The 2021-2022 FA Cup semi-finals will be the Premier League clubs’ affairs as all the Championship and non-league clubs have finally dropped from the yearly football competition.
The semi-finalists for this season’s FA Cup campaign are Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea, and Crystal Palace. They are scheduled to clash at the Wembley Stadium on April 16 and 17 at 15:00.
It is not strange that clubs like in form City, Liverpool, and Chelsea made it to the FA Cup semi-finals this season. The three clubs have been the most consistent English clubs in recent years.
For instance, the three clubs are the major contenders for this season’s Premier League title. Outside domestic football, they are the only English clubs left in this season’s UEFA Champions League campaign.
Hence, the only joker in this season’s semi-finalists is Crystal Palace, a team that is currently sitting on the 12th spot on the league table with 34 points in 29 games.
Fortunately for Chelsea, they have been paired to face Crystal Palace in the FA Cup semi-finals on April 16. The all-London affair is expected to be in favor of Chelsea that have been in a tremendous form in recent time.
However, it would not be a walk in the park for Chelsea based on how Crystal Palace got to this stage of the competition. Recall that Crystal Palace beat Hartlepool 2-0 in the 4th round, beat Stoke City 2-1 in the 5th round, and thrashed Everton 4-0 in the quarter-final to book a place in the semi-finals.
Yet, Chelsea will be happy to get Crystal Palace instead of Premier League table-toppers Manchester City or second-placed Liverpool at this stage of the FA Cup campaign.
Since the UEFA Champions League and FIFA Club World Cup reigning champions could knock out a stubborn Middlesbrough that ended the journey of Manchester United and Tottenham in this season’s FA Cup, Crystal Palace should be an easier ride for the Blues.
On the other hand, it is going to be a battle between Premier League table-toppers – Manchester City and Liverpool in the second semi-finals pairing.
Liverpool got to this stage of the tournament after beating Norwich City 2-1 in the 5th round and defeating Nottingham Forest 1-0 in the quarter-final stage.
While Manchester City made it to the semis after beating Peterborough 2-0 in the 5th round and thrashing Southampton 4-1 in the quarter-finals.
Fortunately for football fans that want to see premium football week in week out, City and Liverpool will first clash in a Premier League title decider on April 10. Less than seven days later, the two Premier League title contenders will face each other at the Wembley Stadium in the FA Cup semi-finals.
Any team between Liverpool and Manchester City that wins the semi-final clash will clash with either Crystal Palace or Chelsea in the final of the FA Cup.
Below is the 2021-2022 FA Cup semi-finals schedule
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
Venue: Wembley Stadium
Time: 15:00
Date: April 16, 2022
Manchester City vs Liverpool
Venue: Wembley Stadium
Time: 15:00
Date: April 17, 2022
𝗪𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗹𝗲𝘆 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗶𝘁𝘀 🏟@ManCity 🆚 @LFC @ChelseaFC 🆚 @CPFC
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) March 20, 2022
The ties for the #EmiratesFACup semi-finals are set pic.twitter.com/WUw2nwR6XP
