Liverpool Face City as Salah Exit Confirmed
The Emirates FA Cup quarter-finals take centre stage this weekend, with Manchester City welcoming Liverpool to the Etihad Stadium in the marquee fixture on Saturday.
Mohamed Salah will begin the final chapter of his Anfield career on Saturday as Liverpool travel to Manchester City in the FA Cup quarter-finals, with the Egyptian forward having confirmed he will leave the Premier League club at the end of the season. The 33-year-old has scored 255 goals in 435 appearances for the Reds, placing him third on the club’s all-time scorers list behind Ian Rush and Roger Hunt.
Salah announced his departure during the international break, and Liverpool have reportedly reached an agreement to allow him to leave on a free transfer this summer despite his contract running until 2027. Speaking via the club’s official channels, Liverpool head coach Arne Slot said, “Hopefully, he can make his legacy even more special in the upcoming weeks and months where we still play for something special, but he will always leave this club as a legend.”
The coming 10 days will be defining for Slot’s future at Anfield. Liverpool currently languish in fifth position in the Premier League, leaving the FA Cup and the Champions League as the club’s only remaining hopes of silverware this season. After the trip to the Etihad, Slot’s side will face European champions Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League quarter-finals over two legs on April 8 and 14. Despite leading Liverpool to a record-equalling 20th English top-flight title less than a year ago, the Dutchman is under significant pressure to finish a difficult second season on a high.
Manchester City produced what many observers described as their best performance of the season to dominate Arsenal and win the League Cup final 2-0 before the international break. Pep Guardiola’s side remain in contention to match their 2018/19 feat as the only English club to win the domestic treble of League Cup, FA Cup and Premier League. The champions trail Arsenal by nine points in the Premier League title race with seven matches remaining.
Chelsea will host Port Vale at Stamford Bridge on Saturday afternoon, but the club’s preparations have been overshadowed by the announcement of a Premier League record pre-tax loss of £262.4 million ($349.3 million) for the year ending June 30, 2025. The deficit eclipses the previous record of £197.5 million set by Manchester City in 2011.
The financial disclosure has sparked speculation over which players the Blues may be compelled to sell during the summer transfer window to comply with profitability and sustainability regulations. On the pitch, four consecutive defeats have placed manager Liam Rosenior’s future in doubt less than three months into his reign. Enzo Fernandez and Marc Cucurella have publicly criticised the club’s decision to sack Enzo Maresca in January.
Port Vale, rooted to the bottom of League One and 14 points adrift of safety with only eight matches remaining, are hurtling towards relegation from the third tier in their 150th anniversary year. However, the Valiants have won as many games in the FA and League Cup this season as they have in 38 league matches, and they have sold out their 6,000 ticket allocation for the trip to Stamford Bridge.
Mikel Arteta’s team selection will face close scrutiny at St Mary’s Stadium on Saturday evening after 10 Arsenal players withdrew from international duty with various injuries. Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Noni Madueke, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, Martin Zubimendi, Piero Hincapie, Leandro Trossard, Jurrien Timber and Eberechi Eze all returned to the club for medical assessment. Saliba is reportedly dealing with recurring pain in his left ankle that the French Football Federation suggested requires a minimum rest period of 10 days.
Arsenal remain in pole position to win a first Premier League title in 22 years, holding a nine-point lead over Manchester City at the top of the table. Arteta is seeking a response after his side’s six-year wait for a trophy was prolonged by City’s victory at Wembley in the League Cup final. The Gunners also have a favourable Champions League quarter-final draw against Sporting Lisbon.
West Ham United will host Leeds United on Sunday afternoon, with both clubs prioritising Premier League survival while recognising a rare opportunity to reach the last four of the FA Cup. Leeds have not reached the semi-finals since 1987, while West Ham last achieved the feat 20 years ago.
West Ham currently occupy the third relegation spot, four points adrift of Leeds, who sit 15th in the table. However, Nuno Espirito Santo’s side have lost just three of 13 matches since ending a 10-match winless run against Queens Park Rangers in the third round of the competition. West Ham captain Jarrod Bowen described the club’s remaining league fixtures as “seven finals” as they seek to climb out of the relegation zone.