Erling Haaland scored a hat-trick as Manchester City thrashed Liverpool 4-0 at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday in the FA Cup quarter-finals. Antoine Semenyo also scored, and the result booked City’s place in a record-extending eighth successive FA Cup semi-final.
Liverpool started the brighter of the two sides, pressing high and creating chances before the half-hour mark. Hugo Ekitike fired wide, and Dominik Szoboszlai had an effort blocked, raising brief hopes of an upset.
Then Virgil van Dijk gave it all away. A clumsy challenge on Nico O’Reilly in the box conceded a penalty, which Haaland converted coolly in the 39th minute.
The Norwegian struck again in stoppage time, heading home from a Semenyo cross after Cherki’s clever work down the right. Two goals down at half-time, Liverpool’s chances were effectively over.
Semenyo made it three shortly after the restart, lifting the ball over Mamardashvili from a Cherki pass with composed finishing. Haaland then completed his treble on the hour, converting a cutback via the underside of the bar.
Mohamed Salah was making his first appearance since announcing his summer departure. Far from providing a redemptive moment, he saw a penalty saved by James Trafford when Liverpool were already four down.
City fans chanted “you’re getting sacked in the morning” at Arne Slot, while Liverpool’s away end began emptying before the final whistle. It was a damning visual verdict on how far the season has fallen.
This was Liverpool’s heaviest defeat of a thoroughly disappointing campaign, making it just six wins in 27 attempts at the Etihad. City’s 18th successive home FA Cup win also broke a record set by Clapham Rovers in the 1870s.
The result raised fresh questions about Slot’s future at Anfield, given a club that won the league last season is now fighting for top-four places and faces PSG in Paris on Wednesday. Liverpool still have the Champions League to play for, but the mood around the club is bleak.
For City, the win maintained momentum after their Premier League title push resumed following Champions League elimination by Real Madrid. Haaland’s record against Liverpool specifically now reads four home appearances, four goals, in this relentless sequence.