Manchester City thrashed a weak Liverpool side, who received a dose of reality just days before their Champions League match against PSG. Erling Haaland scored a hat-trick to seal the FA Cup semi-final berth in a match in which Pep Guardiola was in the stands.
City and Liverpool went into the game on equal terms. Pep and Slot’s instructions were clear: intense pressure to stifle their opponents. However, the Spaniard’s plan prevailed, strangling the ‘Pool’ with a line of four up front that closed down the defence on the way out. Despite this, the Anfield side had the clearest chances at the start, but they were left in limbo.
In the middle of the first half, Ekitike, assisted by a huge Wirtz inside, had the chance to make it 0-1, but could not materialise. After that, the Citizens reacted and got into the box with such insistence that they won a penalty. Van Dijk’s clear step on O’Really. Haaland, in the 38th minute, took responsibility and made no mistake from the penalty spot. When it looked as if the score would be 1-0 at half-time, the Norwegian appeared again.
Semenyo put in a cross into the area which Erling headed in at the far post. A perfect header in 45’+2 in which Mamardashvili could do nothing before the break.After the break, nothing changed. Manchester City came out to sweep a Liverpool side that could only watch them come. Four minutes into the second half, Cherki, who put magic into Pep’s side’s play, left Semenyo one-on-one.
Guardiola’s winter signing chipped the ball over Mamardashvili, who could have done more. At 3-0, Liverpool collapsed and gave wings to a City side that smelled blood. In the 57th minute, Haaland completed his hat-trick in an impeccable performance. A death pass from O’Reilly allowed him to smash the net for the final 4-0 scoreline.City remain alive in the FA Cup, with the Premier League on the horizon, but in the distance. Meanwhile, Liverpool will have to cling on to the Champions League, where they will face defending champions PSG.
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