7M - Haaland hat-trick inspires dominant Manchester City to emphatic FA Cup victory over Liverpool at the Etihad

Manchester City produced a tactical masterclass to dismantle Liverpool 4-0 in their FA Cup sixth-round tie, securing a place in the semi-finals for a remarkable eighth consecutive season. In a performance defined by clinical finishing and defensive resilience, Pep Guardiola’s side overwhelmed their rivals to record three successive wins against the Merseysiders for the first time since 1947. Erling Haaland was the undisputed star of the show, netting his 28th career hat-trick and his third of the current campaign. The Norwegian striker opened the scoring from the penalty spot after Nico O'Reilly was fouled by Virgil van Dijk, before doubling the lead with a powerful header from an Antoine Semenyo cross just before the interval. The victory not only keeps City’s hopes of a domestic double alive but also serves as a definitive statement of intent as the season enters its most critical phase.

The second half began with the same intensity from the hosts, as they effectively killed off the contest within minutes of the restart. Antoine Semenyo, who had provided the assist for Haaland’s second, found the net himself by dinking a clever finish over Liverpool goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili after being played through by Rayan Cherki. Haaland then completed his treble before the hour mark, sweeping home a low cross from O'Reilly to put the game completely out of reach. Liverpool’s frustrations were compounded late in the game when Mohamed Salah saw his penalty saved by James Trafford, following a foul on Hugo Ekitike by Matheus Nunes. The clean sheet was a testament to City’s disciplined defensive structure, which restricted a potent Liverpool attack to only a handful of half-chances throughout the ninety minutes.

Guardiola was full of praise for his squad's maturity, particularly highlighting the contributions of younger players like Nico O'Reilly and James Trafford in such a high-pressure fixture. The manager noted that the team’s ability to control the tempo of the game and exploit Liverpool’s high defensive line was key to the lopsided scoreline. For Liverpool and manager Arne Slot, the defeat is a bitter pill to swallow, especially given their bright start to the match where Salah and Ekitike had tested the City backline. The result leaves the Reds to focus on their remaining Premier League and Champions League commitments, while City can look forward to another trip to Wembley Stadium for the semi-finals later this month.

As the Etihad celebrated a famous win, the focus within the City camp immediately shifted to the upcoming challenges in April. With the squad firing on all cylinders and Haaland maintaining his record-breaking scoring rate, the dream of further silverware feels increasingly tangible for the reigning champions. The report emphasizes the "unbreakable spirit" of the current group, who continue to raise the bar for excellence in English football. For the supporters, another dominant display against a direct rival provides further evidence that this Manchester City era shows no signs of slowing down, as they march toward what could be another historic conclusion to the footballing calendar.