The Preview: Man City vs Liverpool
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Mohamed Salah transfer
It will definitely be the last time Mohamed Salah turns out in this fixture if he's selected after announcing he'll be leaving Liverpool in the summer.
Pep Guardiola future
This has been the blockbuster Premier League fixture during Pep's time at City; it could well be the last time he faces Liverpool, with rumors of a potential departure at the end of the season swirling.
Arne Slot's future
I don't know whether a domestic cup victory, if Liverpool were to finish sixth, would save Arne Slot's job. That's a question for the hierarchy and something they'll be considering.
Chelsea internal turmoil
I think [Marc Cucurella's] comments read to me like they were coming from a place of frustration because of his investment in the club and in the team... I think it differentiates slightly from Enzo Fernandes, whose comments seemed to cast doubt on his future at the club in a way that I don't think Cucurella's did.
Arsenal title race pressure
If Liverpool were to come back from the international break and then go out to the FA Cup, given Arsenal's recent history in terms of the 'bottle' tag and nervousness that they have seen to have in run-ins, I think they need to win this game.
Premier League rivalries
I think if you asked Liverpool their two biggest rivals, they would say Manchester United and Everton. I think City would still put United as rivals ahead of Liverpool. These aren't rivalries in the sense of if you were playing in the back garden, there's still potential for a 10-man brawl; they're rivalries in the sense of they're competing for a major honor.
Arsenal fitness/mind games
A lot of the sort of minor issues or slightly vaguely labeled issues [with Arsenal players pulling out of international duty], I would imagine might be a bit out of the Fergie playbook.
Manchester City youth development
It feels like [Nico O'Reilly] is one of the faces that they need to be building around. It'll be interesting to see where he's deployed on the weekend because we know that he can obviously play in midfield, he can play at fullback.
FA Cup statistics
City have also won each of their last 17 home matches in the FA Cup, while victory here would make this the outright longest home-winning run by any side in the competition.
