Manchester City Striker, Erling Haaland delivered a clinical masterclass on Saturday as Manchester City dismantled Liverpool 4-0 at the Etihad Stadium, securing their place in the FA Cup semi-finals.
The Norwegian striker’s dominance underscored a wider gulf in class between the two sides, as Pep Guardiola’s men continued their relentless pursuit of domestic silverware.
Haaland opened the scoring late in the first half with two quick-fire strikes that left the visitors reeling before the interval.
He completed his treble following the restart, while Antoine Semenyo added a fourth to cap off a commanding performance. The victory marks a historic milestone for Manchester City, who have now reached the FA Cup semi-finals for an eight consecutive season and extended their record-breaking home winning streak in the competition to 18 matches.
The afternoon was a stark contrast for Liverpool, whose struggles reached a breaking point under the bright lights of the Etihad.
The Reds’ misery was epitomized when Mohamed Salah saw his penalty effort thwarted by goalkeeper James Trafford, failing to find even a consolation goal on a dismal outing. The defeat marks the third time this season City have bested Liverpool, representing their first run of three consecutive victories over the Merseyside club since 1937.
Arne Slot now finds himself under intensifying scrutiny as the heavy defeat triggered chants of “You’re getting sacked in the morning” from the home crowd. Liverpool have managed only two wins in their last seven outings across all competitions, a slump that has seen them drop to fifth in the Premier League and cast doubt on their prospects for Champions League qualification next season.
“It’s very disappointing, both the manner and the score. Another big setback for us,” Slot remarked following the match. “We have had setbacks and disappointments, but that is part of football and life. You have to stand strong when things are not positive. The only good thing was that we didn’t concede more.”
Liverpool must quickly regroup as they prepare for a high-stakes UEFA Champions League quarter-final clash against Paris Saint-Germain. For Slot, the upcoming European fixture is no longer just a quest for a trophy, but a desperate search for a response to stabilize a season that is rapidly drifting off course.