Away we go. The Blades get the ball rolling.

Alan Shearer
Former England striker on 5 Live Saturday Breakfast

It would take a brave man to go against Manchester City today.

But Sheffield United are having a great time. They look as though they are going to be promoted and they'll go to Wembley thinking it's a free hit. Not many others - other than their fans - will think they have a chance.

Looking at it realistically, you'd have to think that Manchester City have enough.

Here come the teams to huge noise around Wembley. One of the Manchester City mascots has come as Jack Grealish. Headband and everything.

Former Sheffield United and Manchester City midfielder Michael Brown, speaking on The Football News Show: "It's a nice distraction away from the Championship for Sheffield United. It's a real day out for the supporters. The players have got to test themselves against the best because it's going to happen very soon [when they get promoted]."

Tinfoil FA Cups everywhere. Status Quo booming from the speakers. Blue skies above Wembley. The first FA Cup semi-final of 2022-23 is five minutes away.

Manchester City

This is Manchester City's fifth successive FA Cup semi-final appearance yet they have gone on to win it only once under Pep Guardiola, in 2018-19 when they hammered Watford 6-0.

Last season they lost to Liverpool in the semi-finals having been defeated by Chelsea and Arsenal in the previous two seasons.

"In the last seasons we arrive here, three or four years, and always we don't perform well," said Guardiola.

"It will be an extremely difficult game against Sheffield United."

Sheffield United

Image source, Getty Images

Sheffield United boss Paul Heckingbottom on the size of the task facing his side at Wembley: "There's probably no-one else on the planet thinking we'll be in the final, but that's not to say we can't do it.

"This season so far has been great, the position we are in in the league, the FA Cup semi-final, it could end up being a really memorable season in this club's history.

"We are going to enjoy it and try to give a really, really good account of ourselves. We know who we are playing, we know their calibre of player and we need them to have an off day and we be at the top of our game.

"The occasion itself means it is a totally different experience anyway, but we want to make sure we get things out of this season, not just a pat on the back for doing well so far."

Image source, .

Sheffield United are on the brink of sealing automatic promotion back to the Premier League, so this has still been a successful season for them, whatever happens at Wembley.

There is no pressure on them whatsoever, but their FA Cup run ends here. Manchester City are in that zone now where they are playing extremely well and have got too much quality for the Blades.

Sutton's prediction: Man City to win 5-0.

Image source, Reuters

Three years ago Iliman Ndiaye was on loan at Hyde United in seventh tier of English football. Now the Sheffield United forward is stepping out at Wembley after playing for Senegal at the World Cup in Qatar.

Former Sheffield United and Manchester City midfielder Michael Brown, speaking on the Football News Show: "It was amazing recruitment from Sheffield United. Jack Lester, the first team coach, was the one who kept saying to me 'Michael, this kid has got everything. He's going to be a star'.

"He's got stronger and is getting to understand his role much better. Whether or not Sheffield United are going to be in the Premier League, this boy is going to be. Everybody wants him."

Manchester City are yet to concede in this season's FA Cup.

They hammered last season's runners-up Chelsea 4-0 in the third round before defeating record 14-time winners Arsenal 1-0 in the fourth.

Having won 3-0 at Bristol City in the fifth round, Pep Guardiola's side put six past Burnley without reply.

Image source, Getty Images

BBC football pundit and former Manchester City and Sheffield United midfielder Michael Brown is running Sunday's London Marathon to raise money for the centre that helped to treat him when he was diagnosed with skin cancer in 2020.

Brown, 46, came through City's youth system in the 1990s and played more than 100 first-team games for the club. He featured for a total of nine clubs, including the Blades, Tottenham, Fulham and Leeds United during a 23-year professional career.

“I was diagnosed with a malignant melanoma during lockdown," Brown said. "It was a mole on my back. Luckily, I caught it early, there’s nothing long-term and it’s gone now.

"I received amazing care and support and would urge anyone reading this who has any doubts about a mark on their skin to get it checked out, as soon as they can."

