World Soccer

Adrian Dennis (AFP/Getty Images)

In a weekend of FA Cup shocks in England, Manchester United and holders Chelsea were dumped out of the competition at the quarter-final stage.

Manchester United lost 1-0 to Premier League rivals Portsmouth at Old Trafford, their first victory there for 51 years, while Chelsea were humbled 1-0 by Championship (second division) side Barnsley.

Cardiff City, who knocked out Middlesbrough 2-0, and West Bromwich Albion who beat Bristol Rovers 5-1, secured their semi-final berths on Sunday — meaning there is only one top-flight team in the FA Cup semi-finals for the first time since 1908.

Barnsley’s reward for knocking holders Chelsea and Liverpool out of the FA Cup is a semi-final against fellow Championship side Cardiff City.

Porstmouth against Championship high-flyers West Bromwich Albion.

Should Portsmouth lose their first FA Cup semi-final since 1992 it would guarantee the first final between clubs outside the top flight since English league football began in 1888-89.

In the Premier League, Arsenal came back down to earth with a bump at humble Wigan as Arsene Wenger’s side wasted a chance to consolidate their lead at the top of the Premier League on Sunday.

After their magnificent Champions League win against AC Milan in the San Siro in midweek, Arsenal were hailed as the best young team in Europe.

But the Gunners found it a lot harder to dazzle during a frustrating goalless draw 0-0 by Wigan Athletic.

Liverpool cruised to their fourth successive league win, the first time they have achieved that measure of consistency for 13 months, 3-0 over Newcastle United.

They will head off to their Champions League night of destiny against Inter Milan next week high on confidence.

Arsenal head the standings on 66 points from 29 matches, followed by United on 64, then Chelsea (58), Liverpool (56) and Everton (56).

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