Saturday, 10th April

FA Cup semi-final

Chelsea vs Aston Villa

Whilst a repeat of the 7-1 thrashing Chelsea handed out to Aston Villa recently is pretty unlikely, it is difficult to see beyond a Chelsea victory.

Since Chelsea toppled out of Europe and stumbled slightly in the league they have scored twelve goals in two games and then won at Old Trafford to go back to the top. They are in great form and must fancy themselves for the league and cup double.

Villa recovered from the mauling at Stamford Bridge by getting an excellent 1-0 win at Bolton but like last season at this stage, they do not look like the side that was playing before Christmas. It is a shame that their second trip to Wembley this season is likely to end in their second defeat.

Watchprem prediction: 2-0

Premier League

This game really is ‘do or die’ for both teams. They are sitting third and second from bottom and a defeat for either, particularly Burnley, could be a fatal blow.

Hull have shown some sort of upturn under their new manager Iain Dowie and they are just a point from safety with a game in hand on West Ham above them. A win here would go a long way to keeping them in the league.

Burnley are in disarray and have shown absolutely nothing under Brian Laws. A win for them would give them a chance but a defeat would mean it is all over at the first attempt. It is hard to see how they can win.

Watchprem prediction: 1-0

With the two teams below them playing each other this could be a great day for West Ham. Whilst they can’t rely on others and need to concentrate on their own game, a draw at Hull and a win for them against Sunderland would see them in a great position.

Things looked to be going horribly wrong for the Hammers but they showed commendable fighting spirit in their excellent 2-2 draw at Everton last week and will go into this game with a little more confidence.

Sunderland had a terrible run but a recent draw at Villa and last week’s win over Tottenham suggest that they are back in form.

West Ham won’t be pleased with a point but it is better than nothing.

Watchprem prediction: 1-1

Sunday 11th April

FA Cup semi-final

The only prediction needed in this game is whether or not Portsmouth will be able to field eleven fit players. The club and the team are in turmoil and whilst this trip to Wembley will be a welcome relief for their fans and a welcome influx of money for the administrator, it is unlikely to deliver success on the pitch.

Tottenham are still on for a cup win and a top four finish. If Harry Redknapp achieves that he will be a great candidate for manager of the season. Getting to the cup final should be a breeze.

Watchprem prediction: 3-0

Premier League

Sam Allardyce and Sir Alex Ferguson are best mates but there won’t be any love lost for the ninety minutes of the game.

Blackburn will know that United are wounded after their defeats against Chelsea and Bayern Munich and they will attempt to ‘get in their faces’ from the first whistle. United will have to show character and composure and need to get back on the winning trail.

I think Sir Alex will ensure that his players produce the goods.

Watchprem prediction: 0-2

Unbelievably this could be a dress rehearsal for the Europa League final. I wonder what odds you could have got on that at the start of the season?

Fulham are safe and secure in mid-table and may well regard their forthcoming matches against Hamburg as the priority for them. Liverpool are still desperate for fourth place and will know that the league games are more important than their tie with Atletico Madrid.

I think Liverpool should win this one.

Watchprem prediction: 2-0

With Tottenham and Villa in cup action, Manchester City have a chance to open up a bit of a lead in the race for fourth. Unfortunately for them, one of the teams they wouldn’t want to be playing is this ‘never say die’ group of players from Birmingham.

City have won their last two games scoring nine goals in the process, whilst Birmingham have drawn their last two 1-1. However, those two draws were against Liverpool and Arsenal.

It will be difficult for Mancini’s men but I think they’ll just nick it.

Watchprem prediction: 2-1

Before the season started you could have been forgiven for thinking this was likely to be a six-pointer relegation battle. As it happens, Stoke are safe and Wolves aren’t far away.

That fact is a testament to the exceptional work of Tony Pulis and Mick McCarthy and to the work ethic and determination of their players. Whilst this game is unlikely to be a footballing classic you can rest assured that every player will give absolutely everything.

Watchprem prediction: 1-1

COME ON SHARE THIS NOW... atleast say thank you by sharing it now!

More from livefootball

• Congrats to Rangers and Benfica whilst Barcelona, Inter, Bayern Munich, FC Twente, Marseille and Bursaspor hold pole position to join them
• Predictions – Premier League and FA Cup
• Man Utd. on top for only 24 hours? Premier League predictions

Hot football team - Manchester United

Manchester United scraped to a win, Bolton had a crucial win at West Ham and Arsenal made hard work of seeing off Burnley. All picked up points but none of them are getting the award. Everton are strong contenders but Hull are so poor that I can’t give it to them. Chelsea were comfortable and Aston Villa were great, but only for a half.

I have given Portsmouth the ‘Not Hot’ award more than once this season but the way they have reacted to their financial woes and trouble behind the scenes is a testament to the players and the manager. A trip to Wembley for an FA Cup semi-final is a deserved reward for them and their loyal fans.

There are a few contenders but one team stand head and shoulders above the rest. Just how poor were Hull? It is hard for the Premier League to claim it is the strongest league in the world when teams like them are playing in it.

What an enigma Tottenham keeper Heurelho Gomes is. He is just as likely to be the ‘Hot keeper’ as he is to be the ‘Not Hot keeper’.

This week he put in a faultless display at Fulham and earned his side a replay at White Hart Lane. His handling was excellent and he made two or three very good saves indeed.

