Premier League and FA Cup semi-finals: 10 talking points from the weekend’s action

Prefer the Guardian on GoogleOne moment from their FA Cup semi-final to Chelsea will haunt Leeds. When Tosin Adarabioyo stretched for a through ball and couldn’t quite get there, quarter of an hour in, everything seemed to slow down. There was Brenden Aaronson with just Robert Sánchez to beat, with the chance to put Leeds ahead against a side that hadn’t scored in five Premier League games and had seemingly lost all confidence. Even at the time it felt a huge moment. The US international didn’t do much wrong, but Sánchez made a fine save with his foot. That, it turned out, was the game. There were other opportunities – most notably Anton Stach’s drive that Sánchez saved spectacularly and the Dominic Calvert-Lewin header just after that, aimed straight at the keeper. They came after Chelsea had taken the lead and the emotional tone was set, though. Sometimes one chance can define a game. Jonathan Wilson

Robert Sánchez has struggled at times this season, particularly when playing out from the back, but a change in the dugout brought a change in approach at Wembley. Calum McFarlane talked of wanting to instil fear in the Leeds backline by going direct and the winning goal came about after a long ball by Sánchez. João Pedro outmuscled Pascal Struijk and fed Pedro Neto, whose cross was headed home by Enzo Fernández. Where was this fight last Tuesday when Chelsea slumped to defeat at Brighton costing Liam Rosenior his job? João Pedro did not play in that one but Fernández, dropped for two games earlier this month after casting doubt on his future at the club, played his best game in weeks against Leeds in a team performance several levels above what has been offered in recent matches. Chelsea, though, still had their goalkeeper to thank for two big saves. The first at 0-0 from Brenden Aaronson and a much better one from Anton Stach just after half-time. If Chelsea are to win the FA Cup then they will probably need their No 1 to have another good day on 16 May. Stephen Flynn

Pep Guardiola continues to cut a relaxed figure. Perhaps he does so in reaction to the very public anxiety gripping Arsenal in the title run-in but Manchester City players will enjoy a break before a six-game push for history. “I learned in this country: take a day off and the team plays better,” Guardiola said after Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final defeat of Southampton. “In the beginning I trained a lot. Now? Home. And quality time, quality, quality time, quality time, everybody ready.” This new, laissez-faire Guardiola will even allow players to go abroad before returning to prepare for Everton on Monday week. “They can do whatever they want. They want to travel to wherever, they are completely free. As long as they arrive Wednesday afternoon. There, training.” Mikel Arteta, with a Champions League semi-final to play this week, has no such luxury. “Let’s do it together,” Guardiola continued. “And after that, holidays in summer and come back next season.” John Brewin

Southampton’s daunting mission against Manchester City was to produce another defensive masterclass similar to the brilliant effort full of discipline and daring counterattacking that dispatched Arsenal in the quarter-finals. With a full-strength defence the prospect of fending off Pep Guardiola’s side would be agonising enough but Saints were down two starters in Ryan Manning and Jack Stephens. On the day they were not missed. Welington, in for Manning at left-back, produced a fine interception in the first half to shut a lively City attack down as he nipped in to clear a dangerous through ball from Rayan Cherki to Tijjani Reijnders. In the centre of defence Stephens’ deputy Nathan Wood made several key blocks and clearances to keep the City machine at bay. Outgunned Southampton might never have had the blissful few minutes of leading without the pair’s industry at the back and if the playoffs beckon they should be confident of the final outcome being more positive if Wembley calls again. Graham Searles

It said plenty that Mikel Arteta was not asked about the Nick Pope yellow/red-card incident at his post-match media conference. It was not mentioned with any prominence in the on-the-whistle match reports. And later on Saturday night, Match of the Day did not discuss it. Fair to conclude, then, that most impartial observers felt the decision to give Pope yellow rather than red for his foul on Viktor Gyökeres – with the Newcastle defender, Malick Thiaw, well placed on the cover and favourite to reach the loose ball first – was the right one. Also fair to say that Arteta strongly disagreed. The Arsenal manager brought the subject up himself when he faced the press after his team’s 1-0 win and, while he was at it, he railed against the decision not to dismiss Manchester City’s Abdukodir Khusanov for a last-man foul on Kai Havertz the previous weekend. Arteta knew what he was doing. He cannot bear the thought that a contentious decision might cost Arsenal in the title run-in. By highlighting perceived injustices, does he gain any kind of edge? David Hytner

