's prediction: Arsenal will win this. They don't tend to blow teams away but they will get the job done. 2-0
AI's prediction: 2-0
Sunday, 26 April
FA Cup semi-final
Wembley, 15:00
8th in the Premier League v 15th in the Premier League
Gap = 7
Last major trophy? Chelsea: 2025 Club World Cup. Leeds: 1992 First Division title
FA Cup wins? Chelsea: 8 between 1970 & 2018. Leeds: 1 in 1972, when they beat Chelsea in the final
I don't think Liam Rosenior was the biggest problem at Chelsea, although some of his decisions certainly did not help his cause.
I was at Amex Stadium on Tuesday, co-commentating on Rosenior's final game in charge, and the lack of effort some of the Chelsea players put in against Brighton was more damning on them than their manager.
Rosenior was right when he came out afterwards and said the performance was "unacceptable" but, sadly, when a manager is so critical of his players you know that is usually the end for him.
I hope Rosenior gets back into management soon, and the state Chelsea are in is certainly not a reflection on him. The model the club's owners have gone for is part of the problem, as Rosenior's predecessors found out too.
It is left to Calum McFarlane to take charge for this game, and we will have to wait to see who he has fit - and then which Chelsea side will turn up.
Leeds beat Chelsea at Elland Road in December, and drew with them at Stamford Bridge in February.
Daniel Farke's side are not completely safe yet but they picked up another really good point late on against Bournemouth on Wednesday, and they have got a lot about them. I am going for them to beat Chelsea at Wembley too.
Sutton's prediction: 1-2
Alfie's prediction: Chelsea have looked so vulnerable this season but I think they will still just about scrape through. 2-1
AI's prediction: 2-1
Monday, 27 April
Premier League
Old Trafford, 20:00
Manchester United have become a bit unpredictable recently and Michael Carrick is another manager who could do with having a strong end to the season.
Still, it looks like Carrick has secured Champions League football, so if the club's owners are still deciding about who will be in charge next season then he has done a more than steady job so far.
It feels like he has passed his audition and also that he has a bit of clout.
I would not like to predict what will happen about his future, though, and I am not sure how this game will go either. It should be close, and it could be quite open too.
Brentford will fancy their chances after beating United 3-1 earlier in the season - and also from seeing how easily Leeds carved them open at Old Trafford a couple of weeks ago.
Igor Thiago scored twice against United in the reverse fixture, and he might cause them a problem or two again.
The Bees just keep on drawing games at the moment, though, so I've really got to go for another draw here, haven't I?
Sutton's prediction: 1-1
Alfie's prediction: It's quite sickening for Spurs fans that we poached Thomas Frank from Brentford last summer and they have gone on to have their best-ever season.
When they appointed Keith Andrews, I thought they were definitely going down but he has done a brilliant job. United are so hit and miss under Michael Carrick that it makes this one hard to call, but going to go for another Bees draw. 2-2
AI's prediction: 2-0
What is the score so far in week 34?
Three games have already been played in week 34 - they were moved to Tuesday and Wednesday of this week because of the FA Cup semi-finals.
So far, Chris and Alfie both have one correct result and no exact scores, and are on 10 points.
AI and the BBC readers are doing a bit better - they both have two correct results with no exact scores, and are on 20 points.
Everyone's total points will be added to the tables below when all of this weekend's Premier League games have been played.