Manchester City aim for fourth consecutive FA Cup final as they face Southampton at Wembley
Premier League leaders take on Championship side in semi-final while title race with Arsenal intensifies
Quick Look
- Manchester City will attempt to become the first team to reach four consecutive FA Cup finals when they face Championship side Southampton at Wembley on Saturday.
- The Premier League leaders hold the record for most consecutive FA Cup semi-final appearances with eight between 2019 and 2026.
- Chris Sutton predicts a 3-0 City win while the article also previews the weekend's Premier League matches including Liverpool vs Crystal Palace, Arsenal vs Newcastle, and Tottenham vs Wolves in a crucial relegation battle.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Manchester City hold the record for most consecutive FA Cup semi-final appearances with eight between 2019 and 2026. They are attempting to become the first team to reach four consecutive FA Cup finals. Southampton have been in excellent form under Tonda Eckert, winning seven Championship matches in a row before a draw with Bristol City, and knocked Arsenal out in the previous FA Cup round.
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 fan Alfie Watts, co-host of the Race Across the World: The Detour visual podcast. Watts and Tyler West are presenting weekly episodes of the podcast every Thursday until 21 May. It is available to watch now on iPlayer.
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
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Manchester City will win the FA Cup semi-final against Southampton
Very likely · Within days
Tottenham will struggle in relegation battle against Wolves
Likely · Within days
Open Questions
- Will Pep Guardiola rotate his squad given the lack of fixtures until May 4?
- Can Southampton cause another upset like they did against City in the 2023 League Cup?
- Will Arsenal capitalize on any City slip-up in the title race?
