Newcastle have the perfect game to rouse themselves after their 7-2 thumping in Barcelona in midweek, the Tyne-Wear Derby against local rivals Sunderland. A win in this one will quickly see European disappointment pushed into the background. They have been in good form in the league, with three wins in their last five against Spurs, United and Chelsea. 

Anthony Gordon is the selection here, who has been operating in a more central role in recent weeks, which has seen his output increase. He has three goals and one assist since first moving more central against Liverpool, two of those goals coming in the last two games. 

Sunderland will obviously be well up for this game, and hold the bragging rights having won the reverse fixture, but their form away from the Stadium of Light is near relegation level, 14 points from 15 games. I think they may fold under the St James Park atmosphere.

Aston Villa won through to the Europa League Quarter Finals on Thursday evening, and even managed it with a spot of rotation too, but still had a fair few playing who you would expect to be needed on Sunday. They’ve not been in good form in the league, racking up their third loss in a row last Sunday at Old Trafford. 

West Ham will have been buoyed by a 1-1 draw at home against Man City in a classic Nuno backs to the wall style performance, scoring from their only shot on goal, allowing City 72% possession and fending off 25 shots from City.

Jarrod Bowen provided the assist for Konstantinos Mavropanos’ header, and he looks to be coming into form at just the right time to insert himself into Thomas Tuchel’s Three Lions plans. His two goals against Brentford helped West Ham progress to the FA Cup Quarter Finals, and he has provided three assists in four games prior to that one.

This is a huge game for both Tottenham and Nottingham Forest, who are currently 16th and 17th and looking over their shoulders. There is the potential for one of these sides to end Sunday in the relegation zone. Both sides had positive experiences in midweek, Spurs winning on the night against Atletico with a good performance, whilst Forest rotated heavily and still won through on penalties in Denmark.

I think that midweek performance will have done a lot for Igor Tudor and his squad, and given the supporters something to get behind, so I want to be with a Spurs player going into this one. Another who may be playing himself into an England call up is Archie Gray, a shining light in a bleak season for Spurs, having impressed in multiple positions.

Igor Tudor now has Gray operating in his natural central midfield role. Gray has turned provider for both Richarlison and Solanke in recent Premier League fixtures, as well as for Xavi Simons in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Everybody loves a cup final, particularly when it is to be contested between the two best teams in the country at this present moment in time. You also have the narrative of the apprentice seemingly overtaking the master, which I am sure Pep Guardiola will be keen to reverse.

Arsenal are the favourites for this one, but I want to be with Antonine Semenyo in terms of a player to score or assist. Semenyo has scored in three of his last five Premier League appearances, as well as contributing an assist. It’s hard to tell whether he was dropped or rested for the game against Real Madrid, but either way, the performances of those who replaced him will have done little to secure their spot for the weekend, and there is an argument for Semenyo currently being City’s most effective attacking player.