Man City vs Sheffield United: FA Cup semi-final team news and prediction

In the first FA Cup semi-final of the weekend, the two teams sitting second in the Premier League and the Championship go head-to-head, as Manchester City take on Sheffield United. 

Ahead of this one, we provide the necessary pre-match information, including where to watch this semi-final clash, team news and probable XIs. 

When is kick off?       

Saturday 21st April, 16:45 GMT.  

Where is the match?       

Wembley Stadium, London (England). 

What TV channel is it on?       

ITV1 and ITVX. 

Form Guide 

Manchester City come into this game after securing their place in the Champions League semi-finals with a 4-1 aggregate win over Bayern Munich. They are unbeaten in their last 15 matches in all competitions having not lost since February. However, Pep Guardiola's side were knocked out of the FA Cup at the semi-final stage last season, losing to Liverpool 3-2. 

Sheffield United have only lost once in their last seven games in all competitions, winning the other six, as they edge closer to promotion back to the Premier League. They have already knocked Premier League opposition out of the FA Cup this season, when they beat Tottenham 1-0 in the last-16. 

Team news 

Nathan Ake will have to be assessed before this one after suffering a hamstring injury against Bayern Munich in midweek. This should be City’s only injury concern as they look set to start a strong lineup. 

Sheffield United could be without up to five players because of injury for this match, including Ben Osborn, Rhian Brewster, Jack O'Connell, Rhys Norrington-Davies and Enda Stevens. James McAtee and Tommy Doyle are ineligible to play against their parent club. Wes Foderingham is likely to return to the starting lineup after serving his two-match suspension. 

Probable XIs 

Manchester City (3-2-4-1): Ederson; Akanji, Dias, Laporte; Phillips, Gundogan; Mahrez, Foden, Alvarez, Silva; Haaland. 

Sheffield United (3-5-2): Foderingham; Ahmedhodzic, Egan, Robinson; Baldock, Berge, Norwood, Fleck, Lowe; McBurnie, Ndiaye. 

Key battle: Julian Alvarez vs Iliman Ndiaye

Both of these sides have scored a combined 143 goals between them in league action this season, so this is likely going to be a key factor in what promises to be an entertaining match-up.

Hoping to continue his goalscoring record in the FA Cup this season is Julian Alvarez. The World Cup winner has scored three of his 14 goals for City in this competition and only Paul Mullin (8) and Armando Dobra (4) have scored more FA Cup goals than Alvarez this season. He has also registered two assists in the competition, making him one of Pep Guardiola’s most influential players in guiding the Cityzens to the semi-finals, and was the WhoScored man of the match in the last round against Burnley where he contributed to three of their six goals. In the Premier League he is averaging 0.7 goals per 90, which isn’t a bad return for a player who plays second fiddle to Erling Haaland, but is likely to start this weekend having featured in all four games on the road to Wembley, starting three.

Sheffield United’s top scorer in the Championship (13) this season and their second highest rated player (7.16) Iliman Ndiaye is certain to start this weekend and if given the opportunity, could cause City some real problems. He has only scored once in the FA Cup this season, though that did come against Premier League opposition in Tottenham, however in league action he has been a striker to be feared by opposition defences. Despite seven players scoring more goals than Ndiaye in the Championship, only three can better his 20% conversion rate of those to have had 50 or more shots. In addition, no player has won possession in the attacking third more times than Ndiaye (41), which could prove pivotal in disrupting City’s style of playing out from the back.

With both sides boasting the second-best defensive records in their respective leagues, it may come down to who is the more clinical in front of goal, with Alvarez and Ndiaye potentially playing big roles.

Score prediction: Manchester City 3-0 Sheffield United