Summary

  • Recap FPL Q&A special with expert Pras, four-time top-10k finisher

  • All the big Fantasy Premier League talking points before gameweek 34

  • The latest team news before weekend's Premier League and FA Cup semi-finals

  • FA Cup semi-finals: Crystal Palace v Aston Villa (Sat; 17:15 BST) & Nottingham Forest v Man City (Sun; 16:30 BST)

  1. Postpublished at 14:03 British Summer Time

    OK, let's switch focus to the FA Cup semi-finals.

    Nuno Espirito Santo, Oliver Glasner and Unai Emery are all talking now.

    Emery says that his challenge when taking the job at Aston Villa was to win trophies, but he wants to enjoy the "process" not just the end result.

    More to follow from all three managers.

  2. Amorim open to players changing his mind on futurepublished at 14:01 British Summer Time

    Bournemouth v Man Utd (Sun, 14:00 BST)

    Manchester United

    On whether some players can change his mind about their future at the club before the end of the season, Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim said: "Everything can happen. Casemiro is the best example.

    "He wasn’t playing and then you see in the last games he’s having a part, he’s performing quite well and he’s playing all the time.

    "I like to change my mind. If they change my mind I like that. I want to put the best players in my team."

  3. Amorim refuses to discuss Cunha linkspublished at 14:00 British Summer Time

    Bournemouth v Man Utd (Sun, 14:00 BST)

    Manchester United

    Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim refused to answer questions specifically related to United’s interest in Wolves forward Matheus Cunha, but said he had "an idea" of what he wants his squad to look like next season:

    "This is a conversation for the end of the week but I have an idea and things can change until the end of the season."

    On whether United still has a 'pull' to attracting new players: "It’s Manchester United. There are a lot of players that want to play for our club. If you look at our club in the moment, with all the problems, it looks a little bit of a problem but we have a clear idea and that’s the easiest part to explain for a player. It’s Manchester United and every player wants to play for Manchester United."

  4. All options open for Vardypublished at 13:59 British Summer Time

    Wolves v Leicester (Sat, 15:00 BST)

    Simon Stone
    BBC Sport's chief football news reporter

    There has been a lot of talk around Major League Soccer being a likely option for Jamie Vardy, who has confirmed he will leave Leicester at the end of the season.

    But from what I am hearing, that is not necessarily the case.

    As he has stated, Vardy remains motivated. He is also keen to play at the highest possible level.

    That could mean remaining in England, and possibly the Premier League if the right offer came.

    Nothing is off the table but he won't start assessing the situation properly until after what is bound to be an emotional final game at the King Power Stadium, against Ipswich on 18 May.

    Jamie VardyImage source, Getty Images
  5. get involved

    Get Involved - FA Cup or Champions League qualification?published at 13:57 British Summer Time

    #bbcfootball, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

    Is there any reason why UK football could not choose to award one of our Champions League places to the FA Cup winners in future?

    Anon

    Cups and days out with your mates and family easily better than qualifying for Europe.

    Dolph, Haddington

  6. Man Utd try to navigate Bournemouth without more injuriespublished at 13:55 British Summer Time

    Bournemouth v Man Utd (Sun, 14:00 BST)

    Simon Stone
    BBC Sport's chief football news reporter

    Manchester United's wretched season takes them to Bournemouth on Sunday.

    Head coach Ruben Amorim is in the slightly tricky position of wanting key players to maintain their game fitness while making sure they avoid injuries ahead of the crucial Europa League semi-final first leg trip to Athletic Bilbao next Thursday.

    Whether that means players being introduced from the bench, as happened against Wolves last Sunday, or starting and being taken off, remains to be seen.

    In theory, United still have a chance of finishing in a Europa Conference League qualification place. In reality, the best they are likely to do is finish 13th in the Premier League.

  7. Dalot out with calf injurypublished at 13:53 British Summer Time

    Bournemouth v Man Utd (Sun, 14:00 BST)

    Manchester United

    Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has given an update on team news.

    Diogo Dalot could miss the remainder of the season with a calf injury, with Amorim confirming he will definitely not be involved in the "next games".

    "Dalot is out. We don’t know how long he’s going to be out. But he’s out for these next games," said Amorim.

    "There is that possibility [he will miss the remainder of the season] but I don’t know. We will check week by week because he works really hard. He can recover quite well, so we’ll see.

