This weekend played host to four FA Cup ties and five Premier League games. Watford v Crystal Palace got proceedings underway with the Saturday lunchtime game. The FA Cup tie threw up a repeat of the 2016 semi-final. Watford took a lead in the first half, but Palace equalised just after the hour. With 10 minutes of the 90 left, extra time seemed to be looming. A beautiful lofted through ball found Andre Gray with a chance to volley home from 8 yards. This is will be Watford’s second trip down the Metropolitan line in three years. The Hornets will be hoping to go one further this time.

With two more FA Cup ties to still be played, the Premier League’s Saturday games were squeezed in at 3pm. Burnley played host to Leicester, West Ham to Huddersfield and Newcastle had their longest journey of the season travelling to Bournemouth. All three games were incredibly tight. Leicester had perhaps their worst start imaginable. Maguire got caught out of position and fouled as last man. The referee was lost with no choice but to send him for an early shower. The game looked to be heading for 1-1 draw as stoppage time began. A late corner allowed Leicester to pinch all three points thanks to a Wes Morgan Header.

Bournemouth hosted Newcastle, the longest trip in the top flight. Newcastle opened the scoring with a beautiful Rondon freekick just before the break. Bournemouth scored early after the restart and seemed to wrap up all three points with a penalty in the 81^st minute. However, Newcastle were determined not to be leaving empty handed. Matt Ritchie, a former Bournemouth player, popped up with a superb half volley to earn his new team a point.

Finally, West Ham welcomed Huddersfield to the London Stadium. Huddersfield started the day bottom 16 points away from safety and a goal to game ratio of 0.5:1. Survival now seems pretty much impossible so every point they can claim counts. The Terriers were well disciplined initially but a sloppy challenge one Lanzini saw the home team awarded a penalty. It did not take long for the Yorkshire side to bite back and by half time were leading 2-1. A third goal from the visitors left them with 25 minutes to defend for their lives’. It took 10 minutes for West Ham to pull one back. Hernandez, the impact sub, scored twice in quick succession. Huddersfield had let it slip. It finished 4-3. Remarkably, the three league games all ended with an injury time goal.

There were still two FA Cup games to play on the Saturday. Kicking off at 17:30, Manchester City travelled to South Wales to play Swansea. 20 minutes in and the Swans made it 1-0. Within 10 minutes, they doubled the lead which they preserved until the 65^th minute. At 2-1, Stirling burst into box and appeared to be brought down. The penalty was awarded but replays appeared show this decision should have been overturned. However, whilst VAR is still being trialled in the Cup, it is only available in the grounds of Premier League clubs. This is something Swansea fans will feel incredibly hard done by. Two minutes from extra time, Aguero kept City’s dream of a quadruple alive by scoring a header from 8 yards out. However, the replays showed that the goals should not have stood. Aguero was clearly a yard offside. The game finished 3-2 with Manchester City progressing to Wembley for a second time this season.

The final Saturday game saw Wolves host United in the third FA Cup quarter final of the day. The first 25 minutes were slightly cagey, but Wolves settled into the game first. The halftime score of 0-0 did not flatter the home side at all. The second half continued exactly the way the first ended. Wolves looked to be gaining momentum and a goal seemed inevitable. Following a period of six minutes, Wolves were leading 2-0. By the time Rashford’s goal came, it was too little too late.

Sunday provided no let up for the excitement. Millwall and Brighton kicked off first in the last cup quarter final. The game was tight and in the balance until Millwall made the breakthrough on 70 minutes. The home side then doubled their lead and with 10 minutes to play looked set for their first semi-final since they were runners up in 2004. The last few minutes were not going to be plain sailing after Brighton pulled one back. With one last freekick to defend, Millwall looked set to be celebrating. The ball was crossed deep and was heading straight for the hands of the keeper. A horrendous fumble saw the ball slip through his hands and into the net. Extra time showed Millwall’s exhaustion. They were clinging on and things became much harder when they were reduced to 10 men. Ferguson was off after stamping on Dunk’s calf in frustration, a complete moment of madness. Brighton broke through with seconds to go and scored. However, the goal was ruled out for offside and the replays again showed that the lack of VAR at non-Premier League grounds was to be a talking point. The goal should have stood. To penalties. Brighton were to go first and to everyone’s surprise, Glenn Murray missed, the shot rebounding off the bar. Millwall took advantage and led for most of the shoot-out but a save from Ryan moved us into sudden death. Brighton scored their first. Millwall’s first penalty flew over. The Seagulls were through to their first semi-final since 1983.

The Premier League still had two games left to play with Merseyside v West London. 15 minutes after the Millwall and Brighton game kicked off, Liverpool were looking to take advantage of City being busy to take top spot again. Away at Fulham, an easy victory was expected. It 25 minutes for the breakthrough following a clever one-two with Firmino, Mane opened the scoring. It stayed 1-0 for just over 50 minutes when a sliced clearance from James Milner fell awkwardly between Van Dijk and Alisson. The Dutch centre-half failed to get enough on his header back to the keeper and Ryan Babel, a former Red, managed to slip in a put the ball into the open goal. With just 15 minutes to play, Liverpool appeared destined to another away draw. With just under 10 of the 90 to play, Mane had moved to the centre and was getting himself about. Despite a poor first touch after Rico had spilt the ball in front of him, the goalkeeper pulled the forward back. Mane undoubtedly went down easily but it was a definite penalty. The game finished 2-1 with Liverpool returning top. They have now played one more game than City.

In the other match of Merseyside v West London, Everton hosted Chelsea at Goodison Park. Everton’s form has been somewhat poor of late seeing them drop down into the bottom half of the table. Everton have particularly been struggling against the top six, have gone 25 game without a win. Chelsea, however, are showing a complete lack of desire and threat. They have only won one of their last four away games, the other three seeing them failing to score. With both teams struggling for form, it was hard to tell which way this one might go. Chelsea created the better chances of the first half. A rousing speech in the dressing room from Marco Silva saw an almost different Everton team come out for the second half. They pressed together, tracked back and passed with real intent. Within five minutes of the restart, the Toffees were leading. Chelsea offered very little with the ball going sideways more than forwards. Everton were resilient and kept Chelsea at bay. With 20 minutes to go, Sigurdsson made it 2-0, scoring a rebound from his own penalty. The win was sealed. Merseyside 4 – 1 West London.