There was half an hour of this torturous afternoon still remaining for Arne Slot when the “oles” started and not too long after that the Manchester City supporters had trained their sights on Liverpool’s beleaguered manager.
Chants of “You’re getting sacked in the morning” reverberated around the Etihad Stadium as the locals revelled in taunting Slot as City cruised into an eighth successive FA Cup semi-final and, in doing so, subjected Liverpool to their 15th defeat of the season. It was the heaviest of the Dutchman’s reign.
Plenty of Liverpool fans had long headed for the exits by then. The first droves of supporters began to leave once Erling Haaland scored his third and City’s fourth in the 57th minute amid waves and cries of “cheerio” from their City counterparts, who were performing their celebratory “Poznan” dance.
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 4, 2026Liverpool fans have started to leave the away end after 58 minutes played 🏟️
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By the end, there was barely a quarter of the 8,000-strong travelling support still in the ground. Patience was already wearing thin with sections of the fanbase and this capitulation will only add fuel to the fire for the anti-Slot brigade.
The shadow cast over the manager by the availability of Liverpool legend Xabi Alonso, whose name was sung by some fans as they departed, grows that little bit bigger on days like this.
Steven Gerrard, the former Liverpool captain, had suggested on The Overlap in the lead-up to the game that, once it gets to this stage, it is “very difficult” to win Liverpool fans back around.
With the Champions League representing the last shot at silverware this term, it increasingly feels like it is going to take something dramatic – perhaps akin to 2005 when Liverpool won the European Cup against all expectations – to change opinions from here.
To achieve that, though, Liverpool are going to have to be far better against Paris St-Germain in the French capital on Wednesday, in the first leg of their quarter-final, than they were during a 20-minute period either side of half-time when City scored four times.
Slot is nothing if not honest and seemed as incredulous as anyone about some of the failures that contributed to that capitulation. After the opening 35 minutes there had been little between the teams and Liverpool probably should have led but for a bad Mohamed Salah miss.
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 4, 2026Abdukodir Khusanov with a brilliant block to deny Mo Salah from close range 👏
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The speed with which Liverpool folded, even by the standards of a season in which they have had some real lows, was still shocking and left Slot questioning the effort, concentration and fighting spirit of his players.
“If you simply look at the goals, there I see runs that are not being followed, I see crosses that are not being blocked, I see duels in front of goal that are not won,” he said. “Every single time we forget to block a cross, we forget to defend in front of goal, we forget to follow a runner, every single time it’s a goal.”
Luis Enrique, the PSG coach, will pick over this and present a long list of vulnerabilities for his players to exploit and it is not helping Slot that two players who have provided the foundations for so much of Liverpool’s success over the past eight years are struggling so badly. Salah and Virgil van Dijk, to say the least, had nightmare afternoons.
Would this game have turned out differently had Salah not missed the kind of chance in the 15th minute that he would have buried for fun last season? Having got the better of Abdukodir Khusanov from Giorgi Mamardashvili’s long ball upfield, the Egypt striker had just James Trafford to beat but delayed his shot too long and allowed the rapid City defender to make a crucial, last-ditch interception.
The contrast with Haaland was marked. The Norway striker has not had the easiest few months, scoring just five goals in 20 matches coming into this, but his 12th hat-trick for City felt like a marked return to form and will do his confidence the world of good. Stale Solbakken, the Norway coach, took the decision to rest Haaland for the first of his country’s two friendly matches and already the player looks to be benefiting.
Haaland’s emphatic finishing stood in stark comparison to Salah’s total lack of conviction in front of goal, embodied by his penalty miss with Liverpool 4-0 down shortly after ballooning a horrible shot high and wide from another inviting position.
“It is clear that not everything throughout a long season will go your way, but it shows character and mentality that he comes back in this fashion,” Pep Lijnders, Pep Guardiola’s assistant, said of Haaland. “He is not only lovely but he is a machine to work with.”
Van Dijk had an even worse day than Salah. Having given away the penalty Haaland converted by clumsily tripping Nico O’Reilly, he was then far too slow to close down the space before Antoine Semenyo crossed for Haaland to head City into a 2-0 half-time lead.
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 4, 2026What a goal that is 😮💨
Man City double their lead over Liverpool through Erling Haaland!
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Lijnders called it an “insane” goal but, as much as there was to like from a City perspective, it was poor from Liverpool. Ibrahima Konaté, Van Dijk’s centre-back partner, did not put Haaland under nearly enough pressure for the header, as brilliantly taken as it was.
