Manchester City Thrash Liverpool 4-0 to Reach FA Cup Semifinals
Manchester City humiliated Liverpool with a 4-0 victory at the Etihad Stadium to secure a place in the FA Cup semifinals. Erling Haaland spearheaded the assault with a clinical hat-trick, while Antoine Semenyo added a fourth to dismantle Arne Slot’s side. The result marks City’s eighth consecutive appearance in the competition’s final four. For Liverpool, the defeat represents a low point in a turbulent season, leaving their domestic trophy hopes in tatters.
The afternoon went from bad to worse for Mohamed Salah, who missed a late penalty in his first game since announcing his summer departure. City goalkeeper James Trafford denied the Egyptian forward, whose uncharacteristic lapse mirrored the wider collapse of the visitors. Liverpool had started with competitive intent, but defensive errors quickly invited disaster. Both Salah and Hugo Ekitike missed early chances that might have altered the momentum of the tie.
Haaland opened the scoring from the penalty spot before doubling the lead with a close-range header just before the interval. The Norwegian’s physical dominance overwhelmed a Liverpool backline that appeared increasingly fragile under pressure. Shortly after the restart, Semenyo capitalised on another lapse, racing clear to chip Giorgi Mamardashvili for City’s third. Haaland then completed his treble with a ferocious strike that went in off the crossbar.
Manager Arne Slot now faces intense scrutiny as his side prepares for a daunting Champions League fixture against Paris Saint-Germain. The lack of cohesion in the Liverpool midfield allowed City to dictate the tempo for much of the ninety minutes. Tactical shifts failed to stem the tide, and the body language of the senior players suggested a team shorn of confidence. Critics are already questioning if the squad has the stomach for the final stretch of the season.
The victory keeps Pep Guardiola’s side on track for a potential domestic double. City’s ability to ruthlessly punish minor mistakes remains their greatest asset in knockout football. Trafford’s penalty save was the final blow to Liverpool’s pride, ensuring a clean sheet to accompany the goal fest. While City celebrates a familiar trip to Wembley, Liverpool is left to conduct a post-mortem on a defensive display that lacked both grit and organisation.
Liverpool must now pivot quickly to European competition to save their season from total irrelevance. The looming trip to Paris offers a chance at redemption, but the scars from the Etihad will be difficult to hide. Slot’s immediate task is to restore morale and fix a defensive structure that has become alarmingly porous. Without a swift recovery, the final weeks of the campaign could become a prolonged farewell for more than just their star forward.