FA Cup replays backlash, European reaction and weekend previews: football – live

FA Cup semi-finals, last-four encounters in the Women’s Champions League and a three-horse Premier League title race suggest positive energy is flowing from all angles going into the biggest weekend of the season so far. And yet, it isn’t quite that simple.

There’s a right old brouhaha surrounding the FA Cup with the decision to scrap replays from the first round onwards next season branded a “disgrace” in many quarters, a move designed to tip the scales even further in favour of the big clubs and deprive those further down the pyramid of much-needed revenue. Safe to say, the FA’s decision which includes the final being moved to the penultimate weekend of the Premier League campaign has caused genuine outrage.

As for those big clubs fighting it out at the summit, rather than riding a wave of momentum, the trio of Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool all go into the weekend on a bit of a downer after crashing out of Europe in various styles. Still, good news about Aston Villa.

Arsenal and Liverpool, who also suffered unexpected league defeats last weekend, at least have the chance to return to the top of the table with leaders Manchester City involved in FA Cup semi-final action against Chelsea.

It’s a massive weekend for Chelsea’s Women too as they travel to Spain for the first-leg of their Champions League semi-final against Barcelona. French foes Lyon and PSG battle it out in the other semi.

Build-up to all this along with FA Cup replay backlash, reaction from last night, worrying coefficient news, manager chat, team news and various other random stuff starts now!