Manchester City thrashed Liverpool 4-0 at the Etihad stadium on Saturday to advance into the semi-final stage of the English FA Cup.
Erling Haaland provided the needed goals with his 12th hattrick in a dominant display for the CItyzens despite head coach Pep Guardiola’s absence from the home dugout.
Antoine Semenyo was also on the scoresheet as the Ghanaian international continued his fine form for City against Arne Slot’s side.
The FA Cup quarter-final clash provided excitement and drama, with City denied a penalty in the early minutes when Milos Kerkez’s brought down Ryan Cherki in the penalty area.
City were eventually awarded a penalty for captain Virgil van Dijk’s foul on Nico O’Rilley, and Haaland sent the goalkeeper the wrong way for the lead.
The Norwegian striker doubled the home team’s advantage just before halftime when met Semenyo’s cross with a header into the far post for a two-goal lead at halftime.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot’s message was for his team to keep their chin up, but City ensured it stayed down with the third goal five minutes after the restart when Semenyo timed his run past van Dijk to meet Cherki’s through ball and lift the ball beyond goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili into the net.
Haaland completed his hattrick to add more gloss to the scoreline, firing O’Rilley’s cutback into the net via the bar. Liverpool’s chance of consolation was extinguished by Mohamed Salah who missed a penalty kick, as the Reds crashed out at the quarter-final stage for the second time in four years with the club’s heaviest defeat in the competition in 80 years.
Man City’s 18th consecutive home win in the competition breaks a 145 years old record in the competition to set a new one.
They also set the record as the first team to qualify for eight consecutive semi-finals in the competition.