Haaland nets hat-trick as Man City ease past Liverpool
Haaland nets hat-trick as Man City ease past Liverpool Erling Haaland was once again the hero as Manchester City crushed Liverpool 4-0 at the Etihad, booking their place in the FA Cup semi-finals for an eighth consecutive season under Pep Guardiola . The Norwegian striker stole the show with a first-half penalty and a stunning header before adding a third after the interval, while Antoine Semenyo also found the net to complete a commanding display. City dominated from the off, though it was Liverpool who had an early chance when Mohamed Salah dragged a golden opportunity wide.
The breakthrough came on 39 minutes when Nico O'Reilly was fouled in the box by Virgil Van Dijk , allowing Haaland to dispatch a cool penalty. Just before half-time, Haaland soared to meet Semenyo’s precise cross to head City further ahead. After the break, Semenyo added a third with a clever finish from Rayan Cherki ’s assist, and Haaland completed his treble with a crisp strike that kissed the underside of the bar.
The Reds had few moments to threaten, though a James Trafford save denied Salah from the spot and preserved City’s clean sheet. The result compounds the pressure on Liverpool manager Arne Slot , who now faces a tough run of fixtures, including a Champions League tie in Paris. Meanwhile, City continue to chase a domestic treble, with this performance reinforcing their dominance on all fronts.
Incidents: The story of the match 1': The match begins Manchester City leads 1-0 after Erling Haaland converts the penalty with a left-footed shot. 39': GOALManchester City: Erling Haaland (Manchester City) scores penalty-kick! Erling Haaland scores goal number 1 in the competition (2 matches) Erling Haaland scores goal number 155 for his team (190 matches) Manchester City lead 2-0 after Erling Haaland scores with a header from the center of the box.
45 +2': GOAL Manchester City: Erling Haaland (Manchester City) scores! Erling Haaland scores goal number 2 in the competition (2 matches) Erling Haaland scores goal number 155 for his team (190 matches) Manchester City lead 3-0 with Antoine Semenyo scoring from the left side of the box with a left-footed shot. 50': GOAL Manchester City: Antoine Semenyo (Manchester City) scores!