Erling Haaland bagged a hat-trick as Wembley regulars Manchester City booked an eighth successive FA Cup semi-final appearance by beating Liverpool 4-0 at the Etihad Stadium, securing three successive wins against the Reds for the first time since 1947.
After lifting the Carabao Cup two weeks ago, a swift return to cup action seemed likely to suit City, but it was Liverpool who settled quickest in this quarter-final.
The Reds created the first big chance of the game in usual circumstances, as Giorgi Mamardashvili’s 80-yard punt forward freed Mohamed Salah in behind, only for a last-ditch Abdukodir Khusanov challenge to prevent the Egyptian from getting a clear strike on goal.
An equally good chance presented itself to Hugo Ekitike when Rodri’s loose touch on the edge of the area fell kindly for him, but once again, it came and went as he blazed over the bar.
Yet for all the chances they’d created in the opening half, it was City who nosed ahead. Liverpool gave them a huge helping hand in the process, particularly Virgil van Dijk, whose clumsy challenge inside the area saw Nico O’Reilly hit the deck.
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Referee Michael Oliver didn’t hesitate in pointing to the spot, and there was similarly little hesitation from Haaland from 12 yards as he sent Mamardashvili the wrong way.
That proved to be the first of a quick-fire double for Haaland, who wriggled free inside the area to head home Antoine Semenyo’s teasing delivery, sending City into the break with a two-goal lead.
A seething Arne Slot sent his Liverpool side out for the second half well before City, and his mood won’t have been helped when the hosts added a third within five minutes of the restart.
Semenyo turned goal scorer this time, racing clear on goal after Rayan Cherki played him through, and dinking over the on-rushing Mamardashvili to complete a trio of City goals in 14 minutes and 9 seconds.
Things got even better for Pep Guardiola’s men before the hour mark as they continued in the ascendancy, with Haaland completing his 28th career hat-trick when he swept in O’Reilly’s cut back.
Just as Liverpool thought their afternoon couldn’t get any worse, Salah saw a spot-kick saved by James Trafford after Matheus Nunes felled Ekitike in the area. The game was done as a contest from then on, with the pair merely playing out the final 20 minutes of a foregone conclusion.
City can now plan a swift return to Wembley, as they stand just one step away from reaching a fourth successive FA Cup final. Meanwhile, Liverpool only have a few days to lick their wounds, as they have a UEFA Champions League quarter-final against Paris Saint-Germain to prepare for on Wednesday.
The Conclaveng
