Football Focus
BBC Sport

Dan Walker and guests begin the build-up to the weekend's football in a special edition of Football Focus, live from Wembley on BBC One from 12:10 BST.

Not for viewers in Scotland however, where there's live coverage of the Scottish Cup semi-final between Hibernian and Falkirk from the same time.

You can hit the Red Button to follow Final Score from 14:30 or tune into BBC Two from 16:30.

Live coverage of the FA Cup semi-final between Reading and Arsenal from Wembley begins at 17:05 on BBC One.

And later there's highlights from the day's five Premier League matches on Match of the Day at 22:30, to be followed by the best action from the lower divisions in the Football League show from 23:40.

Image source, Reuters

Everton manager Roberto Martinez was involved in more than the odd relegation battle with his former side Wigan and his words will give Burnley hope of beating the drop.

"I don't think there is any fear of relegation and that is the biggest difference Burnley have over other teams who are not in the relegation zone who are starting to think they have something to lose," he said.

"Burnley have shown to every team they play on the front foot.

"Physically they do not show they have been involved for nine months in this competition; it is the opposite as they are getting used to the demands of the Premier League and they look a strong team physically."

It's time to move to the game at Goodison Park now and beating Everton might be easier said than done for Burnley.

Sean Dyche's team have kept themselves within touching distance of safety but they haven't won an away match this year.

Their last victory on the road came at Stoke on 21 November. The Clarets have not won at Goodison Park since 1976 but they have beaten the Toffees in the Premier League era - a 1-0 win at Turf Moor in August 2009.

Image source, Daily Star

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal is without the injured quartet of Michael Carrick, Daley Blind, Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo for today's match against Chelsea. But the Dutchman is a man with his glass half full, rather than half empty.

"It's the worst scenario," said Van Gaal. "But other players can take profit."

Image source, Getty Images

The goings on at Leeds haven't made pretty reading for a while now and the latest turn of events has the sudden withdrawal of six players for the game against Charlton today.

Mirco Antenucci, Giuseppe Bellusci, Dario Del Fabro, Marco Silvestri, Souleymane Doukara and Edgar Cani all told manager Neil Redfearn they were injured.

Five of the six were signed by banned club president Massimo Cellino.

According to Press Association Sport, Redfearn and United's physio were not aware of any injuries.

As is usual on a Saturday morning, we're teaming up with the Danny Baker Show on BBC Radio 5 live. Today's topic for conversation is: Strange or stupid reasons for having to leave a match early.

Image source, Getty Images

Sue, Southampton: England v Finland Wembley 1976, broke my elbow. Was wheeled to ball-boys changing room where St John's Ambulance guys stuck arm in a sling. Back in Southampton spent week in hospital after op to put a screw in elbow. Saw the first goal and nothing else!

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Let's get back to the FA Cup a minute. You might think it will be an Arsenal v Liverpool final with the teams playing reading and Aston Villa respectively in the semi-final.

But you might want to think again.

History shows that when underdogs rub up against more celebrated names - with the final just an upset away - you can expect anything but the routine.

BBC Sport has rolled the clock back to six FA Cup semi-finals where the form book was thrown out of the window. Read more here.

Image source, The Independent

Where will Burnley's Danny Ings go next season? Liverpool? Manchester United? Or even Spanish club Real Sociedad? He's been linked with all three clubs. The England Under-21 international striker is hot property following a great season with the Clarets.

"One thing I don't want to do is go somewhere and, not rot, but all of a sudden disappear for a while. [Somewhere] you don't really get a look-in," the 22-year-old tells The Independent., external

As is usual on a Saturday morning, we're teaming up with the Danny Baker Show on BBC Radio 5 live. Today's topic for conversation is: Strange or stupid reasons for having to leave a match early.

Giannina Caraceni: At Liverpool v Aston Villa last season and boyfriend realises at half-time he's got an essay due the next day. Wasn't happy.

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You can also text us in the UK only on 81111 - but please don't forget to include your name and location.

West Brom boss Pulis won manager of the year by guiding Crystal Palace to 11th last year after taking over when they were second bottom.

But he quit 48 hours before the start of the current campaign and, when asked why he left, he said: "I had a great 10 months there and it's none of your business.

"If you want to talk about negative things I'm not here to do that.

