Haaland treble sends City past Liverpool

Manchester City booked their place in the FA Cup semi finals after a commanding 4 nil victory over Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday afternoon, with Erling Haaland scoring a hat trick to dismantle Arne Slot’s side.

The quarter final clash, played before a packed crowd in Manchester, swung firmly in City’s favour midway through the first half when Haaland converted from the penalty spot in the 39th minute. By the time the Norwegian completed his treble in the 57th minute, large sections of Liverpool supporters were already heading for the exits as their team trailed 4 nil.

Haaland’s third goal capped a move involving Jérémy Doku and Nico O’Reilly, who worked the ball through Liverpool’s defence before the striker hooked his effort in off the crossbar. It was his first hat trick for City since August 2024.

Advertisement

Before the penalty breakthrough, Liverpool had gone toe to toe with the hosts. Hugo Ekitiké twice failed to take clear opportunities, while Mohamed Salah also squandered chances that could have changed the complexion of the match. Florian Wirtz and Ekitiké combined early on for the German to fire at goal, and Dominik Szoboszlai’s free kick found Ibrahima Konaté, only for City goalkeeper James Trafford to make the save.

Pep Guardiola, serving a two match touchline ban and watching from the stands, set his team up in a 4 2 3 1 formation. His front four of Antoine Semenyo, Rayan Cherki, Haaland and Doku pressed aggressively whenever Liverpool goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili restarted play.

Liverpool lined up in a nominal 4 4 2, with Ekitiké and Salah paired up front and Wirtz drifting centrally. Salah came close after a long ball from Mamardashvili released him on the left, but his effort was deflected to safety by Abdukodir Khusanov.

City’s opener came after Virgil van Dijk brought down O’Reilly inside the area. Referee Michael Oliver pointed to the spot despite protests, and Haaland sent Mamardashvili the wrong way before celebrating by playfully kicking the corner flag.

The second goal arrived in first half stoppage time. Matheus Nunes fed Cherki, who squared for Semenyo. The Ghanaian delivered a cross that Haaland flicked into the right side netting for 2 nil.

Five minutes into the second half, City extended their lead. Joe Gomez’s throw in was intercepted by Marc Guéhi, who found O’Reilly. Cherki then released Semenyo, and with Mamardashvili advancing, the winger produced a delicate lob to make it 3 nil.

Haaland completed his hat trick shortly after, sealing a dominant performance that secured City’s eighth consecutive FA Cup semi final appearance.

Liverpool’s misery deepened when Salah failed from the penalty spot at 4 nil down, steering his effort to Trafford’s left only for the goalkeeper to parry. The Egyptian, playing his first match since announcing his departure, endured a frustrating afternoon, missing further chances after the break.

For Slot, the defeat marks the heaviest of his tenure at Liverpool and comes just days before a Champions League quarter final clash against Paris Saint Germain. For Guardiola and Manchester City, attention now turns to the FA Cup semi finals as they continue their pursuit of silverware this season.