Liverpool’s hopes of a trophy this season now rest with the Champions League after Erling Haaland’s hat-trick and a goal from Antoine Semenyo saw Manchester City cruise to victory in Saturday lunchtime’s FA Cup quarter-final showdown.
To make matters worse for the Reds, Mohamed Salah saw his penalty saved by James Trafford and it will be City heading to Wembley for a semi-final – incredibly, for the ninth season out of 10 under Pep Guardiola.
JACK GAUGHAN was on hand to give his verdict on the performance of every City player – with LEWIS STEELE assessing Liverpool…
MANCHESTER CITY (4-2-3-1)
James Trafford – 8
Very mature performance. Impeccable use of the ball, alert to danger over the top and made the penalty save from Mohamed Salah.
Matheus Nunes – 7
Defensively not his finest day – giving away the penalty – but made up for it with several incisive attacking moments.
Abdukodir Khusanov – 8
One mistake in allowing Salah in – only to then somehow recover. Barely puts a foot wrong and pace to burn.
Abdukodir Khusanov made up for a rare error and showed his class throughout this win
Marc Guehi – 8
Solid, read situations really nicely and a calming influence in the opening 20 minutes when the game felt chaotic.
Nico O’Reilly – 9.5
Lovely little turn away from Virgil van Dijk for the penalty. Top assist for Erling Haaland’s hat-trick. Sensationally talented footballer. And defended well.
Bernardo Silva – 8
Walked so others could run. Created a couple of chances and switched the play with purpose a number of times. Booked.
Rodri – 7.5
Seemed to cover more ground than normal. Completed more passes into the final third than anyone else until given a rest after the hour. Booked.
Antoine Semenyo – 8
Wonderful cross in finding Haaland for the header. Such a threat down the right and grew in confidence.
Rayan Cherki – 8.5
Mesmeric at times. Top weight of pass for the second goal and Liverpool couldn’t deal with his movement.
Jeremy Doku – 7
Good battle with Joe Gomez and eventually came out on top. Lively, although others flourished more in the final third.
Nico O’Reilly celebrates with Erling Haaland after setting up the Norwegian for his hat-trick
Erling Haaland – 9
First club hat-trick for 18 months. Fine header will have done wonders for his confidence and the third goal is one rarely seen this season.
Subs
Savinho (for Doku, 62) – 6
Nico Gonzalez (for Rodri, 62) – 6
Tijjani Reijnders (for Cherki, 71) – 6
Phil Foden (for Semenyo, 71) – 6
Omar Marmoush (for Haaland, 77)
Manager: Pep Guardiola – 8
This version of City is looking like one that is ready to motor and they have become more attractive.
LIVERPOOL (4-2-2-2)
Giorgi Mamardashvili – 4
Not really at fault for any of City’s goals but does not instil confidence in the same way Alisson does.
Joe Gomez – 4.5
Got tight to Doku early doors and kept the Belgian quiet but poor on the ball, giving it away too easily for City’s fourth.
Ibrahima Konate – 4
All over the place and could not contain Haaland. City’s players exploited holes in behind Liverpool time and again. Booked.
Virgil van Dijk suffered a poor afternoon as City repeatedly tormented Liverpool’s back line
Virgil van Dijk – 4
Not much better. Liverpool looked like they were going to concede every time City went forward in the second half.
Milos Kerkez – 5
The best of a bad defensive bunch and contained Cherki for the first half an hour but lots of City’s dangerous moments came down his side. Booked.
Curtis Jones – 5
Given the nod over Mac Allister, whose form has been poor this season. Jones did little to suggest he deserves to keep his place.
Ryan Gravenberch – 5
Same as most of the team as Liverpool put in their worst half of the campaign. Looks a shadow of the player of last year. Booked.
Dominik Szoboszlai – 4
Has been the Reds’ best player this season but drifted by in this game. Could not threaten at all.
Florian Wirtz – 3
Anonymous. Has shown bright sparks in his first season but at £116million, he needs to be doing more in games like these.
Mohamed Salah saw his penalty saved to cap a miserable afternoon for his travelling side
Mohamed Salah – 3
Shanked one high and wide in the second half, which summed up his game and season, then saw a weak penalty saved.
Hugo Ekitike – 5
The most dangerous of Liverpool’s attackers and caused problems as Slot’s side actually started well but the Frenchman was wasteful from there.
Subs
Jeremie Frimpong (for Gomez, 62) – 6
Alexis Mac Allister (for Gravenberch, 68) – 6
Cody Gakpo (for Ekitike, 68) – 6
Rio Ngumoha (for Wirtz, 68) – 6
Federico Chiesa (for Salah, 77)
Manager: Arne Slot – 3
Hard to see how he comes back from this. He simply must beat Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday.
