Manchester City advanced to the FA Cup semifinals with a dominant 4-0 victory over Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium. Erling Haaland scored a hat trick, his first for the club since August 2024, while Antoine Semenyo added the fourth goal in a devastating 18-minute spell spanning halftime. Haaland opened the scoring from the penalty spot, then outmaneuvered Ibrahima Konaté to head home Semenyo's cross for his second. He completed the hat trick early in the second half with a composed finish. The performance marked a significant return to form for Haaland, who had struggled since January and received modified playing time during Norway's recent international fixtures.
Liverpool's day unravelled quickly. Mohamed Salah, playing his first match since confirming his summer departure from Anfield, missed two clear chances and had a second-half penalty saved by James Trafford. The defeat adds pressure on manager Arne Slot as Liverpool face a crucial Champions League clash against Paris Saint-Germain in midweek. For City, the win provides momentum ahead of key Premier League fixtures against Chelsea and Arsenal. With the Champions League campaign ended following their elimination by Real Madrid, City now have fewer fixtures, potentially aiding Haaland's fitness and sharpness.
Haaland's hat trick wasn't just a burst of goals — it exposed how finely tuned his fitness is now that City are playing less frequently. When Stale Solbakken revealed Haaland was given special rest during Norway's internationals, it wasn't about injury but preservation. That calculated downtime, combined with City's exit from the Champions League, means Haaland is no longer grinding through games but picking them apart again. For the rest of the league, that timing is ominous.
