Everton look to topple Man U, Arsenal battle Chelsea

LONDON (AP)

Without a title since 1995, Everton now has the chance to reach its first FA Cup final since beating Manchester United 14 years ago after having long been in the shadow of the big four in English football.

A five-time FA Cup winner, Everton faces the Red Devils again tomorrow for the right to progress to the May 30 final at Wembley Stadium, with Champions League semi-finalists Chelsea or Arsenal as possible opposition.

But first the Toffees have to get past the record 11-time FA Cup winners.

defensive problems

Man United had defensive problems when central defenders Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic were out of the team through injury. But they returned for Wednesday's Champions League quarter-final at FC Porto, which United won 1-0 from a spectacular long-range strike by Cristiano Ronaldo.

United has a wealth of attacking talent and manager Alex Ferguson has to decide which of his top strikers, Wayne Rooney, Carlos Tevez and Dimitar Berbatov, to leave on the bench. Federico Macheda, the 17-year-old Italian who has scored two match-winning goals as a substitute, is unlikely to start.

By contrast, Everton manager David Moyes has had striker problems all season, with Louis Saha, Ayegbeni Yakubu and James Vaughan out for long spells, and the manager has done well to lift the team into the top six.

Everton's central defenders Phil Jagielka and Joleon Lescott have been outstanding all season and have the ability to handle United's star-studded strikeforce. Behind them, American goalkeeper Tim Howard hopes to shine against his former club.

While most of the Everton and Man United fans have to travel south to neutral Wembley tomorrow, followers of London clubs Arsenal and Chelsea only have a short journey to the home of English football today.

The Gunners are one behind United with 10 FA Cup triumphs and Chelsea's fourth was only two seasons ago under Jose Mourinho.

Interim Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink, who says he will leave the club at the end of the season and return to his full-time job as Russia coach, hopes to end his stint with an FA Cup triumph.