Erling Haaland struck a hat-trick on Saturday as Manchester City continued their remarkable FA Cup run under Pep Guardiola.
With the 4-0 victory over Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester City booked a record-extending eighth consecutive semi-final of the competition, all under Guardiola’s guidance.
Guardiola had to watch from the stands as he served the second match of a touchline ban and he witnessed his team take apart toothless Liverpool in a result that will increase the pressure on coach Arne Slot.
Manchester City’s last match before facing Liverpool was at Wembley, when they triumphed over English Premier League leaders Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final, and the hosts backed that up with another impressive victory to close on a domestic cup double.
City had done little to threaten Giorgi Mamardashvili’s goal until taking the lead on 38 minutes when Haaland converted from the penalty spot, just as he did at Anfield in the league this season, following Virgil van Dijk’s clumsy trip on Nico O’Reilly.
The Norway striker had been on a relatively barren run in front of goal before this game but he then added a second by guiding a header into the far corner from Antoine Semenyo’s cross on the stroke of half-time.
Liverpool had played fluently earlier in the game at Etihad Stadium and their inability to convert the chances they created proved costly.
City failed to deal with a long ball over the top but Mohamed Salah, playing for the first time since announcing he will leave Anfield this summer, hesitated when through on goal and dragged his effort wide.
He also later had a penalty saved by James Trafford while Hugo Ekitike’s volley from the edge of the area flew wastefully over.
Semenyo clipped in a delightful finish early in the second half to make it 3-0 and Haaland completed his treble to seal City’s progression to the last four.
With agency report
