Two cup finals in the Premier League

This weekend sees the semi-finals of the FA Cup with Budweiser. Arsenal face holders Wigan Athletic and Hull City play Sheffield United, but in the Barclays Premier League, there are two cup finals too. One will probably decide a relegation place; the other will almost certainly hand the league title to the winners.

Norwich City travel to Craven Cottage on Saturday to play Fulham with the losers facing a near-impossible task to avoid going down, almost certainly alongside Cardiff City and Sunderland, who look doomed already. With five games to go, the Canaries hit the panic button and parted company with boss Chris Hughton. Despite being five points clear of Fulham, who occupy the third relegation place, the board have acted now, given the team's last four games are against Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal. It is not inconceivable that Norwich will lose all four. Defeat at the Cottage will leave Fulham two points behind Norwich, and assuming that Norwich do lose all four against the league's big guns, Felix Magath's charges will only need one more win from fixtures against Tottenham, Hull City, Stoke City and Crystal Palace to move above the side from Carrow Road. Magath has a proven track record for pulling teams out of trouble, and no doubt will smell blood coming from a Canaries team who look short of confidence, are out of form and who have just appointed a manager - Neil Adams - with no Premier League experience. Norwich went to Craven Cottage on the final day in 2005 needing a win to stay up. They lost 6-0 and were relegated. The omens are not good, and I think Fulham will add to their growing belief with another win to follow up their success at Villa Park last week.

On Sunday afternoon Liverpool play host to Manchester City in what looks for all the world like a title decider. The Reds are on a run of nine consecutive victories, and five more will earn them their first ever Premier League title, and their 19th in English top flight football. Standing in their way is a City side who have stuttered of late, just weeks after seemingly beginning to run away with the league. Despite this, Manuel Pellegrini still has the bookies' favourites in a strong position; as well as Liverpool, they also know that maximum points from their remaining matches will win them their second championship in three years. Brendan Rodgers has already ramped up the pressure, claiming that the visitors will go into Sunday lunchtime's game as favourites. The Kop boss has said all along that Liverpool aren't in this title race. He may as well keep saying it, because it isn't doing his players much harm at the moment. The timing feels right for the home side to take the bull by the horns and go and win this title. This weekend marks the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster, and Anfield will be an emotional setting for a game which will kick off seven minutes late as part of the league-wide commemorations of the tragedy. What better way to remember the 96 who lost their lives that day than to win the one piece of silverware that has eluded them since 1990. Mind you, Manchester City will have something to say about that. Who do I think will win the game? I don't know, but I'll have a lot of fun finding out!

This Week In Football

Queens Park Rangers entertain Chelsea at Loftus Road this weekend, and once again, sadly, the focus will be on what happens before the game. The will-they-won't-they scenario featuring Anton Ferdinand, John Terry, and that handshake. Ferdinand of course has every reason to dislike Terry following the fiery encounter last season and the subsequent race trial, but I do think that the QPR defender should be a big man and shake his hand. He doesn't have to mean it of course, but while the procedure exists, it should be honoured. There's the problem though, Not enough players want to do it and fans know that some players don't mean it. It's too often a hollow gesture. Can we just scrap it and get on with the football?

England were in action this week and while it wasn't particularly exciting, or some may say particularly successful, it was a decent start to another World Cup qualifying campaign. Moldova, with respect, was always going to be as easy as the 5-0 thrashing suggested, and I didn't think we were as bad in the home game with Ukraine as some fans and press were quick to point out. Maybe Roy Hodgson could have been more positive with his tactics, but Ukraine are no mugs, and it was a tough test. With the players available to him, four points from six is not a disaster. I still expect us to qualify from the group without defeat, despite the doom-mongers claiming that we will struggle in the tough away environments. I have never been one of these fans who show apathy towards International football or England. You would never turn your back on your club, yet some can't be bothered with their nation. That annoys me.

The Hillsborough report came out on Wednesday after a long campaign. You all know what happened 23 years ago, and we now know the truth. The real truth. It's not the beginning of the end for the families of the 96 though, it's the end of the beginning. They will want those ultimately responsible brought to justice. There were no doubt many instances of foul play on that afternoon in April 1989 and since. After all, the sheer amount of doctored files could not have been down to just one bent copper. It has been too easy over the years to assume that Liverpool fans were solely, or even partly to blame, and those that have should take time to think of what 23 years of false rumours has done to Liverpool, as a city and as a football club. It could be the start of the removal of the sick chants about it and other tragedies, which will be very welcome. Liverpool v Manchester United next weekend should be fierce, but hopefully without the terrace taunts.