Erling Haaland's trio of goals demolishes Liverpool, sending Manchester City to the FA Cup semifinals

Manchester City's Norwegian striker Erling Haaland scored the opening goal from the penalty spot during the English FA Cup quarter final football match between Manchester City and Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on April 4, 2026.

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Erling Haaland's hat-trick led Manchester City to a 4-0 thrashing of Liverpool, sending them to the FA Cup semi-finals and increasing the pressure on Reds boss Arne Slot.

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Haaland netted twice in the first half and completed his treble after the interval, following an Antoine Semenyo strike, as Liverpool trailed by four goals.

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Mohamed Salah had a penalty saved by City goalkeeper James Trafford, compounding a miserable afternoon for the under-fire Slot, whose team faces a Champions League quarter-final first leg against Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday.

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Liverpool's dismal performance, with just two wins in their last seven matches, has left them fifth in the Premier League and uncertain to qualify for next season's Champions League, marking a remarkable decline for Slot.

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Just 12 months ago, Slot was on the brink of leading Liverpool to their record-equalling 20th English title, but now faces intense criticism, with City fans chanting "you're getting sacked in the morning" during the match.

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City's ruthless performance took them into the FA Cup semi-finals for an eighth successive season, with 18 consecutive home FA Cup matches won, setting a new record in the competition.

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After beating Liverpool twice in the Premier League this term, City have enjoyed three successive victories over the Reds for the first time since 1937, finding a rich vein of form at the right time to salvage their season.

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Guardiola's men, trailing Premier League leaders Arsenal by nine points and knocked out of the Champions League by Real Madrid, bounced back to beat the Gunners 2-0 in the League Cup final before the international break.

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Now, City can set their sights on winning the FA Cup for the first time since 2023, while retaining an outside chance of catching Arsenal in the title race, with Haaland's hot streak leading the charge.

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Liverpool made a bright start, but Hugo Ekitike fired just wide from the edge of the area, and Salah wasted a golden opportunity in the 14th minute, dragging his shot wide from just six yards out.

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Ekitike lashed wastefully wide with a snap-shot from 10 yards as Liverpool paid the price for failing to make their pressure count, and City capitalized on the mistake to score the opening goal.

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Fresh from scoring twice in the League Cup final, Nico O'Reilly was key to City's 39th-minute opener, which Haaland converted from the penalty spot after a clumsy trip by Virgil van Dijk.

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Haaland doubled City's advantage on the stroke of half-time, glancing a superb header past Giorgi Mamardashvili, and Semenyo landed the knockout blow five minutes after the interval with a deft finish over Mamardashvili.

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Haaland completed his treble in the 57th minute, drilling home via the underside of the bar after O'Reilly teed him up 12 yards from goal, marking the 28th treble of his career.

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On a prolonged farewell tour after announcing he will leave Liverpool at the end of the season, Salah produced a lacklustre performance, encapsulated by his second-half penalty miss after Nunes fouled Ekitike.

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Liverpool's miserable afternoon was capped off by their 4-0 defeat, and they will look to bounce back in their Champions League quarter-final first leg against Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday.

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Later on Saturday, Chelsea host third-tier strugglers Port Vale, and Premier League leaders Arsenal visit Championship side Southampton, while West Ham meet Leeds at the London Stadium in the last quarter-final on Sunday.