Things did not improve for Liverpool after the interval. Van Dijk allowed Semenyo to run in behind him to meet Rayan Cherki’s pass to score City’s third although, in truth, it should never have got to that point. The goal stemmed from Liverpool gifting the ball to Marc Guéhi 50 yards from goal and Slot’s side being cut apart far too easily from the moment they surrendered possession.
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 4, 2026Composure personified 🥶
Antoine Semenyo with a clinical finish to put Man City 3-0 up!
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Equally, while Van Dijk was nowhere near to getting across Haaland before he tapped in the fourth from O’Reilly’s square cross, Konaté and Joe Gomez had been unpicked beforehand by a combination of Jérémy Doku and O’Reilly. Guardiola, serving the second of a two-match touchline ban, celebrated jubilantly in the stands.
Guehi has beaten Liverpool five times this season
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Since Guehi’s deadline day move to Liverpool collapsed in the summer, he’s collected five wins against them with two different clubs:
1) Community Shield, 8th August 2025: Crystal Palace 2 Liverpool 2 (3-2 on penalties)
2) Premier League, 27th September 2025: Crystal Palace 2 Liverpool 1
3) Carabao Cup, 29th October 2025: Liverpool 0 Crystal Palace 3
4) Premier League, 8th February 2026: Liverpool 1 Man City 2
5) FA Cup, 4th April 2026: Man City 4 Liverpool 0
Haaland delighted with Man City’s FA Cup progression
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— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 4, 2026"Another Wembley trip for us, it's amazing!"
Erling Haaland reacts after his hat-trick and looks ahead to Man City's ambitions this season 🏆
🎙️ @julesbreach | 📺 Watch live on TNT Sports on HBO Max pic.twitter.com/u37Lcb2Cq7
What now for Liverpool and Slot?
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After winning the Premier League title last season in his first year as Liverpool boss, it appeared that Slot could do no wrong. Liverpool’s record spending in the summer transfer window seemingly strengthened their title-winning credentials, but this campaign has been a disaster.
They’ve been thrashed by Man City in the FA Cup and sit fifth in the Premier League, 21 points behind table toppers Arsenal, with the pressure building and the spotlight shining more fiercely on Slot.
A Champions League quarter-final against PSG looks like such a daunting task for this manager and group of players.
Haaland is unstoppable
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— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 4, 2026Since making his Man City debut in July 2022, Erling Haaland has scored 12 hat-tricks across all competitions...
That's more than any other player in Europe's top five leagues 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Tpbmrq024L
FT: Man City 4 Liverpool 0
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Man City are the first side to book their place in the FA Cup semi-finals as they cruised to a resounding 4-0 victory over Liverpool thanks to Haaland’s hat-trick.
The hosts were wonderful. Alongside Haaland’s goal scoring antics, Semenyo also netted. Cherki and Silva posted typically brilliant performances.
Liverpool were overpowered and outclassed. Trafford saved Salah’s late penalty to rub salt in the away side’s mood. Slot cuts an increasingly isolated figure and the Liverpool players look so dejected.
90 min: Man City 4 Liverpool 0
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Liverpool need the final whistle to swiftly forget about this disastrous display.
87 min: Man City 4 Liverpool 0
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Konate has endured a torrid afternoon and he trips Reijnders to collect a yellow card. This is terrible preparation for Liverpool ahead of their Champions League tie with PSG next week.
86 min: Man City 4 Liverpool 0
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Luckily for Liverpool, Man City have taken their foot off the gas since that fourth goal, while also withdrawing Cherki, Semenyo and Haaland.
83 min: Man City 4 Liverpool 0
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Haaland will deservedly get the plaudits for his hat-trick, but Silva has been unbelievable this afternoon. The diminutive midfielder’s technical ability and intelligence are simply unmatched.
80 min: Man City 4 Liverpool 0
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Liverpool’s away end started emptying in the 58th minute. 8000 fans arrived in Manchester with the hope of seeing their side progress in the FA Cup.
However, Man City have been in rampant form to punish Liverpool’s lacklustre performance.
The home fans love Haaland
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Haaland has just left the pitch to a standing ovation after his hat-trick. The Norway striker has donated his box and table in the Tunnel club, City’s premium executive suite, to the City in the Community. It’s raised several thousands for charity and given fans from England and his hometown of Bryne the chance to go to the game.
77 min: Man City 4 Liverpool 0
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Haaland is Man City’s hat-trick hero and he is serenaded off the pitch by the adoring home support. Salah is substituted at the same time, but quietly departs. Marmoush and Chiesa are the replacements.