"I think Stoke will always sit with me as the main job because of the time I spent there but as a short-term position I don't think I'd ever better what went on at Palace."

Crystal Palace boss Alan Pardew believes Tony Pulis has a "huge advantage" when the former Eagles manager takes his West Brom side to Selhurst Park.

"He knows us," said Pardew. "It is more or less all of the players he had here who will be starting, with the exception of Wilfried (Zaha) and James McArthur, everyone else was here.

"He has a tremendous ability to strangle a team, he knows how to knock the stuffing out of a team and no-one could be worse to play than us and the position we are in.

"We respect them and we respect what he will do and we will try and get the win with all that in mind."

As is usual on a Saturday morning, we're teaming up with the Danny Baker Show on BBC Radio 5 live. Today's topic for conversation is: Strange or stupid reasons for having to leave a match early.

Dave, Salford: Had to leave an away game early once because I broke my wrist slipping on a banana skin on the way down to my seat after half-time. My mate who had to take me to hospital wasn't happy either!

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You can also text us in the UK only on 81111 - but please don't forget to include your name and location.

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Crystal Palace fans might feared the worst when Tony Pulis left them in the summer after his heroics last season.

The Welsh boss helped saved the Eagles from relegation last season but left under a cloud just before the new campaign got under way.

The Selhurst Park outfit endured a difficult start to the season under Neil Warnock before Alan Pardew turned their fortunes around so the reception Pulis will he get today should be interesting.

The 57-year-old returns to Palace for the first time since his departure with his Baggies side having suffered three successive defeats.

Barry Davies
Match of the Day Commentator at Maine Road

"This is the stuff of schoolboy comics! Roger Palmer brings Oldham level again! Marvellous stuff!"

FA Cup rewind is just coming to an end over on BBC Two and online now...

Image source, Getty Images

When it comes to heroes, Crystal Palace fans might believes manager Alan Pardew deserves that title after his exploits at the club.

The 53-year-old, who was a player at Selhurst Park, took over as Eagles manager in January and has led the side to 25 points from his 12 games in charge.

Palace can equal a top-flight club record of five successive wins if they beat West Brom, who just happened to be managed by ex-Eagles boss Tony Pulis.

Image source, BBC Sport

Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini is under pressure but has received some support from an unlikely source. Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho says it would be "criminal", external for City to sack his counterpart Pellegrini. Rumours are abound that the man who helped City to to the title last season will be given the chop in the summer, with the club currently fourth in the table - 12 points behind Mourinho's men at the top of the pile.

City play West Ham on Sunday.

As is usual on a Saturday morning, we're teaming up with the Danny Baker Show on BBC Radio 5 live. Today's topic for conversation is: Strange or stupid reasons for having to leave a match early.

Image source, Getty Images

Adam Kennett: Leeds 2 Walsall 2 after 90 minutes, my first Leeds match and mum makes me go home as I have school next day. Missed a Phil Masinga treble in extra-time.

lexBudda: Me and a friend left Scarborough v Aldershot at half-time the season Aldershot went bust. It was his birthday the night before and he was so hungover. It was a terrible game and we lost 1-0 or 2-0. That season points against Aldershot were null and void so, Scarborough actually went up a place or two. It was a shocking game.

Get involved on Twitter using #bbcfootball, external or post a comment on the MOTD Facebook page., external

You can also text us in the UK only on 81111 - but please don't forget to include your name and location.

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The Championship is one of the most dramatic races for promotion in recent history and rivals Norwich and Middlesbrough played each other last night.

Boro came out on top thanks to an Alex Tettey own goal to move back top of the Champo but could be back down to third if Bournemouth beat Sheffield Wednesday and Watford earn three points against Birmingham today.

"For us it's amazing," said Boro boss Aitor Karanka.

"Once again they showed when they play their best they can beat everyone. I told them after the game if there is a team who deserve to be in Premier League it's them."

John Motson
Match of the Day commentator at Villa Park

"And it's gone in! Alan Pardew! 4-3 Palace! The flick on by Any Thorne made all the difference. Liverpool are caught out again from a set-play, and Palace are at Wembley. They have beaten Liverpool, whose dream of the double is destroyed, in what is surely one of the most amazing matches in the recent history of the FA Cup."

You can watch FA Cup rewind on BBC Two or online now, with Manchester United v Oldham still to come...