Manchester City’s relentless pursuit of a domestic treble continues to resemble an unstoppable natural force. In an FA Cup quarter-final that evolved from a closely contested, end-to-end clash into a ruthless exhibition of dominance, City overpowered Liverpool 4-0 on Saturday.
The headline was the return to terrifying form of Erling Haaland, whose 12th hat-trick for the club sent swathes of the Liverpool faithful toward the exits before the hour mark. For Pep Guardiola; watching from the director's box due to a touchline ban, the performance was "wine and roses." For Arne Slot, it was a "pitiful" surrender that has placed his job security under a microscope ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League trip to Paris.
Following a brief dip in form, with just one goal in seven matches, Haaland emphatically demonstrated why he is still the sport’s most relentless force. His hat-trick, netted within a span of only 18 minutes straddling halftime, tore apart a Liverpool back line that looked lifeless and devoid of character.
39' breakthrough: After Virgil van Dijk felled Nico O’Reilly in the box, Haaland clinicaly dispatched the penalty.
45+1' cushion: A sweet City sequence involving Cherki and Semenyo ended with Haaland glancing home a header into the side-netting.
57' hat-trick: O’Reilly walked through the defense before squaring for Haaland to stroke into an open net
The fighting spirit wasn’t there enough, the mentality wasn’t there enough. None of us were there as much as we could.
Dominik Szoboszlai, Liverpool Midfielder
In a display that mirrored Liverpool's depressing season, Mohamed Salah; in his first outing since announcing his summer departure, spurned four clear chances. The lowest point came in the 63rd minute when his penalty was parried by City’s cup keeper, James Trafford.
The collapse was unfathomable for a side that was crowned Premier League champions less than 12 months ago. With 15 losses across all competitions this term; their worst record in over a decade, the "You're getting sacked in the morning" chants from the City end felt increasingly pointed.
While Liverpool look for answers, Manchester City are setting historic benchmarks. This victory secured:
8th consecutive FA Cup semi-final appearance a new all-time record.
18th consecutive home win in the competition, breaking a record that had stood since the 1880s (Clapham Rovers).
Dominance of the Guardiola era: 44 wins and 157 goals in 52 FA Cup matches under the Spaniard.
O'Reilly & Cherki: The new guard of City's midfield was supreme, with Rayan Cherki feinting through the Liverpool lines at will.
Semenyo’s lob: Antoine Semenyo's 50th-minute goal, a sublime left-footed lob over Giorgi Mamardashvili, effectively ended any hope of a Liverpool fightback.
Defensive fragility: Virgil van Dijk has now conceded four penalties in 46 appearances this season, a staggering dip for the veteran captain.
PSG factor: Slot must now rally a gutless squad for Wednesday's UCL quarter-final against the European champions, Paris Saint-Germain.
Manchester City are entering the business end of the season with the same cold resolve that saw them down Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final. With Haaland back in machine mode and the squad clicking in a familiar 4-2-3-1, they look like a team that has already mentally booked its return to Wembley. For Liverpool, the mentality monsters of the past have vanished, replaced by a side that seems to be counting down the days until Mohamed Salah’s farewell and, potentially, a change in the dugout.