76 min: Man City 4 Liverpool 0
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Mac Allister tries his luck from long range. The strike is moving in the air, but Trafford does well to get behind the effort and make the save.
74 min: Man City 4 Liverpool 0
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This match could not have gone any worse for Liverpool. It’s another embarrassing reality check for the reigning Premier League champions.
Man City fans are enjoying themselves this afternoon
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“You’re getting sacked in the morning,” is the verdict of City fans on Arne Slot’s predicament.
71 min: Man City 4 Liverpool 0
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Cherki and Semenyo come off to standing ovations. Foden and Reijnders enter the action.
67 min: Man City 4 Liverpool 0
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Slot orders a triple change, with Mac Allister, Ngumoha and Gakpo on for Gravenberch, Wirtz and Ekitike.
TRAFFORD STOPS SALAH’S PENALTY!
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The Liverpool forward steps up and takes the penalty. He goes for a low effort to the right, but Trafford reads him and makes the save.
The Etihad cheer it like a goal and that sums up Liverpool’s miserable afternoon.
LIVERPOOL PENALTY!
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Ekitike bursts forward and is clipped by Nunes. It’s a definite penalty and a chance for Liverpool to restore some pride. Salah will take it.
62 min: Man City 4 Liverpool 0
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Both sides make changes. For City, Gonzalez and Savinho replace Rodri and Doku. Meanwhile, Gomez departs for Frimpong in the Liverpool defence.
Man City are brutally mocking Liverpool
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They are doing the Poznan in the Tunnel Club. It is that kind of afternoon. City shooting from the halfway line and smashing finishes in off the bar. It has been a blitz of goals in the last 15 minutes.
GOAL! HAALAND HAS A HAT-TRICK
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Liverpool have crumbled and Man City are ripping them apart. O’Reilly and Doku combine so effectively on the counter, and the Englishman unselfishly squares the ball to Haaland.
From close range, the striker hits a first-time effort that clips the underside of the bar before nestling in the net.
56 min: Man City 3 Liverpool 0
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Liverpool come forward and the ball is worked out to Salah. The winger is occupying a prime position, where he has scored so many times for Liverpool, but he’s leaning back and curls his effort well wide.
54 min: Man City 3 Liverpool 0
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Semenyo picks up the ball and tries scoring from inside his own half. He spots Mamardashvili off his line and launches an audacious effort at goal. It has the Liverpool goalkeeper back pedalling, but it’s just off target.
Semenyo has been a stunning addition to Man City
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Let’s say Manchester City win the title this year. Would Antoine Semenyo be in the running for PFA player of the year? He left Bournemouth in a dignified manner and has hit the ground running at Manchester City.
GOAL! SEMENYO ADDS A THIRD
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Man City are purring and it’s a magnificent finish. Silva finds a pocket of space, picks his head up and threads a perfectly-weighted pass through to Semenyo, who breaches the Liverpool backline by sneaking in behind Van Dijk.
The former Bournemouth star then chips a delightful dink into the net and Man City are really cruising now.
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 4, 2026Composure personified 🥶
Antoine Semenyo with a clinical finish to put Man City 3-0 up!
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Worrying signs for Liverpool
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The concerning thing from a Liverpool perspective is City have not even needed to play particularly well to earn a 2-0 lead. They upped the tempo in the last nine or 10 minutes of the half but they’ve been managing Liverpool a bit like they might a lesser light here and then picked them off when the opportunity strikes. Two goals for Haaland will do him the world of good. He’d only got five since December before today.
HT: Man City 2 Liverpool 0
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For the first 35 minutes, Liverpool were the better side, with Salah and Ekitike both wasting presentable chances.
However, the game was flipped on its head in the 37th minute when Van Dijk fouled O’Reilly to concede a penalty.
Unsurprisingly, Haaland tucked the spot kick away to open the scoring, before his header on the stroke of half time doubled the hosts’ advantage. It’s a long way back for Liverpool now...
GOAL! HAALAND IS AT IT AGAIN
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It’s an exquisite goal. Cherki has been quiet, but a delicious pass unleashes Semenyo down the wing. The Ghanaian clips a cross into the box and Haaland beats Konate to the ball, before experting glancing a header into the far corner.
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 4, 2026What a goal that is 😮💨
Man City double their lead over Liverpool through Erling Haaland!
📺 Watch live on TNT Sports on HBO Max pic.twitter.com/rgRGsnx7bJ
45 min: Man City 1 Liverpool 0
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There will be two minutes of added time at the end of this first half. Since falling behind, Liverpool have lost their momentum and fluidity.
