Haaland scores a hat-trick as Man City thrash Liverpool 4-0 in the FA Cup quarter-finals.
Erling Haaland's hat-trick helped Man City beat Liverpool 4-0, setting an impressive record of reaching the FA Cup semi-finals eight times in a row.
Erling Haaland reaffirmed his world-class status with a spectacular hat-trick, helping Manchester City secure a crushing 4-0 victory over Liverpool in the FA Cup quarter-finals. Despite the absence of manager Pep Guardiola due to suspension, the defending champions operated a flawless attacking machine to overwhelm their opponents.
Erling Haaland's killer instinct
In the first 30 minutes of the match, Liverpool were the more proactive team, thanks to the attacking prowess of Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike. However, squandering clear-cut chances proved costly for Arne Slot's side. The turning point came in the 37th minute when defender Nico O'Reilly was fouled by Virgil van Dijk inside the penalty area.
From the penalty spot, Haaland coolly deceived goalkeeper Mamardashvili to open the scoring. Not stopping there, just before the end of the first half, the Norwegian striker doubled the lead with a powerful header from a precise cross by Antoine Semenyo in the 45+2 minute.
The collapse of Liverpool's defensive system.
In the second half, the game was completely dominated by the blue half of Manchester. In the 50th minute, Rayan Cherki delivered a sublime assist that tore through the red defense, allowing Semenyo to run down and chip the ball skillfully into the net, making the score 3-0.
Liverpool's nightmare officially ended in the 57th minute. Nico O'Reilly once again provided the assist for Haaland to complete his hat-trick with a decisive close-range finish. Liverpool's efforts to find a consolation goal were dashed in the 64th minute when Mohamed Salah missed a penalty, saved by the excellent James Trafford goalkeeper.
Match statistics and records
This victory helped Man City set an unprecedented record by reaching the FA Cup semi-finals for the eighth consecutive time. While Haaland continues to lead the scoring charts, pressure is mounting on Arne Slot as Liverpool face a tough upcoming Champions League schedule.
| Parameter | Man City | Liverpool |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 4 | 0 |
| Goal | Haaland (39', 45+2', 57'), Semenyo (50') | But |
| Penalty for failure | 0 | Salah (64') |
Following this match, Manchester City will prepare for their Premier League clash with Chelsea, while Liverpool need to quickly recover their morale before their away trip to PSG.
