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Jamie Jackson<\/p>\n
When Erling Haaland swept the ball home for a first Manchester City<\/a> 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\u2019s men were being schooled.<\/p>\n Haaland\u2019s third, in which J\u00e9r\u00e9my Doku and Nico O\u2019Reilly walked the ball through Liverpool<\/a> before the No 9 hooked in off the bar, epitomised the patheticalness that set in with the striker\u2019s 39th-minute penalty opener.<\/p>\n Until then those in red went toe-to-toe with their hosts, Hugo Ekitik\u00e9 (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 \u2013 from the spot: at 4-0 down, the Egyptian steered the ball to James Trafford\u2019s left, City\u2019s goalkeeper parried, and Liverpool\u2019s misery deepened further.<\/p>\n The beleaguered Slot knows the heaviest defeat handed to his Liverpool will damage his job prospects because next up is Wednesday\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Marc Guehi\u2019s reaction<\/p>\n 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\u2019m super happy for [Erling Haaland], he works so hard for the team.<\/p>\n [On Liverpool\u2019s lack of an orthodox No9] We were aware they could do that. As a defender it\u2019s hard because players are trying to pull you out of position, so you have to be wary and communicate a lot.<\/p>\n [On winning five times against Liverpool this season with Palace and City] It\u2019s not me! It\u2019s just a coincidence.<\/p>\n [What\u2019s it like playing for City?] It\u2019s hard to put into words. It\u2019s relentless, it\u2019s exciting; it\u2019s everything I wanted.<\/p>\n [What\u2019s Pep like?] He\u2019s exactly how he comes across on TV. He loves football, loves players. And he wants to win.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.02 EDT<\/p>\n Erling Haaland’s reaction<\/p>\n double quotation markHonestly, first half we struggled a bit, but we kept going and in the end it was an amazing game for us.<\/p>\n Between 30 and 60 minutes, that\u2019s one of our better performances of the season.<\/p>\n It\u2019s been some time since I [scored a hat-trick] for City so it was about time I did it again. It\u2019s always special so I\u2019m super happy.<\/p>\n My season has been a bit too up and down, which is not good enough. I can\u2019t think about what did or didn\u2019t happen; I have to think about the next game.<\/p>\n [On his second goal] I will tell [Antoine Semenyo] to keep crossing like that because it worked out well! He was outstanding, Nico [O\u2019Reilly] was outstanding again \u2013 he gave me a tap-in and he won the penalty.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Full time: Manchester City 4-0 Liverpool<\/p>\n Michael Oliver calls it a day after three seconds of added time. Manchester City<\/a> have reached their eighth successive FA Cup semi-final in style by thrashing Liverpool at the Etihad.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Liverpool\u2019s misery was compounded at 4-0 when Mo Salah, a shadow of the player who was arguably the world\u2019s best a year ago, had a penalty saved by James Trafford.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 90 min \u201cI\u2019m reminded of the anecdote about the Nottingham Forest scout going to assess Roy Keane,\u201d writes Niall Mullen. \u201cKeane\u2019s 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<\/a> showed any character in adversity or desire to do the next right thing. But all you\u2019re seeing at the moment is the absence of, well, anything.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 89 min Apparently City have set a new record today: 18 consecutive wins at home in the FA Cup<\/a>. Clapham Rovers won 17 in a row in the 19th century.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 88 min Now Nico Gonzalez is booked for a tactical foul.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 88 min \u201cOpta\u2019s model gives City a 2.79% chance of the title right now,\u201d notes David Howell. \u201cMisplaced decimal point.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 87 min Konate is booked for something or other.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 86 min It\u2019s like a pre-season friendly now. Both teams are done for the day.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 84 min \u201cIf only John McEnroe were here to world-wearily point out that Father Time remains undefeated, in that clipped Queens brogue,\u201d writes Paul Griffin. \u201cI just hope when my combination of unearthly speed, gladiatorial strength, lethal touch and ice-in-the-veins composure starts to wane, I\u2019ll know when to bow out.\u201d<\/p>\n My MBM hasn\u2019t been that bad, has it?<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 81 min It sounds a bit silly but I wonder how much City\u2019s excellent performance with 10 men against Real Madrid did for their confidence. They lost the game and the tie, but since then they\u2019ve beaten Arsenal and hammered Liverpool<\/a>.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 79 min \u201cBetween Hughes\u2019 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\u2019s hard to see all three being at the club next season,\u201d says Graeme Neill. \u201cPossibly all of them will be gone.\u201d<\/p>\n I know I\u2019m 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\u2019t need a PhD in Reading The Room to know what\u2019s likely to happen at Anfield this summer.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 77 min: Liverpool<\/a> substitution Federico Chiesa replaces a woebegone Mo Salah.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 76 min Mac Allister whistles a long-range shot that swirls and forces Trafford to change direction before saving low to his left.