    "He has something in his muscle in his calf. He had a sequence of games where he played all the time. We try to manage [that] but the players play a lot of minutes and are not so ready to cope with that. Dalot felt something."

    Elsewhere, Amorim said Matthijs de Ligt and Amad Diallo are close to returning but Ayden Heaven is further behind in the rehabilitation process.

  8. Postpublished at 13:52 British Summer Time

    Let's squeeze in a bit of Ruben Amorim's news conference while we wait for our remaining FA Cup semi-finalists...

  9. get involved

    Get Involved - Which clubs have played in three consecutive FA Cup finals?published at 13:48 British Summer Time

    #bbcfootball, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

    Arsenal were in the first three FA Cup finals at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff when Wembley was being rebuilt (4 out of 6 played there if you include 2005)

    Neil in Notts

  10. The fight for the top five... and a trophypublished at 13:47 British Summer Time

    Nottm Forest v Man City (Sun, 16:30 BST)

    Nottingham Forest

    It is proving to be some season for Nottingham Forest and it's not over yet. They're one of the teams in the hunt for a Champions League spot and they have the opportunity to reach the FA Cup final this weekend.

    Which is the priority? Can they have both?

    A first FA Cup since 1958-59 has quite the allure, as do the riches the Champions League would bring.

  11. Forest's FA Cup journey this seasonpublished at 13:45 British Summer Time

    Nottm Forest v Man City (Sun, 16:30 BST)

    Nottingham Forest

    Elliot Anderson, Nikola Milenkovic, Ola Aina and Jota Silva of Nottingham Forest celebrate at the end of the penalty shoot outImage source, Getty Images

    Nottingham Forest's run to the final four of the FA Cup has been far from straightforward.

    They have had to squeeze through on penalties in three of their four ties.

    Nuno Espirito Santo's side beat Luton Town 2-0 in the third round but came up against a resolute Exeter City side who forced extra time and then penalties after a 2-2 draw in the fourth round.

    Ryan Yates equalised for Forest against Ipswich in the fifth round but they needed penalties to progress again before their quarter-final tie against Brighton also ended goalless after 120 minutes.

    Nottingham Forest's FA Cup run:

    • Third round - Nottingham Forest 2-0 Luton Town
    • Fourth round - Exeter City 2-2 Nottingham Forest (2-4 on pens)
    • Fifth round - Nottingham Forest 1-1 Ipswich Town (5-4 on pens)
    • Quarter-final - Brighton 0-0 Nottingham Forest (3-4 on pens)
  12. Crystal Palace's road to FA Cup semi-finalpublished at 13:42 British Summer Time

    Crystal Palace v Aston Villa (Sat, 17:15 BST)

    Crystal Palace

    Ebere Eze of Crystal Palace celebrates after scoringImage source, Getty Images

    Crystal Palace are looking to move another step closer to winning the FA Cup for the first time in their history when they face Aston Villa at Wembley in the semi-finals on Saturday.

    Eberechi Eze's early goal sealed a 1-0 victory for the Eagles against League One side Stockport County in the third round.

    Daniel Munoz and Justin Devenny were on target as Oliver Glasner's side overcame Doncaster Rovers 2-0 in the next round before a 3-1 win against Millwall sent them through to the quarter-finals.

    Palace negotiated a dominant start from Fulham in the last-eight tie before scoring through Eze, Ismaila Sarr and Eddie Nketiah to reach their second semi-final in four seasons.

    Crystal Palace's FA Cup run:

    • Third round - Crystal Palace 1-0 Stockport County
    • Fourth round - Doncaster Rovers 0-2 Crystal Palace
    • Fifth round - Crystal Palace 3-1 Millwall
    • Quarter-final - Fulham 0-3 Crystal Palace
  13. What's coming up?published at 13:41 British Summer Time

    Here's a reminder of today's news conferences that we still have to come.

    FA Cup news conferences:

    • 12:30: Pep Guardiola (Manchester City)
    • 13:30: Oliver Glasner (Crystal Palace), Nuno Espirito Santo (Nottingham Forest)
    • 14:00: Unai Emery (Aston Villa)

    We will also bring you team news and any top lines from the following Premier League clubs:

    • Bournemouth
    • Tottenham
    • Manchester United
    • Everton
  14. No doubt that Vardy's a legend - Marescapublished at 13:38 British Summer Time

    Chelsea v Everton (Sat, 12:30 BST)

    Chelsea

    Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca paid tribute to the departing Jamie Vardy, who he managed last season at Leicester:

    "I feel very proud to share part of my journey with Jamie and Leicester.

