LONDON: Manchester City and Arsenal take a break from an intense Premier League title race this weekend – only to face off at heavyweight FA Cup clash at the Etihad.
Holders Liverpool will be looking to avenge their recent defeat at Brighton, while Harry Kane could become Tottenham’s all-time leading goalscorer.
AFP Sport select some of the highlights ahead of the FA Cup fourth round games this weekend.
Unexpectedly trailing Arsenal in the Premier League, Manchester City have the chance to slow the leaders’ momentum when they meet for the first time this season.
City are five points behind Arsenal, who are one game short, but the champions still have to play the Gunners twice in the league, making their FA Cup showdown a tantalizing appetizer before the main course.
Arsenal are riding high after wins over Tottenham and Manchester United in the league, while City have stayed in touch after responding to a Pep Guardiola outburst by beating Tottenham and Wolves.
“The other day at half-time Pep told us what he wanted, what he wasn’t happy about. As players we weren’t at our best and we had to correct that” , City defender John Stones said of his side’s two-goal fightback to beat Tottenham 4-2.
It would be a major statement of intent from Arsenal if they are able to put Guardiola in another grumpy mood with a win at the Etihad Stadium.
Jurgen Klopp said he ‘can’t remember a worse game’ than Liverpool’s dismal 3-0 defeat at Brighton, a performance so miserable Jordan Henderson called it a ‘really low point’ in a season already traumatic for the Reds.
It’s safe to say that Liverpool’s trip to the Amex Stadium on January 14 left painful scars on Klopp and company.
But the FA Cup offers them an unexpected chance to erase those bitter memories and get their campaign back on track.
Liverpool return to Brighton languishing ninth in the Premier League, 10 points behind the top four.
It’s a remarkable fall from grace after coming within a whisker of winning an all-time-high quadruple last season.
Admitting Liverpool are still mentally tired of their bid for sporting immortality, Spain midfielder Thiago Alcantara said: “It’s not just a physical thing, it’s a psychological thing because we were so close. to win everything and we just touched it but unfortunately it’s gone.”
Harry Kane would love the chance to become Tottenham’s top scorer at Preston on Saturday.
Kane equalized Jimmy Greaves on 266 Spurs goals when he scored with a superb strike in the side’s Premier League win at Fulham on Monday.
Greaves’ tally had remained intact since 1970, but the England captain is now on the verge of owning the record on his own.
With fifth-placed Tottenham in the midst of a fight to climb back into the Premier League’s top four, Antonio Conte could rest his stars against second-placed Preston.
But, aware of Tottenham’s surprise defeat at Middlesbrough in the FA Cup fifth round last season, Kane is keen to play.
“The FA Cup is important to us. It was disappointing to lose to Middlesbrough. We’ll see what the manager says but I’ll be ready,” said Kane, who is still looking to win the first major trophy of his career.
Holders Liverpool will be looking to avenge their recent defeat at Brighton, while Harry Kane could become Tottenham’s all-time leading goalscorer.
AFP Sport select some of the highlights ahead of the FA Cup fourth round games this weekend.
Unexpectedly trailing Arsenal in the Premier League, Manchester City have the chance to slow the leaders’ momentum when they meet for the first time this season.
City are five points behind Arsenal, who are one game short, but the champions still have to play the Gunners twice in the league, making their FA Cup showdown a tantalizing appetizer before the main course.
Arsenal are riding high after wins over Tottenham and Manchester United in the league, while City have stayed in touch after responding to a Pep Guardiola outburst by beating Tottenham and Wolves.
“The other day at half-time Pep told us what he wanted, what he wasn’t happy about. As players we weren’t at our best and we had to correct that” , City defender John Stones said of his side’s two-goal fightback to beat Tottenham 4-2.
It would be a major statement of intent from Arsenal if they are able to put Guardiola in another grumpy mood with a win at the Etihad Stadium.
Jurgen Klopp said he ‘can’t remember a worse game’ than Liverpool’s dismal 3-0 defeat at Brighton, a performance so miserable Jordan Henderson called it a ‘really low point’ in a season already traumatic for the Reds.
It’s safe to say that Liverpool’s trip to the Amex Stadium on January 14 left painful scars on Klopp and company.
But the FA Cup offers them an unexpected chance to erase those bitter memories and get their campaign back on track.
Liverpool return to Brighton languishing ninth in the Premier League, 10 points behind the top four.
It’s a remarkable fall from grace after coming within a whisker of winning an all-time-high quadruple last season.
Admitting Liverpool are still mentally tired of their bid for sporting immortality, Spain midfielder Thiago Alcantara said: “It’s not just a physical thing, it’s a psychological thing because we were so close. to win everything and we just touched it but unfortunately it’s gone.”
Harry Kane would love the chance to become Tottenham’s top scorer at Preston on Saturday.
Kane equalized Jimmy Greaves on 266 Spurs goals when he scored with a superb strike in the side’s Premier League win at Fulham on Monday.
Greaves’ tally had remained intact since 1970, but the England captain is now on the verge of owning the record on his own.
With fifth-placed Tottenham in the midst of a fight to climb back into the Premier League’s top four, Antonio Conte could rest his stars against second-placed Preston.
But, aware of Tottenham’s surprise defeat at Middlesbrough in the FA Cup fifth round last season, Kane is keen to play.
“The FA Cup is important to us. It was disappointing to lose to Middlesbrough. We’ll see what the manager says but I’ll be ready,” said Kane, who is still looking to win the first major trophy of his career.
