Manchester City vs Liverpool LIVE: FA Cup quarterfinal updates as Haaland scores a hat-trick
Quick Reads
- Manchester City thrashed Liverpool 4-0 at the Etihad Stadium to reach the FA Cup semifinals on Saturday.
- Erling Haaland scored a hat-trick, a penalty in the 39th minute, a header just before half-time, and a third before the hour mark.
- Antoine Semenyo added City’s second goal five minutes into the second half, with Rayan Cherki heavily involved in both that goal and Haaland’s third.
- Mohamed Salah made his first start after announcing he will leave Liverpool at the end of the season, but saw a late penalty saved by James Trafford.
- The result sends City to Wembley for an eighth consecutive FA Cup semifinal and puts further pressure on Arne Slot’s Liverpool.
Haaland Hat-Trick Sends City to FA Cup Semis in Liverpool Demolition
Manchester City put four past Liverpool without reply in the FA Cup quarterfinal at the Etihad Stadium, with Erling Haaland’s hat-trick the centerpiece of a commanding performance that leaves Arne Slot’s side with serious questions to answer.
Pep Guardiola’s men were in control from the moment Virgil van Dijk clumsily fouled Nico O’Reilly in the box, handing Haaland a penalty he converted with authority in the 39th minute. The Norwegian was not done there, a Cherki-assisted header just before half-time made it two, and the game was well beyond Liverpool before the hour when Haaland completed his treble. Semenyo got in on the act midway through the second half, released by Cherki down the left before lifting a composed chip over goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili.
City controlled every phase of the contest. Cherki was the creative engine throughout, his movement and dribbling consistently carving open a Liverpool defence that has looked vulnerable all season, particularly away from Anfield. The visitors never threatened a way back in, and the symbolism of a returning Salah watching his penalty pushed away by James Trafford when the scoreline already read 4-0 summed up the afternoon perfectly. This was his first appearance since confirming his summer departure, and it was far from the farewell moment he or anyone associated with the club would have hoped for.
Guardiola watched from the stands while serving a touchline ban, but his team delivered exactly what was needed, clinical, structured, and at times genuinely brilliant. It extends their strong domestic cup form and builds on the Carabao Cup final triumph over Arsenal just weeks ago. City are now firmly in the hunt for a domestic cup double. For Liverpool, this was the easiest route to a trophy left on their schedule. They still face Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals later this week, but if Saturday is any indicator of where this squad stands right now, the outlook is difficult.
By the Numbers
Final score: Manchester City 4–0 Liverpool | FA Cup Quarterfinal | Etihad Stadium, April 4, 2026
Goals: Haaland (39′ pen, 45+2′, 57′), Semenyo (50′)
Player of the Match: Erling Haaland
Man City lineup: Trafford; Nunes, Khusanov, Guéhi, O’Reilly; Rodri, Bernardo; Semenyo, Cherki, Doku; Haaland
Liverpool lineup: Mamardashvili; Gomez, Konaté, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Jones; Szoboszlai, Salah, Wirtz; Ekitiké
Notable: City have reached the FA Cup semifinals for the eighth season in a row, a record of remarkable consistency in the competition. Liverpool’s away form this season, just six wins from 16 Premier League games on the road, continued its sorry decline on the biggest stage.
Penalty saved: Mohamed Salah’s spot-kick, denied by James Trafford (4-0, second half)
Guardiola ban: Pep Guardiola served a touchline ban and watched from the stands.
