London, April 2 (NationPress) As the international break concludes, the Premier League must pause its activities while the four FA Cup quarterfinals take center stage this weekend in England. This scheduling is peculiar, as it grants several Premier League teams a break extending from March 22 to April 10 or 11, just as the season approaches its critical phase.

Chelsea's manager, Liam Rosenior, will likely be eager for his team to return to the pitch as they prepare to take on Port Vale in a bid for a place in the semifinals.

Recent defeats against Newcastle United and Everton, along with a staggering 8-2 exit from the Champions League against Paris Saint-Germain, have intensified the scrutiny on Rosenior. His squad has not secured a win since a 4-2 triumph after extra time against second-tier Wrexham in the fifth round, as reported by Xinhua.

Port Vale, currently at the bottom of League One, will visit Stamford Bridge. Despite their surprising 1-0 victory over Sunderland in the last round, Chelsea is expected to emerge victorious. However, anything less than a dominant performance may increase the pressure on the coach.

The highlight of this quarterfinal round is the showdown between Manchester City and Liverpool, with Pep Guardiola's side aiming for a cup double following their success in the Carabao Cup. With Manchester City out of European competition and trailing Arsenal by nine points in the Premier League, Guardiola has every incentive to field his strongest team in the FA Cup as he seeks to cap off the season with two trophies.

Meanwhile, Liverpool is set to face Paris in the Champions League next Wednesday, resulting in a strategic dilemma for coach Arne Slot. While winning the FA Cup could provide a silver lining in an otherwise disappointing season, he will need his best players to be fit for the encounter against the European champions.

Fortunately for Slot, key players such as Hugo Ekitike, Mohamed Salah, and Alisson Becker should be available, although Alexander Isak remains in recovery after a leg injury sustained in December.

Attention will also be focused on Arsenal's lineup against Southampton, as several players, including Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard, Martin Zubimendi, and Noni Madueke, have recently left their national teams due to fitness concerns.

While some players like Eberechi Eze may not be fit, it is reassuring for coach Mikel Arteta that Martin Odegaard should be available to alleviate some of his worries.

The final quarterfinal features a clash between West Ham and Leeds United, both of whom are struggling in the Premier League yet would cherish a successful FA Cup run while prioritizing their top-flight survival this season.