43 min: Man City 1 Liverpool 0
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How will Liverpool react now? They can’t let that Man City opener deter their confidence. They had made a promising start.
Slot is furious with the decision
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Arne Slot went straight to the fourth official after the penalty was awarded and is upset about three incidents. After Haaland scored he also pointed three fingers at “the fourth”, Paul Tierney. Decisions that have not gone Liverpool’s way include a handball when Antoine Semenyo caught the ball near the touchline, Gravenberch booking and perhaps the penalty itself
GOAL! HAALAND BURIES THE PENALTY
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The striker is back amongst the goals and dispatches the penalty with chilling composure, sending Mamardashvili the wrong way as the ball nestles in the bottom corner.
It’s against the run of play, but Man City won’t care. Liverpool will be kicking themselves.
MAN CITY HAVE A PENALTY!
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It’s a clever City move as O’Reilly turns Van Dijk. From behind, the Liverpool captain makes an uncharacteristically rash challenge and bumps into O’Reilly. Oliver hesitated but points to the spot. Slot is fuming.
36 min: Man City 0 Liverpool 0
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Rodri’s shot ricochets into O’Reilly’s path. Haaland is begging for a cross into the box, but O’Reilly hesitates, allowing Konate to make a crucial block.
34 min: Man City 0 Liverpool 0
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This game is being played at a ferocious pace. Rodri has struggled with the speed of the game and goes into the referee’s book after pulling back Ekitike on the halfway line.
Liverpool then swing a cross into the box, but O’Reilly displays excellent calmness to emerge from defence with the ball.
Guardiola opting for a different set up
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Guardiola seems to have ditched his “box” midfield for this game, with Antoine Semenyo playing very wide right and Erling Haaland the further forward. Liverpool are playing 4-3-3 with Szboszlai playing as one of their No8s.
30 min: Man City 0 Liverpool 0
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Man City have looked vulnerable in these opening 30 minutes. Wirtz is finding some lovely little pockets of space, while Salah and Ekitike have both spurned presentable opportunities.
27 min: Man City 0 Liverpool 0
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Ekitike goes so close for Liverpool. The visitors stream into Man City’s penalty area and Rodri fails to clear. The ball breaks to Ekitike, who lashes an arrowed shot over the bar. He must do better from that range.
24 min: Man City 0 Liverpool 0
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Gravenberch picks up the game’s first yellow card after he apprehends Doku, who was advancing forward at serious pace. The Liverpool midfielder will need to be so careful now. Man City have grown into the contest over the last ten minutes.
Guardiola just as animated when he’s a spectator
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Pep Guardiola in the posh seats here as he is serving a touchline ban for racking up the yellow cards. He had a look at the replay of that Cherki penalty shout in disbelief. Throwing his arms out - it is clear he thinks it is a penalty.
20 min: Man City 0 Liverpool 0
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Cherki wriggled into the Liverpool penalty area and was brought down by Kerkez. Man City screamed for a penalty, but the referee wasn’t interested.
Salah could have scored on his return
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Mohamed Salah broke up the pitch seconds after Liverpool fans were singing his name. It was a huge chance that showed how quick Abdukodir Khusanov is - and that Salah has slowed down this season. Khusanov gave him a 10-yard headstart and caught him up to make a last-gasp tackle.
17 min: Man City 0 Liverpool 0
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It is Man City’s turn to create a massive opportunity. Silva slips a piercing pass through to Cherki. The playmaker is one-on-one with Mamardashvili, but can’t get the ball out of his feet, and the Liverpool goalkeeper makes the save.
14 min: Man City 0 Liverpool 0
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Huge chance for Liverpool! Mamardashvili gathers Nunes’ shot and smashes the ball up the field for Salah to chase. Initially, the Egyptian muscles Khusanov off the ball, but he takes too long to shoot, allowing the centre-back the chance to make a last-ditch tackle. It looked it would be a certain goal. However, Liverpool were denied by Khusanov’s excellent recovery.
11 min: Man City 0 Liverpool 0
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Ekitike is looking sharp, and drifts inside to latch onto Wirtz’s pass. The striker advances forward, and from the edge of the area, he shoots wide. Liverpool have made a confident start in Manchester.
9 min: Man City 0 Liverpool 0
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Liverpool were enjoying a strong spell of possession, but Konate’s misplaced pass goes straight out of play, giving Man City some breathing space. The Frenchman is one of many Liverpool players who has endured such a tricky and inconsistent season.