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 74 min Haaland plays a promising through pass towards Reijnders, who is outpaced by the last man Konate. Good defendi ng.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 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\u2019t realise Roy Keane was part of the City backroom team.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 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<\/a>.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 68 min: Liverpool<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 67 min Bernardo Silva is booked for something or other.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 65 min Kerkez is booked for something or other. I didn\u2019t give Trafford enough credit for that penalty save \u2013 it wasn\u2019t the greatest penalty, sure, but that\u2019s a huge moment for a young goalkeeper.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Trafford saves Salah’s penalty!<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n James Trafford dive to parry Salah\u2019s penalty! Photograph: Darren Staples\/AFP\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a009.14 EDT<\/p>\n 63 min: Penalty to Liverpool<\/p>\n Nunes trips Ekitike and Liverpool<\/a> have a penalty.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 62 min: Liverpool<\/a> substitution Jeremie Frimpong replaces Joe Gomez.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 62 min: Double substitution for City Nico Gonzalez and Savinho replace Jeremy Doku and Rodri.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 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\u2019s so much fun to watch.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n It\u2019s another lovely team goal from City. Doku released the underlapping O\u2019Reilly on the left side of the area; he could have shot himself but looked up and gave the goal to Haaland.<\/p>\n Either side of half-time, City have been sensational.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>GOAL! Man City 4-0 Liverpool (Haaland 57)<\/p>\n Erling Haaland scores his 12th Manchester City<\/a> hat-trick!<\/p>\n 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<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a009.08 EDT<\/p>\n 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\u2019s finishes were so relaxed but that hasn\u2019t the case today. Right now, he probably wants it too much.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 55 min It\u2019s worth reiterating that there was nothing between the teams for the first 35 minutes. But the last 20 have been horrible for Liverpool<\/a>, and maybe a little ominous for Arsenal. City look as good as they have at any stage this season.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 52 min Cherki strolls disdainfully past Kerkez, turns back inside and plays another brilliant through pass to Semenyo. This time Semenyo\u2019s touch is poor and the danger passes.<\/p>\n Cherki is playing delightfully \u2013 a maverick who is dominating rather than decorating the game.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a008.59 EDT<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a008.57 EDT<\/p>\n O\u2019Reilly plays a simple pass infield to Cherki, 25 yards from goal. He turns and guides a lovely through pass, perfectly in sync with Semenyo\u2019s run behind Van Dijk. Semenyo finishes with aplomb, teasing a majestic finish around Mamardashvili with his left foot. That\u2019s another delightful goal.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>GOAL! Man City 3-0 Liverpool (Semenyo 50)<\/p>\n All over at the Etihad.<\/p>\n Antoine Semenyo makes it three! Photograph: Phil Noble\/ReutersA well-deserved goal for Antoine Semenyo. Photograph: Phil Noble\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a009.03 EDT<\/p>\n 50 min \u201cFor all Klopp\u2019s bluster it\u2019s clear he largely created a spirit of believing that all things are possible,\u201d writes Niall Mullen. \u201cSlot\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/p>\n Didn\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 49 min City pass the clock down for 60 seconds or so. There might be a lot of that in this half, and that\u2019s not a criticism.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 47 min \u201cI was planning on putting a couple of shelves up after this match,\u201d says Matt Dony. \u201cMaybe I\u2019ll just get on with that now\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n You\u2019re a disgrace to Istanbul.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 46 min City get the second half under way.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Half-time reading<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Half-time: Man City 2-0 Liverpool<\/p>\n It was an even game for 35 minutes, but then Virgil van Dijk tripped Nico O\u2019Reilly and Erling Haaland scored the first of his two goals from the spot. It\u2019s a long way back for Liverpool<\/a> from here.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 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\u2019s a lovely goal.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>GOAL! Man City 2-0 Liverpool (Haaland 45+2)<\/p>\n A brilliant second goal, and a hammer blow on the stroke of half-time!<\/p>\n Erling Haaland steers in the second! Photograph: Jason Cairnduff\/Action Images\/ReutersWe fear for the corner flags today. Photograph: Mike Egerton\/PAShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a008.37 EDT<\/p>\n 43 min Liverpool need half-time. They\u2019ve played well for the most part but it\u2019s been all City since the goal.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 40 min Oh to have a difficult season like Erling Haaland: that\u2019s his 31st goal for City in all competitions.<\/p>\n