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Jamie Jackson
When Erling Haaland swept the ball home for a first Manchester City hat-trick since August 2024 it sent swathes of Liverpool fans for the exits. Only 57 minutes were gone yet City were cruising at 4-0 and Arne Slot’s men were being schooled.
Haaland’s third, in which Jérémy Doku and Nico O’Reilly walked the ball through Liverpool before the No 9 hooked in off the bar, epitomised the patheticalness that set in with the striker’s 39th-minute penalty opener.
Until then those in red went toe-to-toe with their hosts, Hugo Ekitiké (twice) and Mohamed Salah spurning chances they had to take. Yet after the break the chronically impotent Salah missed two more, early chances, before failing where Haaland prospered – from the spot: at 4-0 down, the Egyptian steered the ball to James Trafford’s left, City’s goalkeeper parried, and Liverpool’s misery deepened further.
The beleaguered Slot knows the heaviest defeat handed to his Liverpool will damage his job prospects because next up is Wednesday’s date at the European champions, Paris Saint-Germain; if they go down in similar manner in the Champions League quarter-final, then the owners may have a decision to make.
Marc Guehi’s reaction
double quotation markIt was a good win. You have to suffer at times against a top team like Liverpool, but we stuck together today. I’m super happy for [Erling Haaland], he works so hard for the team.
[On Liverpool’s lack of an orthodox No9] We were aware they could do that. As a defender it’s hard because players are trying to pull you out of position, so you have to be wary and communicate a lot.
[On winning five times against Liverpool this season with Palace and City] It’s not me! It’s just a coincidence.
[What’s it like playing for City?] It’s hard to put into words. It’s relentless, it’s exciting; it’s everything I wanted.
[What’s Pep like?] He’s exactly how he comes across on TV. He loves football, loves players. And he wants to win.
Updated at 10.02 EDT
Erling Haaland’s reaction
double quotation markHonestly, first half we struggled a bit, but we kept going and in the end it was an amazing game for us.
Between 30 and 60 minutes, that’s one of our better performances of the season.
It’s been some time since I [scored a hat-trick] for City so it was about time I did it again. It’s always special so I’m super happy.
My season has been a bit too up and down, which is not good enough. I can’t think about what did or didn’t happen; I have to think about the next game.
[On his second goal] I will tell [Antoine Semenyo] to keep crossing like that because it worked out well! He was outstanding, Nico [O’Reilly] was outstanding again – he gave me a tap-in and he won the penalty.
ShareFull time: Manchester City 4-0 Liverpool
Michael Oliver calls it a day after three seconds of added time. Manchester City have reached their eighth successive FA Cup semi-final in style by thrashing Liverpool at the Etihad.
Erling Haaland scored his 12th hat-trick for City with Antoine Semenyo getting the other goal. All four came in a devastating 20-minute period either side of half-time, during which City played some of their best football of the season.
Liverpool’s misery was compounded at 4-0 when Mo Salah, a shadow of the player who was arguably the world’s best a year ago, had a penalty saved by James Trafford.
90 min “I’m reminded of the anecdote about the Nottingham Forest scout going to assess Roy Keane,” writes Niall Mullen. “Keane’s team was losing 5-0 but he kept demanding the ball, driving forward etc in the way he would do for over a decade in the Premier League. It would be easier to accept more time for Slot if Liverpool showed any character in adversity or desire to do the next right thing. But all you’re seeing at the moment is the absence of, well, anything.”
89 min Apparently City have set a new record today: 18 consecutive wins at home in the FA Cup. Clapham Rovers won 17 in a row in the 19th century.
88 min Now Nico Gonzalez is booked for a tactical foul.
88 min “Opta’s model gives City a 2.79% chance of the title right now,” notes David Howell. “Misplaced decimal point.”
87 min Konate is booked for something or other.
86 min It’s like a pre-season friendly now. Both teams are done for the day.
84 min “If only John McEnroe were here to world-wearily point out that Father Time remains undefeated, in that clipped Queens brogue,” writes Paul Griffin. “I just hope when my combination of unearthly speed, gladiatorial strength, lethal touch and ice-in-the-veins composure starts to wane, I’ll know when to bow out.”
My MBM hasn’t been that bad, has it?
81 min It sounds a bit silly but I wonder how much City’s excellent performance with 10 men against Real Madrid did for their confidence. They lost the game and the tie, but since then they’ve beaten Arsenal and hammered Liverpool.
79 min “Between Hughes’ summer transfer window which ignored gaping holes in the squad, FSG abandoning the multi-club model that attracted Edwards back to the club and Slot overseeing results like these, it’s hard to see all three being at the club next season,” says Graeme Neill. “Possibly all of them will be gone.”
I know I’m in an increasingly small minority but I keep returning to how much time Sir Alex Ferguson needed at Manchester United. Times change, sure, but some truths are immutable. That said, you don’t need a PhD in Reading The Room to know what’s likely to happen at Anfield this summer.
77 min: Liverpool substitution Federico Chiesa replaces a woebegone Mo Salah.
77 min: City substitution Omar Marmoush replaces the hat-trick hero Erling Haaland. His second goal was a beauty, both the creation and the finish.
76 min Mac Allister whistles a long-range shot that swirls and forces Trafford to change direction before saving low to his left.
74 min Haaland plays a promising through pass towards Reijnders, who is outpaced by the last man Konate. Good defendi ng.
73 min Cherki swapped shirts with Ekitike, who was also subbed, and was in the process of putting it on when somebody apparently had a word over his shoulder. I didn’t realise Roy Keane was part of the City backroom team.
71 min: Man City substitutions Phil Foden and Tiijani Reijnders come on for Antoine Semenyo and Rayan Cherki. I suspect both teams would take the final whistle now, certainly Liverpool.
