04/04/26 09:34:00
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04/04 09:32 CDT Haaland hat trick propels Man City to record-setting thrashing
of Liverpool in FA Cup quarterfinals
Haaland hat trick propels Man City to record-setting thrashing of Liverpool in
FA Cup quarterfinals
By STEVE DOUGLAS
AP Sports Writer
Erling Haaland's 18-minute hat trick powered Manchester City to a 4-0 win over
Liverpool and into the FA Cup semifinals for a record eighth straight season on
Saturday.
Mohamed Salah's failure from the penalty spot added to the woes of Liverpool,
whose meltdown at Etihad Stadium will put more heat on under-pressure manager
Arne Slot.
Haaland converted a penalty in the 39th minute, headed home a cross from
Antoine Semenyo in first-half stoppage time, and then swept in a finish off the
crossbar in the 57th to score his first hat trick of the season for City and
12th since he joined the club in 2022.
Semenyo scored the other goal in the 50th for City, which was playing its first
match since winning the English League Cup two weeks ago by beating Arsenal in
the final at Wembley Stadium. City will be heading back there later this month
for the FA Cup semis.
"This club has to win trophies," said Haaland, who was described after the game
as a "machine" by City assistant coach Pep Lijnders --- deputizing in the
dugout while Pep Guardiola served a touchline suspension.
Salah, who announced during the recent international break that he'd be leaving
Liverpool after nine trophy-filled seasons, was beginning his long goodbye to
the Reds but couldn't mark it with a goal. The best of the many chances he
spurned came from a penalty, which City goalkeeper James Trafford palmed away
in the 64th.
It was a record 18th straight home win for City in the FA Cup, dating to 2017.
Pep Guardiola's team shared a record with Clapham Rovers for reaching seven
consecutive FA Cup finals, but now holds it outright.
Many Liverpool fans were seen leaving the stadium after the fourth City goal.
"The fighting spirit wasn't there enough, the mentality wasn't there enough,"
Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai said. "None of us were there to be
honest as much as we could.
"It's a hard time but we have to stick together."
Arsenal and Chelsea also in action in quarterfinals
Later Saturday, Chelsea hosts third-tier Port Vale before Arsenal visits
second-tier Southampton.
The draw for the semifinals takes place Sunday after West Ham hosts Leeds in
the final match in the last eight.
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