Manchester City recently secured the Carabao Cup, but can they keep their momentum rolling into the FA Cup quarter-finals against Liverpool this Saturday? According to BBC football analyst Chris Sutton, despite swirling rumors regarding Pep Guardiola's future and a bumpy campaign, a two-cup finish remains highly possible.
Joining Sutton to call this weekend's quarter-final matchups is professional boxer and die-hard Crystal Palace supporter Richard Riakporhe.
Riakporhe is currently gearing up for a British heavyweight title bout against Jeamie 'TKV' Tshikeva on April 11 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The fight serves as a highly anticipated undercard feature for Tyson Fury's comeback event, streaming live on Netflix.
"I've been surrounded by boxing talk for months, so diving back into football is a refreshing change," Riakporhe admitted.
Although he picked up boxing late at the age of 19, football was his first true passion. Growing up in south-east London, he dreamed of playing for Crystal Palace alongside his brother. He spent time playing for a local youth team, Meryl Rovers, likening his former playing style to a speedy Emmanuel Adebayor. Ultimately, the biting winter cold pushed him indoors to play video games, ending his football dreams. Today, to protect his boxing footwork, he sticks to footvolley, a sport he admires from his trips to Brazil.
As a devoted Eagles fan, Riakporhe knows the polarizing magic of the FA Cup. He was at Wembley to witness Palace's glorious victory over Manchester City in last year's final, but also endured the bitter pill of their third-round exit to non-league Macclesfield this season.
"Winning the FA Cup was unforgettable, but losing to Macclesfield reminds you that anything can happen in football," he noted, adding that schadenfreude plays a big part in cup upsets—laughing at Manchester United's recent Carabao Cup loss to Grimsby.
Here is how Sutton and Riakporhe see the weekend's pivotal FA Cup ties playing out:
Manchester City vs. Liverpool (Etihad Stadium)
The Stakes: Just three league places separate second-place City and fifth-place Liverpool, but their momentum couldn't be more different. Liverpool manager Arne Slot is feeling the heat following a dismal run, securing just one point from their last three Premier League outings and suffering a lackluster defeat at Brighton. With a daunting Champions League quarter-final against Paris St-Germain looming and Mohamed Salah announcing his impending exit at the end of the season, Slot desperately needs a result.
Meanwhile, City, already out of Europe, are laser-focused on domestic success. Guardiola's squad is chasing history, looking to secure an unprecedented eighth consecutive FA Cup semi-final appearance.
The Verdict:
- Chris Sutton: Predicts a 3-1 City victory, citing their home advantage and two prior league wins over the Reds this season.
- Richard Riakporhe: Backs City to finish it in 90 minutes with a 2-1 win.
- AI Prediction: 2-1 to Manchester City.
Chelsea vs. Port Vale (Stamford Bridge)
The Stakes: If Arne Slot is under pressure, Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior is sitting on a powder keg. Following a brutal four-game losing streak across all competitions—including humbling defeats to PSG, Newcastle, and Everton—Rosenior's position is precarious. Chelsea face a staggering 62-place league gap as they host League One strugglers Port Vale. For the Blues, simply winning isn't enough; they need a dominant performance against a side that recently suffered a 4-0 thrashing by Wycombe.
Port Vale's Cinderella run has been impressive, defying the odds against Fleetwood, Bristol City, and Sunderland, but a trip to Stamford Bridge against a desperate Chelsea squad might be the end of the road.
The Verdict:
- Chris Sutton: Expects a resounding 4-0 win for Chelsea, banking on their overwhelming quality and need for a statement win.
- Richard Riakporhe: Readily acknowledges Port Vale's remarkable journey, though expects the Premier League giants to advance.