    "I always consider him one of the best nines in the last 20-25 years, not only in England but everywhere.

    "With us he was fantastic, bought into the way we want to play, which was something new. He changed completely, open mind, fantastic.

    "He will 100% be a loss for football. There is no doubt that he's a legend."

    Jamie Vardy and Enzo MarescaImage source, Getty Images
  15. 'The journey has just started'published at 13:35 British Summer Time

    Chelsea v Everton (Sat, 12:30 BST)

    Chelsea

    Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca on fan frustration at the club's recent stuttering form, which has included two wins, two draws and a defeat in their last five matches, as they bid to qualify for next season's Champions League:

    "I can understand it. We are trying to keep them happy. The fans are the same - they were thinking Chelsea is back, showing they are happy. Now we are not winning the same amount of games, they are showing they are not happy.

    "As a manager, the club, we all have a vision. We are in the right direction. Hopefully we can be there very soon.

    "To say that this season has already been a good season compared to the last two, it does not mean we won't try to finish top five. It's our target. Our target is Champions League. We are going to try to finish in the right way.

    "I said many times, the players are working hard every day to bring this club where it has to be. The journey has just started."

  16. Gusto out but Lavia available for Chelseapublished at 13:31 British Summer Time

    Chelsea v Everton (Sat, 12:30 BST)

    Chelsea

    Chelsea boss Eno Maresca confirmed right-back Malo Gusto will be side-lined for this weekend's visit from Everton:

    "Malo is injured but it does not look like an important injury. He is already running and doing this outside but he will not be available for tomorrow. Hopefully he will be available for the next game."

    Maresca added striker Marc Guiu is still out but is hopefully "one week to two weeks" away from returning while Aaron Anselmino is still out.

    On Romeo Lavia, who has returned to the first team after injury: "He was on the bench against Fulham. He is back and training with us. With Romeo we will try the same thing we are trying with Reece James, we know we need to use them step-by-step."

    Malo GustoImage source, Getty Images
  17. Postpublished at 13:30 British Summer Time

    Before we hear from FA Cup semi-final managers Nuno Espirito Santo and Oliver Glasner, let's get in a quick line on team news from Chelsea...

  18. get involved

    Get Involved - Which clubs have played in three consecutive FA Cup finals?published at 13:29 British Summer Time

    #bbcfootball, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

    Arsenal have done it twice 78/79/80 & 01/02/03

    Matt in Plymouth

    Looks like Oxford University had five semi-final appearances in a row between 1873 and 1877. If a certain encyclopedic site is to be believed.

    Gary

    Oops, sorry forgot the name etc...

    Mad Nomad in Bangrak, Koh Samui (ex Blackburn Lad)

    A message from Thailand on Blackburn's FA Cup heroics in the 1800s, love it!

  19. 'Vardy one of the best in Premier League'published at 13:23 British Summer Time

    Wolves v Leicester (Sat, 15:00 BST)

    Wolves

    Jamie Vardy poses among trophiesImage source, Getty Images

    Wolves manager Vitor Pereira hailed outgoing Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy as "one of the best in the Premier League".

    Vardy announced yesterday that he will leave Leicester at the end of the season after 13 years at the club, where he won the Premier League and the FA Cup.

    "He is one of the best strikers in the Premier League," Pereira said.

    "He has had a fantastic career. A beautiful career. He's someone I respect a lot.

    "He is a very intelligent player - someone who knows how to play in the limit of offside. His starting position most of the time is in offside but he comes inside at the right time and attacks the spaces so well. He is a special player who can score goals with his great finishing."

  20. What's coming up?published at 13:20 British Summer Time

    The Football News Show

    You can watch the Football News Show from 13:30 BST, just click on the 'watch live' link at the top of this page.

    Former Manchester City midfielder Michael Brown and ex-Nottingham Forest striker Rob Earnshaw will be the guests in the studio looking ahead to the FA Cup semi-finals and Liverpool potentially sealing the Premier League title on Sunday.