Manchester City delivered a ruthless statement of intent with a 4-0 demolition of Liverpool, powered by a hat-trick from Erling Haaland and a standout display from Antoine Semenyo, to book their place in the FA Cup semi-finals.
The emphatic victory at the Etihad Stadium also marked City’s first FA Cup triumph over Liverpool since February 1973, ending a decades-long wait in dominant fashion.
Despite a lively opening from Liverpool, the contest swung decisively in City’s favour late in the first half. Haaland opened the scoring from the penalty spot after a defensive error, before doubling the lead in stoppage time with a clinical finish.
That quick fire double effectively broke Liverpool’s resistance, handing Pep Guardiola’s side full control heading into the break.
City picked up where they left off after halftime, with Antoine Semenyo making it 3-0 shortly after the restart, finishing off a flowing attacking move.
The forward was instrumental throughout, not only scoring but also contributing in the build-up phases that consistently exposed Liverpool’s fragile defensive structure.
Moments later, Haaland completed his hat-trick in emphatic fashion, firing in City’s fourth goal before the hour mark to cap a devastating spell of attacking football.
Liverpool’s afternoon went from bad to worse when Mohamed Salah saw a penalty saved, extinguishing any slim hopes of a comeback.
Having started brightly, the visitors were undone by defensive lapses and missed opportunities, with their performance collapsing under City’s relentless pressure.
The result sends Manchester City into a record-extending eighth consecutive FA Cup semi-final, underlining their continued domestic dominance.
It also represents a historic milestone, as City finally secured an FA Cup victory over Liverpool for the first time in over five decades.
For Liverpool, the heavy defeat raises fresh concerns ahead of crucial fixtures, while City march on with momentum, confidence, and silverware firmly in sight.
Leave feedback about this