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Match Analysis and betting tips for F.A Cup semi-final tie between Manchester United and Everton.

Date: 23rd April

Kickoff: 19:15 East African time.

Venue: Wembley Stadium

Match facts:

  • This is the third FA Cup semi-final between the sides.
  • Overall, the clubs have been paired together 11 times in the cup, with Everton triumphant in six of those ties and United winning five.
  • Manchester United have won three of the four most recent meetings (all in the league), winning both of this season’s encounters without conceding a goal.
  • United are in the semi-finals for the 28th time. They’ve reached the final on 18 occasions — latterly in 2007.
  • United have been eliminated in their last two FA Cup semi-final appearances, against Everton in 2009 and Manchester City in 2011. Before that they had progressed in 13 consecutive appearances at this stage between 1976 and 2007.
  • United have not won an FA Cup game at Wembley since beating Newcastle in the 1999 final.
  • Everton have progressed in six of their last seven FA Cup semi-finals — the exception being their last appearance, a 2–1 defeat by Liverpool in 2012.
  • Five-time FA Cup winners Everton last visited Wembley in 2009 where goals from Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard saw Chelsea come from behind to lift the trophy.
  • Everton have reached the FA Cup semi-finals for the 26th time — a tally bettered only by Manchester United and Arsenal (both 28, excluding replays). Everton have gone on to reach the final 13 times.
  • Everton manager Roberto Martinez led Wigan athletic to an FA cup victory in 2013 after after beating Manchester City 1–0 in the finals at Wembley.
  • Everton have not won any of the six Premier League matches they have played since a 2–0 FA Cup quarter-final victory over Chelsea on March 12
  • Manchester United has won three of the four most recent meetings (all in the league).
  • Most of Everton players have never played in Wembley stadium before.

Road to the semi- final:

Manchester United

United beat Derby County 1–3 away in the fourth round, Shrewsbury 0–3 away in the fifth round, were forced to a replay after they were held to a 1–1 draw by West ham at old Trafford and went ahead to win 1–2 at Upton park with goals from Marcus Rashford and Fellaini helping them earn the victory in a match where Wayne Rooney made his return as a late substitute.

· United have scored a total of 10 goals in the FA cup this season and conceded just 3 goals.

Everton

· Everton started their FA cup campaign this season by beating Dagenham & Redbridge FC 2–0 at home in the third round, won away at Carlisle 0–3 in the fourth round, they then defeated premier league side Bournemouth 0–2 away from home in the fifth round and Chelsea 2–0 at Goodson park to reach the semi-final.

· Everton have scored a total of 9 goals in the FA Cup this season. They are yet to concede in the competition this season and have scored more than one goal in each of their four games

Last Cup match:

Manchester United

· Against West Ham United at Upton Park.

· First half ended goalless.

· Jesse Lingard (Manchester United) had the biggest chance of the first half.

· First goal came after 54mins

· United scored the second goal of the game in 67th minute.

· James Tomkins scored a late goal for West ham.

· The hosts couldn’t find a way past David de Gea, who once again came to United’s rescue late on with a stunning double save.

· West ham had more shots/shots on target (20/9) than United (10/4).

· United committed more fouls (17) than west ham (7) and had 3 yellow cards to west hams 1.

Everton

· Against Chelsea at Goodson Park.

· Goalless first half.

· First booking came only ten minutes into the game (Diego Costa).

· The best chance of the game came after 57 minutes of play (Diego Costa).

· Lukaku scored first after 77mins.

· He then scored his and second of the game after 81mins.

· Diego Costa got sent off after 83mins.

· Gareth Barry got sent off too after 87mins.

Team News:

Manchester United

· Manchester United have no new injuries, with Chris Smalling fit despite suffering a knock on Wednesday.

· United enjoying a run of five wins in their last six — including a 2–0 win over fellow FA Cup semi-finalists Crystal Palace in midweek

· United have scored 20 Premier League goals at Old Trafford, less than half the 41 neighbours Manchester City have managed.

· Manchester United has won five of their last six games in all competitions.

· None of the current United players have won the F.A cup for United.

· United haven’t conceded a goal against Everton this season.

Everton

· Seamus Coleman is out with a hamstring injury, Phil Jagielka is struggling with a similar issue and Gareth Barry’s groin problem will also be assessed. However, Everton are optimistic John Stones will play despite being forced off in midweek with stomach cramps.

· Defender Ramiro Funes Mori will be suspended, which means Martinez is likely to have to play midfielder Mo Besic alongside John Stones at Centre-back, as captain Phil Jagielka is battling to recover from a hamstring problem.

· Everton have not won any of the six Premier League matches they have played since a 2–0 FA Cup quarter-final victory over Chelsea on March 12.

· Everton’s next two matches after the semi-final are at home to Bournemouth and away to leaders Leicester, with the club in danger of their lowest league finish since 2004, when they ended the season in 17th place under David Moyes.

Managers:

Louis van Gaal

· Van Gaal’s future is in doubt even if he wins the FA Cup, and he needs a top-four finish and Champions League football to keep his job.

· Six times in less than four months, 64-year-old Van Gaal has gone into matches amid a backdrop of intense speculation. On every occasion, United have come up with a positive result.

· Manager Louis Van Gaal has said that Manchester United will prioritize qualifying for champions league over FA Cup.

Roberto Martinez

  • Talking to the press earlier Everton manager Roberto Martinez said that they carry hurt and that’s normal after what happened in their game against Liverpool, but their focus now is about the opportunity of being in the semi-final of the FA Cup and everything is about taking Everton football club to Wembley with a really strong feeling of being together, of facing adversity in an exemplary way and being as good as we can in front of a very strong opposition.
  • Martinez is fully aware that he cannot afford to keep on producing poor results, despite Everton indicating that his job is not under immediate threat.
  • If he wins the FA Cup, Roberto Martinez might get more time because they have not won anything since 1995, but if they get rolled over by Manchester United then he is in big trouble.