Manchester City stormed into the FA Cup semi-finals with a dominant 4-0 victory over Liverpool at Wembley. Erling Haaland was the star of the show, scoring a hat-trick in the first half with goals in the 16th, 27th and 44th minutes. His clinical finishing exposed Liverpool's defensive frailties and effectively ended the tie before halftime. City controlled possession throughout and could have added more goals, but Liverpool offered little in response.
In the day's second quarter-final, Chelsea delivered a ruthless performance against League Two side Port Vale, winning 7-0 at Stamford Bridge. Nicolas Jackson scored a hat-trick, with goals in the 12th, 55th and 78th minutes. Cole Palmer added two, while Raheem Sterling and Noni Madueke each found the net once. The result underscored the gulf in class between the Premier League side and their lower-league opponents.
Southampton secured the third semi-final spot by defeating Arsenal 2-1 at St Mary's. Joe Aribo opened the scoring in the 23rd minute, and Adam Armstrong doubled the lead in the 55th. Leandro Trossard pulled one back for Arsenal in the 78th, but they could not find an equaliser. The loss means Arsenal have now exited two competitions in three weeks. The final quarter-final between West Ham and Leeds United will take place on Sunday.
When Haaland scores three in a half, it's not just a statement of intent—it reveals how far Liverpool have fallen when even their biggest games are one-sided. Southampton's win over Arsenal, powered by Aribo's early goal, proves they can compete with elite clubs, not just survive in the league. Chelsea's 7-0 rout isn't just about Jackson's hat-trick—it shows their depth is being weaponized in the cup. The FA Cup is now a three-horse race with one massive question hanging over Arsenal's fading season.
