MANCHESTER, England — Erling Haaland scored a hat trick as Manchester City routed Liverpool 4-0 Saturday to reach an eighth straight FA Cup semifinal and keep Pep Guardiola’s side moving toward another trophy push. His penalty settled City after Liverpool’s bright opening spell, his header before halftime changed the tie, and his third goal finished it for good, April 4, 2026.
Erling Haaland blows open the quarterfinal
Liverpool started sharply, but once Virgil van Dijk brought down Nico O’Reilly, Haaland’s three-goal demolition of Liverpool took over the match. The Norwegian converted from the spot in the 37th minute, rose to meet Antoine Semenyo’s cross in first-half stoppage time, and then completed his treble after the break as City moved from patient to punishing.
Even before kickoff, Guardiola had described the day as a chance at an “incredible milestone”. City responded by doing what strong cup sides do: absorb pressure, strike fast and never let the opponent regain control. Semenyo added the other goal with a chipped finish past Liverpool goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, while James Trafford’s save from Mohamed Salah’s penalty summed up a difficult afternoon for Arne Slot’s side.
The result also landed in a weekend that quickly began to favor City. With Southampton knocking out Arsenal and Chelsea already through, the FA Cup picture shifted toward Manchester City as the competition’s clearest heavyweight. By Sunday, City had been paired with Southampton in the semifinals.
Erling Haaland and the bigger pattern behind the win
This was not a one-off flash from Haaland. In April 2023, he reached 50 goals for the season, one of the earliest signs that his finishing could turn City’s control into something overwhelming. Saturday’s hat trick felt like the same lesson in shorter form: once the match tilted, he ended it with ruthless efficiency.
City’s cup rhythm has also been building in plain sight. By March 2025, Guardiola’s team was already being framed as FA Cup favorites in a wide-open field while chasing a seventh straight semifinal, proof that this latest run is less surprise than habit.
That is part of what made Liverpool’s collapse stand out. Not long ago, Liverpool had beaten City 2-0 at Anfield, a reminder that the rivalry could still swing fast. For 30 minutes Saturday, that balance was still visible. After Haaland found the opening, it disappeared.
For Manchester City, the takeaway was simple: when Haaland gets service and the runners around him stay aggressive, Guardiola’s team still owns one of the cleanest paths from pressure to trophies in English football. For Liverpool, the opposite lesson was just as harsh. Early chances and decent spells mean little if the structure cracks once the game turns.
