Manchester City delivered a statement performance on Saturday, April 4, 2026, as Erling Haaland’s explosive 18-minute hat trick powered them to a commanding 4-0 victory over Liverpool in the FA Cup quarterfinals at Etihad Stadium. The win not only sent City into the semifinals for a record-breaking eighth consecutive season but also deepened the woes for Liverpool and their embattled manager, Arne Slot, in what could be one of the last iconic meetings of these two modern rivals as we know them.
All eyes were on Haaland, who once again proved why he’s considered one of world football’s most lethal forwards. The Norwegian striker opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 39th minute, coolly dispatching his effort past Liverpool’s goalkeeper after a nervy opening half-hour. As the first half wound down, Haaland struck again—this time rising to meet an Antoine Semenyo cross in stoppage time, heading in City’s second to put the home side firmly in control.
But City weren’t done. Just five minutes after the break, Semenyo got on the scoresheet himself, capping off a slick team move with a precise finish to make it 3-0. Haaland completed his hat trick in the 57th minute with a thunderous effort off the crossbar, marking his first treble of the season and the 12th since joining City in 2022. “This club has to win trophies,” Haaland said after the match, echoing the relentless ambition that has come to define Manchester City’s modern era.
While City’s attacking display grabbed headlines, the subplot of Pep Guardiola’s absence from the touchline added a layer of intrigue. The Spanish manager was forced to watch from the stands, serving the second match of a two-game suspension for yellow card accumulation. Guardiola, never one to hide his emotions, was spotted alongside his daughter, visibly animated throughout the contest—especially during the match’s pivotal penalty moments. Social media buzzed with reactions to his every gesture, with one fan quipping, “Pep Guardiola watching that penalty moment and his face said EVERYTHING. Even with his daughter next to him, there was no hiding that reaction.” Another joked, “Pep Guardiola has started calling Pepijn Lijnders.”
In Guardiola’s place, Pep Lijnders, the former Liverpool assistant coach, took charge of the technical area for City. Lijnders, who joined City’s backroom staff ahead of the 2025-2026 campaign after a decade alongside Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool, was handpicked by Guardiola to bring fresh tactical insight and Premier League know-how. “I had a lot of info from other people about him who had been trained or managed by him at Liverpool. I needed to refresh myself first with new people who have incredible knowledge about the game and the Premier League and I love a lot many things that he did with Jurgen at Liverpool. We talked one day, I think we felt connected immediately. I am incredibly lucky that since the first day I started as a manager [with] all my backroom staff and close people and Pep is one of them,” Guardiola reflected, according to Sporting News.
For Liverpool, the match was fraught with emotion and disappointment. Mohamed Salah, who announced during the recent international break that he would leave the club at the end of the season after nine trophy-filled years, couldn’t mark what may be his final appearance in this storied fixture with a goal. His best opportunity came from the penalty spot in the 64th minute, but City’s James Trafford guessed correctly and parried the effort away, further compounding Liverpool’s misery. The miss was emblematic of Liverpool’s struggles on the day, as many of their supporters began to file out of the Etihad following City’s fourth goal.
“The fighting spirit wasn’t there enough, the mentality wasn’t there enough,” admitted Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai in a candid post-match interview. “None of us were there to be honest as much as we could. It’s a hard time but we have to stick together.” The defeat piles more pressure on Arne Slot, whose tenure at Anfield has been anything but smooth since taking over from Jurgen Klopp. With the team’s form faltering and key figures like Salah and City captain Bernardo Silva set to depart at season’s end, the rivalry between these two clubs is entering a new era—one marked by transition and uncertainty.
For Manchester City, the victory continues a remarkable run of success in the FA Cup. Saturday’s result marked their 18th consecutive home win in the competition, a streak that stretches back to 2017. By reaching the semifinals for the eighth straight year, City now stands alone in the record books, having surpassed Clapham Rovers’ previous mark of seven consecutive finals appearances. The club’s relentless pursuit of silverware remains undimmed, with this win coming just two weeks after their triumph over Arsenal in the English League Cup final at Wembley.
Elsewhere in the FA Cup, the quarterfinal action was set to continue later on Saturday, with Chelsea hosting third-tier Port Vale and Arsenal visiting second-tier Southampton. The semifinal draw was scheduled for Sunday, following the final quarterfinal tie between West Ham and Leeds. As the competition narrows, City’s focus will turn to their next challenge at Wembley, where they’ll seek to add yet another chapter to their growing legacy under Guardiola’s stewardship.
Despite the lopsided scoreline, the match signaled a turning point in the Manchester City-Liverpool rivalry. With Salah’s impending departure and Bernardo Silva’s contract expiring, the familiar faces that defined the Guardiola-Klopp era are slowly fading from the scene. The next generation of stars and tactical minds will shape the future of this fixture, but for now, City’s dominance remains clear for all to see.
As the dust settles on a dramatic afternoon at the Etihad, Manchester City’s march toward more silverware continues unabated, while Liverpool faces tough questions and an uncertain path forward. The FA Cup semifinals await, and with Haaland in this kind of form, few would bet against City making yet another trip to Wembley in search of glory.