Follow all the live action as Manchester City take on Brighton this afternoon in the semi-final of the FA Cup.
Pep Guardiola‘s men remain on course for an historic quadruple, with the side already having lifted the League Cup earlier this year.
But Chris Hughton, who was part of the Tottenham side that beat City and lifted the FA Cup in 1981, will be hoping for a repeat of history today when his men go up against the competition favourites. Follow the live action below:
Hello hello.
We began with 124 in the first round proper, and round-by-round it has been whittled down, 84, 64, 32, 16, 8 and finally to just four. Brighton, Manchester City, Watford and Wolves have survived the rigours of a cup run, an eclectic bunch of Premier League battlers on their way to Wembley for the semi-finals.
The first of these comes this evening, a clash between sides in contrasting form, one seeking to continue their quadruple pursuit, the other in something of a free fall in the league, this semi-final providing welcome distraction.
Manchester City and Brighton duel for the first spot in the 2019 F.A. Cup Final, and kick-off is not too far away...
It is just the second time that Brighton have reached this stage of the competition, previously progressing all the way to a final replay (back when they were still a thing) against Manchester United in 1983.
Conversely, Manchester City are five-time winners of the competition, most recently in 2011, and nothing short of another victorious campaign will do for Pep Guardiola's quadruple-chasers.
Five minutes until team news.
Oleksandr Zinchenko's absence leaves Manchester City in something of a left-back quandary, with Danilo the likely option there this afternoon.
And how does Chris Hughton balance his side? Does he go defensive?
Team News - Manchester City
Benjamin Mendy is the surprise in the Manchester City lineup, back at left-back with Danilo dropping to the bench. Ilkay Gundogan is preferred to Fernandinho in midfield, while Sergio Aguero remains absent after missing the win against Cardiff in midweek.
Team News - Brighton
Anthony Knockaert and Glenn Murray were rested for Brighton's loss to Chelsea on Wednesday but return for the semi-final. Martin Montoya replaces club captain Bruno, with Lewis Dunk leading the side.
Chris Hughton has tasted victory over Manchester City at Wembley before, part of the cup winning Tottenham side of 1981.
He's looking to the past for inspiration ahead of this evening's clash:
Talking of inspiration, there is plenty of life in the legs of Glenn Murray who continues in his steadfast, dependable fashion, ageing like a fine wine.
If Brighton are to have a hope today then Murray must be his irritable self and put himself amongst the Manchester City back four.
Kevin De Bruyne starts in the Manchester City midfield and has begun to show signs of the form that lit up the Premier League during Manchester City's record-breaking 2017-18 season.
Two serious injuries have hampered his season, something the player admitted ahead of today's game, but if Manchester City do require a final boost down the stretch, having the brilliant Belgian back amongst things in fine fettle might be just the tonic:
Presented without comment...
20 minutes until kick-off.
Tangential perhaps to today's affairs, but if you haven't yet read Miguel Delaney's latest dissection of a potentially precedent-setting title race, I can only direct you towards it.
This bloke's gulling things over ahead of kick-off...
Indeed there are plenty of Brighton fans enthusiastically roaring their side on as the warm-ups are completed, tinfoil cups, seagull hats, waving flags, all the trimmings for a day out at the home of English football.
The Manchester City fans shown seem a little more withheld. Their side have already lifted one trophy here this season, while Brighton have never won at Wembley.
Kick-off is almost here..
Sergio Aguero is not in the squad this afternoon but the Argentine is at Wembley, lurking around the corner from the Manchester City bench as his manager watches on. He's dressed in a tracksuit, perhaps suggesting he was close to some form of involvement today.
On to the pitch come the players.
Anthony Taylor is the referee for the first semi-final.
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