The keepers all aquitted themselves pretty well this week so my decision is a little harsh. Boaz Myhill saved a penalty and had little chance with four of the five goals he conceded. However, he did get beaten five times so, a little unfairly, he can have this one this week.

He has had a rotten couple of weeks on and off the pitch and many people may say that is nothing less than he deserved. John Terry put all the personal trauma behind him yesterday and put in a fine defensive performance against the aerial threat provided by Stoke and then went up the other end to head home the decisive goal to put his side in the FA Cup semi-final.

James Tomkins had a nightmare for West Ham on Saturday. He misjudged a cross for the first goal and then caught trying to see the ball out for a goal kick on the second goal. He is a young lad but he shouldn’t be making mistakes like that. Those mistakes could prove really costly come the end of the season.

Although I haven’t given Everton the ‘Hot team’ award and I have said how terrible their opposition was, I am going to pick Mikel Arteta for this award. He pulled all the strings and for a man playing just his sixth game after a lengthy injury lay off, he was outstanding.

In his absence I think we had forgotten just what a fine player he is. Everton with him at their centre are a much different proposition than they are without him.

Hull’s George Boateng has been around for a long time and I have never been convinced by him or understood exactly what he brings to a team. Many managers have played him and signed him so I know it must be me who is wrong.

Against Everton yesterday he looked slow, cumbersome and clumsy against the Everton midfield who played around him like he wasn’t there.

As an outsider I have always found it really hard to understand why John Carew is often left out of Martin O’Neill’s starting line-up at Villa. Whenever I see him play he looks absolute quality, gives defenders a torrid time and he scores goals.

Maybe a Villa fan can explain why he isn’t the first name on the team sheet?

His second half hat-trick yesterday sent Villa back to Wembley and surely cemented his place in the team.

Poor Wolves substitute Sam Vokes will never have a better chance to write his own page in the clubs history books. 1-0 down to Manchester United and the ball falls to your feet eight yards out with the goal gaping. It was a gilt-edged chance and a chance for Sam to really make a name for himself.

As we all know, he somehow managed to sweep the ball over the bar. You couldn’t help but feel sorry for the lad when you saw him pull his shirt over his face at the final whistle in an attempt to hide.

That miss was the only reason that the award didn’t go to the woeful Nicklas Bendtner!

COME ON SHARE THIS NOW... atleast say thank you by sharing it now!

More from livefootball

• Man Utd. on top for only 24 hours? Premier League predictions
• Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in English Premier League
• Hay Ho! Rooney’s back in action

Hot Football streams below. Watch in peace. At least 2 streams for each match so you don’t have to go anywhere if a stream breaks (unlikely)

17:30 – CSKA Moscow – Sevilla (Champions League)
17:30 – Udinese – Cagliari (Italian Serie A)
17:30 – Fiorentina – Milan (Italian Serie A)
19:45 – INTER MILAN VS CHELSEA (Champions League)
19:45 – Stoke City – Manchester City (English FA Cup)
20:00 – Tottenham – Bolton (English FA Cup)
20:00 – Aston Villa – Crystal Palace (English FA Cup)

COME ON SHARE THIS NOW... atleast say thank you by sharing it now!

More from livefootball

• streaming live football – English premier league matches |
• Streaming Live Champions League Matches Today
• English premier league streams today

JOHN TERRY and Wayne Bridge are now on course to meet THREE times in a week. The love rivals were handed a possible FA Cup quarter-final meeting in yesterday’s draw.

And that potential clash between Chelsea and Manchester City will be played a week after the clubs meet in the Premier League and days after England play Egypt on March 3.

A City source said: “Wayne has acted with dignity and kept his head down through all this but after all that has gone on, he doesn’t need anyone to tell him what this FA Cup game would mean.

“Everyone is motivated at City these days but if they needed any extra motivation to beat Stoke to get back to Stamford Bridge, this will be it.”

Terry and Bridge have not spoken since news broke of JT’s affair with Bridge’s ex-girlfriend Vanessa Perroncel.

If City beat Stoke in next week’s fifth-round replay they will travel to holders Chelsea in the first weekend of March.

SunSport can reveal Three Lions boss Fabio Capello WILL pick Bridge for the friendly against Egypt after his personal check on Saturday.

And Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini is convinced Bridge will accept the invitation to team up with Terry.

Capello believes Bridge is ready for an international recall after watching him during City’s 1-1 FA Cup draw with Stoke.

Mancini said: “I spoke to Fabio before the game. He asked about his players and if everything was OK. I think Bridge is a good player. He can play for the national team.

“I think for Wayne, the national team is important. He has just come back from injury and he can improve.

“He was tired in the last 20 minutes but this is normal when you’re coming back from injury.”

England need Bridge because of the broken ankle sustained by first-choice Ashley Cole, who will not be back for three months at the earliest.

Alan Galley, chairman of Manchester City’s official supporters’ club, said: “If we win the Stoke replay and we meet Chelsea then Wayne will give it all he’s got. I don’t think he’ll let it affect him at all.

“Wayne got some stick from the Stoke fans but City fans are positive and they think if he’s picked for England then he should go.

“I hope it doesn’t affect him and it doesn’t seem to have so far.”

COME ON SHARE THIS NOW... atleast say thank you by sharing it now!