Manchester United vs Tottenham Hotspur: 5 key players for FA Cup semi-finals

Premier League biggies Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur lock horns at the Wembley to contest for a place in the FA Cup finals, as both sides are gunning for a silverware to end a quite a successful season on a high.

The Red Devils are on course to achieve their highest finish in the league in the post-Ferguson era, but Mourinho stares at the risk of going his second year at a club without a major trophy, for the very first time.

And standing in his way is a behemoth that's the Lillywhites, who'll be hoping to make merry in "home" comforts, and more importantly, end a decade-long wait for a silverware.

If anything, this promises to be an enticing tactical affair with quality football on show. But let's discuss the players who can turn the tide with their proficiency and have a significant impact on the ultimate outcome of the top-billing tie. Here are the top five players:

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#5 David De Gea

De Gea has been a rock under the bar for United

Manchester United are the only remaining side who are yet to concede a single goal in the competition, thanks in no small part to Sergio Romero, who unfortunately misses out due to injury. But now they can instead confide in another peach of a shotstopper in David De Gea, who's likely to slot in between the sticks in replacement.

The Spaniard, as in the seasons preceding, has weaved another string of talismanic shows to keep the Red Devils afloat in the Premier League. With 17 clean-sheets, he's not only one of the better performers for his side, but also the safest pair of hands in the league. His average of 2.76 saves per game is better than anyone not named Jordan Pickford or Jack Butland.

In a season where United have blown hot and cold, De Gea can claim to be one of the few members to have been in red hot form. The three-time United Player of the Year will be put through the wringer by the Harry Kane and likes, who put two past him the last time they visited Wembley.

But there couldn't have been a better occasion to erase the anomaly. De Gea is in fine form, and his blocks and interventions would go a long way in deciding which way the wind blows.

#4 Dele Alli

Alli is now the creative chieftain

Unfortunate to miss out of on the PFA nomination despite a stellar campaign, Alli can put the records straight with his heroics at this stage. Tottenham's midfield maestro has assumed a greater role this season for his side by dropping deeper and keeping the creative juices flow.

Alli is more than just goals now. With 14 assists and 62 chances created, he's become more of the quintessential No.10 than he's ever been.

The upswing in his playmaking activities has eased the burden off Christian Eriksen, who's resultantly bombing forward with more regularity and enjoying a prolific vein in goal.

Against a United side likely to keep things tight at the back, it's his ingenuity and ability to cut open the defence that would be the key if Spurs were to outscore their rivals.

#3 Nemanja Matic

Matic has been a great addition to the United Squad

Amid all the glamour that came along with Romelu Lukaku, Nemanja Matic has had the ignominy of playing away from the limelight. But to say even he's been a great signing is only an understatement.

The Serbian international has a huge impact on this team. His terrific vision and incisive passes have helped his side move forward with purpose and poise.

In fact, of the 1996 passes that he has laid, 78% of them have been forward, while he has also maintained an admirable record of 87% accuracy with it.

The arrival of Matic has helped the Red Devil free-up in the attack, and he's the foundation that they've built their attacks on.

So his role on Sunday would be one of a propellant. If Matic plays well, then United will play well.

#2 Jan Vertonghen

Vertonghen is the primary figure in the Spurs backline

The Belgian centre-back is often forgotten when the likes of Kane, Son, Eriksen and Alli plunder a litany of goals at the opposite end.

But quite simply, Spurs would find life really hard without him marshalling the backline. He's played in all but one game in the Premier League this season, and the fact that he's the joint-highest among the defenders in terms of appearances this term accentuates his importance to the side.

His brevity and formidable statuesque allow him to dominate his duels, as his 79% success rate in the take-ons (fifth best in the league) and 67% of the aerials ones (eighth best) would suggest.

Verthongen brings a sense of robustness and rigidity, so much so that Spurs can gleefully move forward and attack at will.

In the three appearances in the FA Cup this year, he's put on a man of the match performances in each of them and had it not been for Kane's prolific goalscoring, Vertonghen easily takes the cake when it comes to the best player in the team.

His defensive nous would be needed more than ever against United.

#1 Paul Pogba

Pogba has hit top form again this season

The likes of Jesse Lingard and Ander Herrera maybe vital to United' hopes, but none more so than Paul Pogba, who's breathed new life into his season in the recent weeks.

The brace against eventual champions Manchester City in the derby win has to be his peak, for he surely was the best player on the field.

In a season where his stats haven't shown as much as they did last season, only compounded by verbal spats with manager Jose Mourinho, the fact remains he was a key figure all the while.

He's won the man-of-the-match award six times, the most for any United player, and is also the best-rated player for the Red Devils on Squawka.

Remember when I said Matic has freed-up United's attack? Well, the biggest beneficiary of that is Pogba himself, who's assumed an expansive role in the midfield because of it.

He's able to get into deep-lying positions, and even if he plays centrally through the midfield not attacking, the game against City showed his offensive proximity.