This coming weekend may see a number of Premier League games taking place but for many, it is more about the action that will take place on

Saturday and Sunday at Wembley as Tottenham, Manchester 

United, Chelsea and Southampton battle it out for the chance to return to Wembley in May to lift the FA Cup.

Of course, the FA Cup semi-finals always produces a surge of interest in betting on both events and there’s no better place to do that at the moment that Coral Sport. Sign up today with the exciting new Coral Welcome Bonus and you will get £20 worth of bets for just a £5 deposit. Not only that but a whole host of other Coral promotions and bonuses will become available to you when you start betting on the site.

There’s no better place to begin your sports betting adventure with Coral than with this weekend’s FA Cup Semi Finals. They take place on Saturday and Sunday and are being shown live on BBC TV and BT Sport (one semi-final on each).

Let’s now preview both these clashes and look at some of the top tips we have for both of these games.

Saturday 21st April

Manchester United (23/10) v Tottenham Hotspur (23/20) (23/10 the draw)

  • Kick Off – 5.15pm
  • Live on – BBC 1
  • Venue – Wembley Stadium
  • Manchester United Form – W L W W W L
  • Tottenham Hotspur Form – W W W W L D

Manchester United team news

Manchester United come into this game having had just a few days rest following their midweek trip to Bournemouth, playing 24 hours after Spurs faced a similar trip to the south coast to take on Brighton. While their Premier League status is not likely to be affected by their performances in those games, what may be more telling is the effect it has on the fitness levels of both squads.

Paul Pogba and Ander Herrera were both substituted after 58 and 45 minutes respectively in Manchester United’s home defeat to West Brom at the weekend and there is speculation that unless both play well against Bournemouth, if selected, then they could well be axed from the team on Sunday.

Jose Mourinho has already hinted that he will make changes and that the Bournemouth game is a chance for players who have perhaps been more benchwarmers in recent times, to gain a place in the starting e

 

leven for Saturday, if they play well enough.

While it is unlikely Mourinho will make wholesale changes to his team, I do think that both Pogba and Herrera, plus one or two other players may well find themselves starting the semi-final from the bench.

Whether or not that is a wise move against a Tottenham side that has already beaten Manchester United 2-0 at Wembley in the Premier League this season, is another matter.

  • Probable Manchester United XI: (4-3-3) – De Gea, Valencia, Young, Smalling, Bailly, Matic, McTominay,, Pogba, Sanchez, Lingard, Lukaku

Tottenham Hotspur team news

Tottenham come into this game on the back of two below part performances a home defeat by Manchester City and a 1-1 draw away at Brighton in midweek. To be fair, Mauricio Pochettino did rest several key players for that game, notably midfield aces, Alli, Dembele and Dier as well as right back Trippier and I’d expect all four to return to the line-up for the semi-final.

Whether Tottenham have had their attentions focused more on this game than the Premier League or not over the past week I am not

sure. It is true that this competition is both Spurs and United’s last chance to earn some silverware this season, and with Tottenham playing all their home games this year at Wembley, they do have a distinct advantage here.

However, Wembley will be split almost 50/50 with the fans and that will negate Spurs advantage somewhat. Besides, United will take heart from the way Manchester City managed to get into Spurs back line in the Premier League weekend to come away with a 3-1 victory.

For Spurs, they will want a fast start once again to put United on the back foot and if they can start to get hold of the game in midfield, then they stand a good chance here.

  • Probable Tottenham XI: (4-3-3) – Lloris, Trippier, Davies, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Dembele, Dier, Eriksen, Alli, Kane, Son

Match Result Tip – This will be close but I am backing the draw at 23/10 with Coral at 90 minutes and Spurs to win the game in extra time or on penalties.

Correct Score Tip – I’m backing the score to be an entertaining 2-2 draw after 90 minutes which is a 12/1 shot with Coral.

First Goalscorer Tip – Romelu Lukaku is a very good shout here at 11/2 with Coral.

Sunday 22nd April

Chelsea (4/9) v Southampton (6/1) (16/5 the draw)

  • Kick Off – 3pm
  • Live on – BT Sport 1
  • Venue – Wembley Stadium
  • Chelsea Form – W L W L D W
  • Southampton Form – D L W L L L

Chelsea team news

With both these teams facing games on Thursday ahead of their Sunday clash at Wembley, it is hardly the ideal preparation for either ahead of a crucial semi-final. Chelsea will start as the clear favourites, especially seeing as they came from 2-0 down against Southampton last weekend to record a 3-2 win at St Mary’s.

That defeat could have a big psychological effect on Southampton as not only did it cost them Premier League points, but it showed them that Chelsea can beat them on home soil, and with this semi taking place at Wembley, the London side should be very confident of making the final.

I am expecting Chelsea to make changes for their game with Burnley on Thursday and this give their regular first teamers a bit of a rest and as such, I’d expect them to be back in the team for the semi final.

The big worry for Chelsea is that if Marcos Alonso does not appeal his charge for violent conduct, he could be suspended for the game and his absence would be a big blow given his excellent form this season.

  • Probable Chelsea XI: (4-3-3) – Courtois, Azpilicueta, Cahill, Christensen, Moses, Palmieri, Kante, Fabregas, Willian, Hazard, Giroud

Southampton team news

Saints boss Mark Hughes was aggrieved Marcos Alonso failed to see a red card in their 3-2 loss to Chelsea last weekend and with a game against Leicester on Thursday night ahead of this game, he will have little time to get his squad ready for another battle with the London side.

For 70 minutes last weekend, Southampton were the better side and deserved their 2-0 lead, but Olivier Giroud’s introduction sparked a Chelsea revival with the Frenchman scoring twice, including a winner in an incredible 10 minute spell.

There’s no doubt though that Alonso should have been given his marching orders for raking his studs down Shane Long’s calf and Hughes will no doubt use this as inspiration to try and get his Southampton side in the right frame of mind to cause an upset here.

Hughes is unlikely to make wholesale changes to his team for this game even though he could call up either Austin or Gabbiadini into the attack.

  • Probable Southampton XI: (4-5-1) – McCarthy, Bednarek, Yoshida, Hoedst, Cedric, Romeu, Hobjerg, Bertrand, Ward Prowse, Tadic, Long

Match Result Tip – I think this will be closer than many people realise but I’m backing Chelsea to win at 4/9 with Coral.

Correct Score Tip – I’m taking the 15/2 available with Coral on a 2-1 win for Chelsea.

First Goalscorer Tip – I’m always so impressed when I see Willian play for Chelsea so I’m backing the Brazilian to grab the opener here at 11/2 with Coral.