68 min: Liverpool substitutions Alexis Mac Allister, Rio Ngumoha and Cody Gakpo come on for Ryan Gravenberch, Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike. All eyes are on on Paris on Wednesday now.
67 min Bernardo Silva is booked for something or other.
65 min Kerkez is booked for something or other. I didn’t give Trafford enough credit for that penalty save – it wasn’t the greatest penalty, sure, but that’s a huge moment for a young goalkeeper.
ShareTrafford saves Salah’s penalty!
64 min You could barely make it up. Salah takes a deep breath, runs round the ball and smashes a trademark penalty low to the right. Trafford dives the right way, to his left, and pushes it away. It was nowhere near the corner.
James Trafford dive to parry Salah’s penalty! Photograph: Darren Staples/AFP/Getty ImagesShare
Updated at 09.14 EDT
63 min: Penalty to Liverpool
Nunes trips Ekitike and Liverpool have a penalty.
62 min: Liverpool substitution Jeremie Frimpong replaces Joe Gomez.
62 min: Double substitution for City Nico Gonzalez and Savinho replace Jeremy Doku and Rodri.
60 min One of the biggest cheers of the day comes when Cherki is forced to the byline by Szoboszlai but gets out of trouble with a nonchalant pass round the corner. He’s so much fun to watch.
It’s another lovely team goal from City. Doku released the underlapping O’Reilly on the left side of the area; he could have shot himself but looked up and gave the goal to Haaland.
Either side of half-time, City have been sensational.
ShareGOAL! Man City 4-0 Liverpool (Haaland 57)
Erling Haaland scores his 12th Manchester City hat-trick!
Haaland pounces to pile on the misery for Liverpool! Photograph: Phil Noble/ReutersThree is the magic number for Haaland! Photograph: Darren Staples/AFP/Getty ImagesShare
Updated at 09.08 EDT
56 min Gravenberch plays another good pass to find Salah in space on the right side of the area. He takes the shot first-time but curls high and wide of the far post. At his best, Salah’s finishes were so relaxed but that hasn’t the case today. Right now, he probably wants it too much.
55 min It’s worth reiterating that there was nothing between the teams for the first 35 minutes. But the last 20 have been horrible for Liverpool, and maybe a little ominous for Arsenal. City look as good as they have at any stage this season.
54 min Semenyo tries to score from inside his own half! It was a really good effort that landed on the roof of the net with Mamardashvili backpedalling urgently. He had it covered but it was a fine try from Semenyo.
52 min Cherki strolls disdainfully past Kerkez, turns back inside and plays another brilliant through pass to Semenyo. This time Semenyo’s touch is poor and the danger passes.
Cherki is playing delightfully – a maverick who is dominating rather than decorating the game.
Updated at 08.59 EDT
52 min: Chance for Salah Gravenberch angles a terrific through pass to Salah, who flicks a shot across goal with the outside of the right foot. Trafford gets done very smartly to his right to push it away.
Updated at 08.57 EDT
O’Reilly plays a simple pass infield to Cherki, 25 yards from goal. He turns and guides a lovely through pass, perfectly in sync with Semenyo’s run behind Van Dijk. Semenyo finishes with aplomb, teasing a majestic finish around Mamardashvili with his left foot. That’s another delightful goal.
ShareGOAL! Man City 3-0 Liverpool (Semenyo 50)
All over at the Etihad.
Antoine Semenyo makes it three! Photograph: Phil Noble/ReutersA well-deserved goal for Antoine Semenyo. Photograph: Phil Noble/ReutersShare
Updated at 09.03 EDT
50 min “For all Klopp’s bluster it’s clear he largely created a spirit of believing that all things are possible,” writes Niall Mullen. “Slot’s side seem to constantly expect the worst to happen and then feel sorry for themselves when it does. Like Sideshow Bob but if he laid out all the rakes himself.”
Didn’t they come from behind quite a lot last season? From afar they look like a textbook case of a decent team whose confidence is really fragile.
49 min City pass the clock down for 60 seconds or so. There might be a lot of that in this half, and that’s not a criticism.
47 min “I was planning on putting a couple of shelves up after this match,” says Matt Dony. “Maybe I’ll just get on with that now…”
You’re a disgrace to Istanbul.
46 min City get the second half under way.
Half-time reading
ShareHalf-time: Man City 2-0 Liverpool
It was an even game for 35 minutes, but then Virgil van Dijk tripped Nico O’Reilly and Erling Haaland scored the first of his two goals from the spot. It’s a long way back for Liverpool from here.
Cherki, on the right, played a perfectly weighted pass to the underlapping Semenyo. He clipped an excellent first-time cross to the near post, where Haaland got across Konate and guided an expert header into the far corner. That’s a lovely goal.
ShareGOAL! Man City 2-0 Liverpool (Haaland 45+2)
A brilliant second goal, and a hammer blow on the stroke of half-time!
Erling Haaland steers in the second! Photograph: Jason Cairnduff/Action Images/ReutersWe fear for the corner flags today. Photograph: Mike Egerton/PAShare
Updated at 08.37 EDT
43 min Liverpool need half-time. They’ve played well for the most part but it’s been all City since the goal.
40 min Oh to have a difficult season like Erling Haaland: that’s his 31st goal for City in all competitions.
ShareGOAL! Manchester City 1-0 Liverpool (Haaland 39 pen)
Haaland sends Mamardashvili the wrong way and boots the corner flag in celebration.
Erling Haaland makes no mistake from the spot! Photograph: Mike Egerton/PAHaaland heads to the corner flag to celebrate. Photograph: Jason Cairnduff/Action Images/ReutersShare
Updated at 08.29 EDT