Soccer
Four things we learned from the weekend's FA Cup quarter-finals
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It was an action-packed weekend in the FA Cup as the four quarter-finals were played with Manchester City, Chelsea, Southampton and Leeds United all progressing.
Here, DAZN News assesses the talking points surrounding each tie, from managers under pressure to the magic of the Cup.
Slot sleepwalking towards the Anfield exit
The sight of thousands of Liverpool fans heading for the Etihad Stadium exit long before the final whistle on Saturday said everything.
Their team were 4-0 down to Manchester City and heading for a humiliating FA Cup defeat.
Pretty soon it could be Arne Slot on his way out of the door at Anfield if he cannot engineer an upturn in results.
Paris Saint-Germain boss Luis Enrique will have been rubbing his hands together as he watched Liverpool fall apart at the seams against Pep Guardiola’s side.
PSG host the Reds in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie on Wednesday and Slot needs a major response after his side’s abject surrender in Manchester.
Having spent £450million in the summer, the Dutchman must ensure Liverpool are back in the Champions League again next season – either by winning it this term or qualifying through their league position.
Worryingly, Reds captain Virgil van Dijk suggested his side “gave up” during the City defeat, saying: “You shouldn’t give up, and that’s maybe what happened at a certain point.”
For Guardiola’s side, though, things are looking up as they booked a semi-final spot with Southampton and will hope to claw their way back into the Premier League title race.
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Rosenior earns some much-needed breathing space
The romance of the FA Cup at Stamford Bridge on Saturday teatime was limited to a good old-fashioned away following of 6,000.
Port Vale fans filled their boots in the capital and enjoyed their big day out, despite beating thumped 7-0.
Jon Brady’s side sit bottom of League One, 15 points from safety, but they reached the FA Cup last eight for the first time in 72 years by knocking out Premier League Sunderland.
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As the goals flew into Vale’s net at Stamford Bridge, it was easy to forget that Chelsea had lost their last four games, which included a chastening Champions League exit against Paris Saint-Germain and 3-0 stuffing at Everton.
There will be far greater challenges ahead for Liam Rosenior’s side, but this was a day when the mounting pressure on the Blues boss began to ease. For now at least.
Gunners handed huge wake-up call
And to think Arsenal were being tipped by some to win an unprecedented quadruple a couple of weeks ago.
First they lost the Carabao Cup final to Manchester City before following that tame 2-0 defeat with a shock 2-1 loss to Championship side Southampton on Saturday.
This week’s trip to Sporting CP in the Champions League quarter-final first leg has taken on added importance.
As has Saturday’s home clash with Bournemouth in the Premier League.
Mikel Arteta’s side can still win the big two trophies, but their defeats to City and Saints have once again raised huge doubts over the Gunners.
Credit to Southampton on Saturday night, of course, who showed that the magic of the FA Cup remains alive and well as they look forward to a Wembley semi-final date with City.
Saints’ remarkable unbeaten run stretched to 15 matches across all competitions and they really are on the march under Tonda Eckert, who has led them to the brink of the play-off places.
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Yorkshire giants back on the map
The round’s final game between West Ham United and Leeds United was not one for the faint-hearted.
But what an incredible match it was as Daniel Farke's side threw away a two-goal lead right at the death to take the tie into extra-time, where they prevailed 4-2 on penalties.
This was a game that had it all but, when the dust settled, Leeds' place in the FA Cup semi-finals for the first time in 39 years was assured.
They now face old adversaries Chelsea in a rerun of the classic 1970 final, which ended 2-2 at Wembley before the Blues won the replay 1-0 at Old Trafford, a game widely regarded as one of the most brutal game in English football history.
Now they must do it all again at Wembley for the right to face Manchester City or Southampton in the final on Saturday, May 16.
Leeds' priority this season is Premier League survival, but that raw fervour, that unifying sense of togetherness which an unexpected cup run creates, remains one of the most magical sights and sounds in the English game.
The 9,000 travelling Leeds fans at West Ham yesterday would certainly attest to that.
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