Will Wolves be equipped to bounce straight back up? They faced their crowd for the first time on Saturday since relegation from the Premier League was confirmed. Fans were largely supportive, apart from a few chants of ‘We want Fosun out’ after João Palhinha scored. But who can Rob Edwards count on come July? The board have made a mess of recent summer transfer windows, leaving signings late for both Julen Lopetegui (2023) and Vítor Pereira (2025). With relegation a formality for some while, they have time to get business sorted. José Sá, the goalkeeper, may leave, while the best players who would merit moves to elite clubs include João Gomes, André and Hugo Bueno. Mateus Mané, all raw potential so far, would be better off getting a season of first-team games under his belt. It would be a result for Edwards if Ladislav Krejci, the Czech Republic captain, stayed. Those who could flourish in the Championship include Rodrigo Gomes, David Møller Wolfe, Pedro Lima, Jean-Ricner Bellegarde and Tolu Arokodare. But as Leicester have found, retaining quality players does not guarantee anything. Peter Lansley

Applaud the spirit, but West Ham will have to be better if they are going to secure survival. They were riddled with nerves during the first half against Everton and managed the game badly after going 1-0 up in the second half. They retreated too readily, inviting pressure, and it was not a surprise when Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall pulled the visitors level in the 88th minute. Yes, there was another twist on the way, Callum Wilson’s stoppage-time winner rescuing West Ham and keeping them out of the bottom three. How much luck did they use up, though? It was baffling that Everton were not awarded a penalty for a handball by Mateus Fernandes. Nuno’s substitutions were negative and the challenges keep coming. A trip to Brentford on Saturday is awkward. The next home game is against Arsenal. West Ham are fighting and have goals in them but it is going to be horribly tense. Jacob Steinberg

Turning a wayward shot by Alexis Mac Allister into the opening goal against Crystal Palace demonstrated Alexander Isak’s ability to conjure something out of nothing. How Liverpool have needed, and missed, that instinct throughout a trying campaign. Isak’s fourth goal for Liverpool since his record £125m transfer, and first for the club in the Premier League at Anfield, visibly lifted a striker who has been plagued by fitness problems all season. “It is quite an understatement to say he’s had a tough year,” Virgil van Dijk said. “But now he is fit and we all know what he can bring and he shows it in training and in games as well. I am fully confident it will be absolutely fine for him.” For that to happen, however, Liverpool must improve the supply line to the Sweden international. Teammates are not reading his runs or delivering the passes he craves inside the penalty area. That will come in time, but against Palace they witnessed his ability to turn a game regardless. Andy Hunter

There has been a familiar theme to the finishing stages of Fulham’s three completed seasons since returning to the Premier League. Once April hits things start to tail off. In 27 games played in the last two months of the previous three seasons, Marco Silva’s side lost 15 of them. Defeat at Liverpool and a 0-0 draw at Brentford suggested the pattern may well repeat itself. But they then saw off a lacklustre Aston Villa side. So what does Silva make of the suggestion his players are more inclined to opt for a metaphorical premature beach trip rather than slug it out for European qualification? “Have you seen us on the beach today?” he countered, when asked after the Villa win. “The game we played was a sunny moment, but it took place on the grass, not on the beach. I understand – I am the first one who wants us to finish stronger than last season. This sentence to be on the beach is not something I recognise at all in my players.” His team have four games left to prove their manager right. Ben Bloom

Vítor Pereira delighted in proving that, sometimes, 4-4-2 really is the answer. In deploying Igor Jesus and Chris Wood as twin strikers and Omari Hutchinson and Morgan Gibbs-White (surely overdue an England summons) as highly effective wingers, Nottingham Forest’s manager created the framework for a 5-0 win that has appreciably enhanced his side’s survival chances. It was the first time Sunderland had lost by five or more goals at home in a league game since 1958 but Regis Le Bris’s team had no answers to either Forest’s intelligent press from that formidable frontline or their innovative set-piece execution. As clever a choreographer as Pereira is undoubtedly proving – Forest have scored more goals than any other top-tier side (16) since the arrival of their fourth manager of the season in February – the often underrated Wood’s return from a serious knee injury has galvanised the team – and Igor Jesus in particular. “Igor’s not playing alone now,” said Pereira. “He’s playing on the back of Chris, in the pocket, in the zone and he’s dangerous there.” Louise Taylor