Super Saints dominate FA Cup best XI after downing Bournemouth
Southampton will take on Leicester and Manchester City face Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-finals after their respective wins over the weekend. Here, we take a look at the best rated XI from the quarter-finals, a side dominanted by Saints after their victory at south coast rivals Bournemouth...
Fraser Forster (Southampton) - 7.99
The first of six Southampton players in the FA Cup team of the round, Fraser Forster kept his fourth clean sheet of the domestic campaign in Saints' 3-0 win over Bournemouth. While Nathan Redmond was the star of the afternoon on the south coast - more on him later - Forster dealt with Bournemouth's attack well, making five saves, to make the best XI with a WhoScored rating of 7.99.
Kyle Walker-Peters (Southampton) - 7.84
While he was unable to have a direct hand in any of Southampton's goals on Saturday, Kyle Walker-Peters was defensively solid against the Cherries. Indeed, the right-back make seven tackles in the 3-0 victory at Bournemouth, that more than any other player in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, to feature with a WhoScored rating of 7.84.
Jannik Vestergaard (Southampton) - 7.40
Continuing the Southampton theme, Jannik Vestergaard takes his place at the heart of the defence with a WhoScored rating of 7.40. The towering Dane made four tackles at Dean Court to help Saints to a clean sheet and a spot in the next round of the FA Cup.
Playing an unfamiliar role in Thomas Tuchel's favoured three-man backline, Emerson didn't look out of place, admittedly against the Premier League's bottom side. You can only beat what is put in front of you, though, and Emerson dealt with the Blades' frontline well, ensuring that Takumi Minamino remains the only opposition player to score against Chelsea since Tuchel took over at Stamford Bridge 14 games ago. The 26-year-old made four clearances and three tackles to contribute towards a WhoScored rating of 7.52.
Rounding off the backline, only Kyle Walker-Peters made more tackles than Ben Chilwell (6) in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup. The Chelsea man hasn't featured as regularly as he would have liked under Thomas Tuchel, but the England international gave his boss a timely reminder of his attacking quality, with his sole key pass in the 2-0 home victory resulting in a goal for Hakim Ziyech in a man of the match performance from Chilwell.
Stuart Armstrong (Southampton) - 8.45
Back to Southampton now, with Stuart Armstrong operating on the right flank. No player made more key passes than the Saints winger (3) in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, with one of those resulting in the assist for the first of Nathan Redmond's two goals on Saturday. In addition, the Scot completed four dribbles to help make the team with a WhoScored rating of 8.45.
Mateo Kovacic (Chelsea) - 8.16
Switching back to Chelsea now, with Mateo Kovacic's WhoScored rating of 8.16 enough to feature in the middle of the park. No player completed more dribbles than the Croat (5) in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup as he drove forward with purpose from deep. He worked hard off the ball, too, as he made four tackles to secure his spot in the team.
Fernandinho (Manchester City) - 7.87
Joining Kovacic in the midfield is the first, and only, Manchester City player to feature after their 2-0 win at Everton. Fernandinho put in a professional display against the Toffees as he made four tackles and three clearances in the routine victory. The experienced Brazilian also got the better of his opposite number where necessary, too, with his four successful dribbles helping Fernandinho to a WhoScored rating of 7.87.
Moussa Djenpo (Southampton) - 7.60
Moussa Djenpo scored just his second Southampton goal of the season at Bournemouth to set Saints on their way to the semi-finals. The 22-year-old hit the back of the net with his only shot in the south coast clash as he rounds off the midfield having garnered a WhoScored rating of 7.60.
Nathan Redmond (Southampton) - 9.29
The WhoScored FA Cup player of the round is Southampton forward Nathan Redmond. The attacker yielded a WhoScored rating of 9.29 at Bournemouth having had a direct hand in all three goals for Ralph Hasenhuttl's side. Redmond provided the assist for Djenepo's opener, that coming from one of two key passes, before netting either side of half time, finding a way past Asmir Begovic with two of three shots, to secure the star man award with a WhoScored rating of 9.29.
Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester) - 8.97
Kelechi Iheanacho has been in exceptional form for Leicester of late and joins Redmond in attack in the team of the round. Like Redmond, Iheanacho had a direct hand in all three goals for the Foxes as they booked an FA Cup semi-final spot at Manchester United's expense for the first time since 1982. The Nigerian netted twice with his two shots and provided the assist for Youri Tielemans shortly after the break, that coming from one of three key passes - no player in the quarter-finals made more - to round off the XI with a WhoScored rating of 8.97.
