FA Cup 2026/26: Haaland hat-trick destroys Liverpool as Man City reach semi-final

Erling Haaland scored a hat-trick as Manchester City beat Liverpool 4-0 on Saturday to reach the FA Cup semi-finals and pile the pressure on Reds boss Arne Slot.

Haaland scored twice late in the first half of the quarter-final at the Etihad Stadium and completed his treble after the break following an Antoine Semenyo strike.

With Liverpool trailing by four, Mohamed Salah had a penalty saved by City goalkeeper James Trafford, making a miserable afternoon for the under-fire Slot even worse.

Liverpool’s tame surrender was a bitter blow for Slot, who had to endure cries of ‘you’re going to be sacked tomorrow morning’ from delighted City fans.

The team travels to Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday for the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final, with Slot desperately needing a win over the holders to keep the critics at bay.

Slot’s side, who have recorded just two wins in their last seven games in all competitions, sit fifth in the Premier League and are far from certain of qualifying for next season’s Champions League.

It is a remarkable decline for Slot, who just 12 months ago was on the verge of leading Liverpool to a record 20th English title.

City’s ruthless performance saw City reach the FA Cup semi-finals for the eighth season in a row.

After beating Liverpool twice in the Premier League this season, City have recorded three consecutive wins over the Reds for the first time since 1937.

City have also won eighteen consecutive FA Cup home games, setting a new record in the competition.

Guardiola’s men have found rich form at just the right time to save their season.

City were nine points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal and were eliminated from the Champions League by Real Madrid. City recovered to beat the Gunners 2-0 in the League Cup final just before the international break.

Now the team can set its sights on winning the FA Cup for the first time since 2023, while retaining an outside chance of catching Arsenal in the title race.

Haaland hot streak

Liverpool made a good start but Hugo Ekitike shot wide from the edge of the penalty area before Salah squandered a golden opportunity in the 14th minute, dragging his shot wide from six yards out.

Ekitike wastefully shot wide with a snap from ten yards as Liverpool paid the price for failing to make the pressure count.

Fresh from scoring twice in the League Cup final, Nico O’Reilly was key to City’s opener in the 39th minute.

Matheus Nunes picked out O’Reilly near Liverpool and as he turned away from Virgil van Dijk, the defender’s clumsy trip resulted in a penalty which Haaland clinically converted.

Haaland had scored just once in his previous six games in all competitions.

But the prolific Norwegian striker has never been far from going on a hot streak and he doubled City’s lead on the stroke of half-time.

Rayan Cherki found Semenyo’s point and he whipped a pinpoint cross towards Haaland, who made a perfectly timed run for Ibrahima Konate and fired a brilliant header past Giorgi Mamardashvili.

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Liverpool were in turmoil and Semenyo scored the knockout five minutes after the break.

Cherki’s pass saw Semenyo sprint behind the flat-footed Van Dijk and fire a deft finish over Mamardashvili.

Haaland completed the 28th treble of his career in the 57th minute, drilling in off the underside of the crossbar after O’Reilly had put it 12 yards from goal.

On a lengthy farewell tour after announcing he will leave Liverpool at the end of the season, Salah produced the latest in a long line of mediocre performances.

The Egyptian’s problems were summed up in his penalty miss in the second half after Nunes fouled Ekitike.

Later on Saturday, Chelsea host third division side Port Vale and Arsenal visit Championship side Southampton.

West Ham will face Leeds at the London Stadium in the final quarter-final on Sunday.

Published on April 4, 2026