Brown, who also works as a co-commentator for City, , externalis running the 26-mile (42km) event in aid of the Christie NHS Foundation Trust, a cancer treatment centre based in Manchester. He has already raised more than £40,000.

"Training has been much harder than I thought," Brown added. "But I am ready to go!"

Sheffield United

Image source, Getty Images

Sheffield United keeper Wes Foderingham, speaking on The Football News Show about facing Erling Haaland: "It is something to relish - not fear. Even if Manchester City play a weakened side, it's still going to be strong."

Blades Heaven

Image source, PA Media

Wales boss and ex-Sheffield United defender Robert Page, speaking on BBC podcast Blades Heaven: "It's a free hit for Sheffield United. Yes, we want promotion to the Premier League - I can't help but say 'we'. But this a free game for them. Go and show off. Go and play against the best team in the world. Go and have a go and enjoy the moment.

Sheffield United were moments away from going out at non-league Wrexham in the fourth round when John Egan scored a 95th-minute equaliser to force a replay. Since then they've defeated eight-time winners Tottenham and scored a 91st-minute winner against Blackburn in the quarter-finals.

This is the Blades' second trip to London in the FA Cup this season. Their run started with a 2-0 win at Millwall in the third round. Will they be back in the capital in six weeks for the final?

The last time Sheffield United and Manchester City met in the FA Cup, the Blades won 2-1 - with the help of some balloons!

In January 2008 in the fourth round, Sven-Goran Eriksson's City conceded early to their Championship opponents after Michael Ball missed his kick amid the balloons thrown from the away end at Bramall Lane, allowing Luton Shelton to score.

“I’m getting all the trauma back now,” former City defender Nedum Onuoha told the Guardian., external

Sadly, Luton Shelton died at the age of 35 in January 2021. There will be many Blades fans thinking of him today.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Sheffield United

Sheffield United boss Paul Heckingbottom, speaking to ITV1 about Erling Haaland starting: "We can't put all our hearts and energy into stopping one player. We know we're going to have to produce a big performance against every player."

Alan Shearer
Former England striker on 5 Live Saturday Breakfast

I says this in a polite way, Erling Haaland is a freak. If you were building a centre-forward from scratch then he would almost be it.

He's very good in the air, quick, got a fantastic touch, he can bring people into the game and more importantly he scores a ton of goals. Everything about him is top quality.

That's why Manchester City fought so hard to get him. He's phenomenal to watch.

Manchester City

Image source, Reuters

Will Erling Haaland use the Wembley stage to notch his 50th goal for Manchester City? He's got 48 in all competitions - including 15 in his past seven outings. Ridiculous form.

Haaland's haul includes six hat-tricks since joining last June. The best £51m a club has ever spent?

Manchester City

Did somebody say weakened Manchester City line-up? Just the 89 goals this season in that starting XI - including 48 from Erling Haaland.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has named six changes after his side sealed progress to the Champions League semi-finals against Bayern Munich on Wednesday.

Ederson is replaced by Stefan Ortega in goal, while Kyle Walker, Aymeric Laporte, Sergio Gomez, Riyad Mahrez and Julian Alvarez also come in.

Ruben Dias, John Stones, Rodri, Kevin de Bruyne and Phil Foden are among the options on the bench.

Manchester City XI: Ortega, Walker, Laporte, Akanji, Gomez, Mahrez, Silva, Gundogan, Grealish, Alvarez, Haaland.

Subs: Ederson, Dias, Phillips, Stones, Rodri, De Bruyne, Foden, Palmer, Lewis.

Championship side Sheffield United make three changes following a 1-0 win over Bristol City on Tuesday as they edged a step closer to a Premier League return.

Wes Foderingham is in for Adam Davies in goal, while Oliver Norwood and Daniel Jebbison replace Tommy Doyle and Oli McBurnie.

Sheffield United XI: Foderingham, Baldock, Ahmedhodzic, Egan, Robinson, Lowe, Berge, Norwood, Fleck, Jebbison, Ndiaye.

Subs: Davies, Basham, Clark, Bogle, Coulibaly, Arblaster, Brooks, Sharp, McBurnie.