Manchester City fans had every reason to celebrate on April 4, 2026, as their team stormed into the FA Cup semifinals for an astonishing eighth consecutive season, dispatching Liverpool with a commanding 4-0 victory at the Etihad Stadium. The night belonged to Erling Haaland, who emphatically ended his recent goal drought by notching his 28th career hat-trick, while Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah endured a night to forget, missing a crucial penalty and watching his side’s last trophy hope slip away.
From the opening whistle, the intensity was palpable. Both teams approached the quarterfinal with tactical caution, knowing a single mistake could tip the scales. Manchester City, under the watchful eye of Pep Guardiola—who was suspended and watched from the stands—deployed a 4-2-3-1 formation. Their lineup featured Trafford in goal, a back four of Nunes, Husanov, Gehi, and O’Reilly, with Rodri and Bernardo anchoring the midfield. The attacking trio of Doku, Cherki, and Semenyo supported Haaland, the lone striker. Liverpool, managed by Arne Slot, mirrored the formation with Mamardashvili in goal, a defense marshaled by Van Dijk and Konate, and forwards Ekitike and Salah leading the charge.
The opening exchanges saw Liverpool carve out early opportunities. Hugo Ekitike twice came close, first narrowly missing the right post in the 11th minute and then sending another effort just over the bar in the 27th. Yet, City’s defensive organization and quick transitions soon shifted the momentum. The breakthrough arrived in the 37th minute when O’Reilly drew a foul from Van Dijk in the box. Haaland stepped up to the spot and calmly dispatched the penalty, giving City a 1-0 lead and lifting the home crowd to their feet.
City pressed their advantage, refusing to settle for a slender lead. Deep into first-half stoppage time, Semenyo tore down the right flank, leaving Liverpool’s defense in disarray. His pinpoint cross found Haaland, who powered home a header to double the advantage. The Etihad erupted as City headed into halftime with a comfortable 2-0 cushion.
Liverpool’s struggles only deepened after the break. Just five minutes into the second half, Cherki slipped a clever through ball to Semenyo, who finished with a deft left-footed lob over the onrushing Mamardashvili. At 3-0, the writing was on the wall for the visitors, whose defensive line—led by Van Dijk and Konate—was repeatedly stretched and exposed by City’s dynamic movement and precision passing.
Haaland was far from finished. In the 57th minute, Doku threaded a pass to O’Reilly on the left side of the box. O’Reilly cut the ball back across goal, and Haaland, ever the predator, slotted home his third of the night with a composed finish. The Norwegian striker’s hat-trick was his 28th in professional football, a staggering achievement for a player still in his mid-twenties. According to FTBL, "Haaland’s 28th professional hat-trick arrived as he completely demolished Liverpool." ESPN added, "Haaland recorded a hat-trick against Liverpool."
The rout could have been even more humiliating for Liverpool had Salah converted from the spot. In the 74th minute, Ekitike drew a foul in the box, and Salah—who is set to leave Liverpool at the end of the season—stepped up to take the penalty. His left-footed effort, however, was brilliantly saved by Trafford, epitomizing Liverpool’s frustrating night. As FourFourTwo described, "Salah missed the penalty, aiming for the right but Trafford read it perfectly."
City’s dominance wasn’t just reflected in the scoreline. They controlled possession, dictated tempo, and displayed superior organization in every phase. Rodri anchored the midfield with authority, linking play and breaking up Liverpool’s rare forays forward. The flanks were a constant source of danger, with Semenyo and Doku exploiting space and stretching the Liverpool defense. Guardiola’s absence from the touchline was barely noticed, as his tactical blueprint was executed flawlessly by his coaching staff and players.
Liverpool, meanwhile, looked bereft of ideas and cohesion. The midfield pairing of Jones and Gravenberch struggled to contain City’s waves of attack, while the backline’s lack of coordination was ruthlessly punished. The visitors made several substitutions in a desperate bid to change the game—introducing McAlister, Ngumoh, and Hacpo—but the die was cast. Even the traveling Liverpool supporters began to filter out of the stadium as City’s fourth goal hit the net.
For Haaland, this performance was a personal redemption. Having scored just four goals in his previous 18 matches, the Norwegian had been under intense scrutiny. BBC recently highlighted his struggles, noting, “Haaland’s recent form is unfamiliar to us—only 4 goals in 18 matches.” In a post-match interview with TNT Sports, Haaland admitted, "I don’t know the answer. I take full responsibility for not scoring the goals I should have. I don’t want to talk about my emotions. My job is to do my best every time I’m on the pitch. I just prepare and work hard for the next game." His hat-trick against Liverpool was a resounding statement that the "goal machine" is back in business.
With this victory, Manchester City not only booked a spot in the FA Cup semifinals for the eighth straight year but also restored confidence after recent disappointments in the Premier League and Champions League. Guardiola’s men now have their sights set on another domestic trophy, and with Haaland firing again, few would bet against them.
For Liverpool, the defeat marks the end of their FA Cup journey and confirms a trophyless season. Salah’s missed penalty will linger as a symbol of missed opportunities, while questions about the team’s direction under Arne Slot are sure to intensify. Injuries and inconsistent form have plagued the Reds, and with a crucial Champions League tie against Paris Saint-Germain looming, the pressure is mounting.
As the final whistle blew at the Etihad, City’s fans remained in full voice, celebrating a performance that was as clinical as it was dominant. Liverpool, meanwhile, will have to regroup and look ahead, their season now hanging by a thread. In Manchester, though, the blue half of the city is dreaming of more silverware—and with Haaland back among the goals, those dreams are very much alive.