Manchester City, who already hold the record for the most consecutive FA Cup semi-final appearances (eight between 2019 and 2026), aim to become the first team to reach four finals in a row when they face Championship side Southampton at Wembley on Saturday at 17:15 BST.
BBC Sport football expert Chris Sutton weighed in on the match, noting, "It will be interesting to see whether City boss Pep Guardiola changes his team up much. 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."
Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League games this season, pitting his wits against AI, BBC Sport readers, and a variety of guests. For this weekend's matches, he is joined by Tottenham fan Alfie Watts, travel expert on the Race Across the World: The Detour visual podcast.
Watts, the youngest winner of Race Across the World last year, is a qualified referee officiating at step three and four of the football pyramid. Despite his Spurs allegiance, he remains pragmatic about their current plight. "I sometimes wish they weren't friends—it would have made my life a lot easier if I supported someone else!" he joked. "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."
FA Cup and Premier League Predictions
Friday, 24 April
- Sunderland vs Nottingham Forest (20:00 BST)
Sutton: "Sunderland lost last week in an absolute thriller against Aston Villa, but the way they fought back summed up why they've had such a good season. Forest got in the goals last time out too, but this game feels like it will be far tighter. I have a sneaky feeling Sunderland will find a way of winning this one at home."
- Sutton's prediction: 1-0
- Alfie's prediction: 2-0
- AI's prediction: 1-1
Saturday, 25 April
- Fulham vs Aston Villa (12:30 BST)
Sutton: "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. I don't see Villa boss Unai Emery making many changes. Fulham have not scored in their past two games, but that just makes me think they will score on Saturday. Villa have not won any of their past four league away games."
-
Sutton's prediction: 1-1
-
Alfie's prediction: 1-1
-
AI's prediction: 1-2
-
Liverpool vs Crystal Palace (15:00 BST)
Sutton: "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. All the noise coming out of Anfield doesn't indicate there is going to be a managerial change, but that can always change if results drop off. It would not surprise me if Crystal Palace went to Anfield and won because they have done it already this season."
- Sutton's prediction: 2-1
- Alfie's prediction: 1-1
- AI's prediction: 2-0