6 min: Man City 0 Liverpool 0
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This match is full of intriguing battles across the pitch. Semenyo against Kerkez is one of the most eye-catching duels. The Hungarian will also have Cherki drifting across the frontline.
4 min: Man City 0 Liverpool 0
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Wirtz and Ekitike intricately combine inside of Man City’s penalty area. The ball is worked to the German, but he cannot generate enough power on his strike, which is comfortably blocked by the City defence.
2 min: Man City 0 Liverpool 0
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Slot made a big call to pick Gomez ahead of Frimpong. The Englishman has the small task of keeping Doku quiet. The City winger has the first shot of the game, but he drags it wide.
1 min: Man City 0 Liverpool 0
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Referee Oliver sounds his whistle and we are under way in Manchester. Who will be the first side to book their place in the FA Cup semi-finals?
The team are walking out
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Captains Silva and Van Dijk lead their respective sides out at the Etihad Stadium, with kick off just minutes away. The Etihad is in full voice ahead of this exciting encounter.
Semenyo’s sensational start at Man City
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The winger has made a brilliant start to life in Manchester after his January move from Bournemouth, recording seven goals and two assists in his first 17 appearances across all competitions for his new club.
Hart is full of praise for Trafford
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— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 4, 2026"He's a top class goalkeeper, all the right people believe in him"
Joe Hart speaks highly of James Trafford and his chances of becoming England's #1 🧤
🎙️ @julesbreach | 📺 Watch live on TNT Sports on HBO Max pic.twitter.com/2NlyeTWXz9
Can Salah finish his Liverpool career on a high?
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Now we have clarity on Salah’s future, the transformative Egyptian forward will leave Anfield at the end of this season. Its all smiles today though and Salah looks delightful to be back in action following his absence in the Brighton match.
Carragher feels Slot’s future could be at risk
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In his column, Jamie Carragher said: “There is no point downplaying the significance of this weekend’s FA Cup tie at Manchester City, or the forthcoming Champions League quarter-final with Paris St-Germain.
“If Slot wins a major trophy this season – making it silverware in consecutive years since replacing Klopp – it is inconceivable anyone but the Dutchman will lead Liverpool beyond this summer.
“Alternatively, failure in these huge games will ramp up the pressure to a potentially intolerable degree. The clamour for change, which began as a whisper during Liverpool’s torrid spell before Christmas, is already growing louder each week. With Alonso available following his short stint at Real Madrid, an increasing number of those seated on the Kop cannot imagine a world in which he is not a returning hero.”
Can Man City repeat their 2018/19 season heroics?
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In this campaign, Guardiola’s side collected all three domestic trophies. Man City beat Chelsea on penalties in the Carabao Cup final, pipped Liverpool to the Premier League title by one point, and smashed Watford 6-0 to take the FA Cup home.
With one of these trophies already ticked off the list, another glittering treble is still very much on the cards.
As well as the 2019 success, City also won the FA Cup in 2023 to complete the more prestigious version of the treble (Champions League instead of Carabao Cup), but have lost the last two finals in the competition against Manchester United and Crystal Palace.
Their paths to this stage
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Man City
Third round: Man City 10 Exeter City 1
Fourth round: Man City 2 Salford City 0
Fifth round: Newcastle United 1 Man City 3
Liverpool
Third round: Liverpool 4 Barnsley 1
Fourth round: Liverpool 3 Brighton 0
Fifth round: Wolves 1 Liverpool 3
Other FA Cup quarter-finals this weekend
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The FA Cup semi-finals draw will be held following the match between West Ham and Leeds.
Salah returns for Liverpool as Slot makes changes
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Arne Slot has made three changes from the team defeated by Brighton before the international break. Mohamed Salah is back, while Jeremie Frimpong, Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo are on the bench. Alisson is out until at least the end of the month, which is a huge blow to Liverpool for their huge games coming up. After this clash they travel to Paris Saint-Germain for their Champions League quarter-final on Wednesday.
Guardiola sticks with Trafford
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James Trafford is in goal for Manchester City, with Pep Guardiola keeping the England keeper between the sticks for cup matches. Trafford played against Uruguay during the international break and put himself in a good position to go to the World Cup. Marc Guehi also comes in from the team that defeated Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final. He was cup-tied for that one.
The line-ups in full
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Man City (4-2-2-2): Trafford; Nunes, Khusanov, Guehi, O’Reilly; Rodrigo, Bernardo; Cherki, Doku; Haaland, Semenyo.
Subs: Donnarumma, Reijnders, Ake, Marmoush, Kovacic, Nico, Ait-Nouri, Savinho, Foden.
Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Mamardashvili; Gomez, Van Dijk, Konate, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Jones; Wirtz, Szoboszlai, Salah; Ekitike.
Subs: Woodman, Mac Allister, Chiesa, Gakpo, Robertson, Frimpong, Nyoni, Morrison, Ngumoha.
Liverpool team news
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Surprisingly, Mo Salah wasn’t on the team-sheet in the recent Premier League loss to Brighton, but starts today. Hugo Ekitike also begins from the outset after coming off injured early in that match.
Alexander Isak made a long-awaited return to training, following a lengthy absence due to that leg break back in December, but isn’t fit enough to feature in the squad.
Arne Slot is unable to call upon Alisson Becker, Conor Bradley, Giovanni Leoni and Wataru Endo, who are all missing with injuries.
Man City team news
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Man City are boosted by Guehi’s availability. The former Crystal Palace centre-back was unable to play in the recent final, but has been cleared for FA Cup action, and he is the only change, replacing Nathan Ake.
James Trafford keeps his place ahead of Gianluigi Donnarumma as the cup goalkeeper.
Ruben Dias and John Stones are both absent from the squad with injuries.
— Manchester City (@ManCity) April 4, 2026Your City side to take on Liverpool! 👊
XI: Trafford, Nunes, Khusanov, Guéhi, O'Reilly, Rodri, Bernardo (C), Semenyo, Cherki, Doku, Haaland
Subs: Donnarumma, Reijnders, Ake, Marmoush, Kovacic, Nico, Ait-Nouri, Savinho, Foden
Sir Alex is here
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The legendary Manchester United manager is behind enemy lines to watch this one.
Famous faces in attendance at the Etihad
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Frank De Boer here at the Etihad press canteen, minding his own business ahead of punditry. With Roy Hodgson back in football this week, De Boer played a part in his return to club management after England. The Dutchman lasted a month at Crystal Palace back in 2017 and they turned to Hodgson to rescue them.
Liverpool’s inconsistency has plagued them all season
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In their previous outing, Liverpool suffered their 10th defeat of the Premier League as they crashed to a miserable 2-1 loss against Brighton on the south coast.
This result was fully deserved and heaped more pressure on the beleaguered Slot, whose side’s title defence has been non-existent.
Carabao Cup kings
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Last time out, Man City beat Arsenal to lift the Carabao Cup. It was a seismic moment for Guardiola – his fifth League Cup, meaning he’s won the competition more than any other manager.
Nico O’Reilly netted twice as City completely controlled the game in the second half. It was a deserved victory, which Guardiola hopes sets his side up for a grandstand finish to the season.
A mouthwatering FA Cup quarter-final
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We are back after the international break for the first instalment of this season’s FA Cup quarter-finals as Manchester City take on Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium. This blockbuster tie pits English football’s two most dominant forces of the last decade against each other in what is a massive match for both sides.
Last month, Man City’s season looked like it could completely unravel. Consecutive Premier League draws against Nottingham Forest and West Ham United meant City lost crucial ground in the title race. In Europe, they were resoundingly beaten 5-1 on aggregate by Real Madrid in the Champions League round of 16.
However, City’s modern history has been built upon success and silverware. Pep Guardiola’s men are an unrivalled domestic powerhouse, and they flexed every muscle of trophy-winning prowess when they beat Arsenal 2-0 in the Carabao Cup final.
Has that victory reignited City’s optimism and given the squad a new lease of life? Now, without Champions League football, City have an eight-day gap between this fixture and their next outing, a top-flight match away against Chelsea next Sunday. Guardiola has always taken the cup competitions in England very seriously, and you would expect him to dip into his extraordinarily deep squad and field a typically strong line-up to continue City’s charge for domestic silverware.
Meanwhile, Liverpool’s season precariously hangs in the balance. They’re through to the last eight of the Champions League, following their 4-0 thrashing of Galatasaray at Anfield, but face a daunting quarter-final clash against reigning European champions Paris Saint-Germain, with the first leg in the French capital on Wednesday.
In the Premier League, Liverpool are fighting for a top-five place but have been terribly inconsistent, winless in their last three games in the competition, which included a deserved 2-1 loss against Brighton on 21 March. An FA Cup run would do wonders for their campaign and help ease the pressure on manager Arne Slot.
Kick-off is at 12:45 BST, with line-ups on the way shortly.