Here are the City player ratings and match report as Manchester City swept Liverpool aside 4-0 at the Etihad Stadium today in their FA Cup quarter-final tie. A hat trick from Erling Haaland and a quality Antoine Semenyo goal were enough for Pep Guardiola’s side to cruise past Liverpool.
When the [starting lineups were announced](https://esteemedkompany.com/2026/04/04/manchester-city-and-liverpool-have-confirmed-their-starting-lineups-ahead-of-todays-fa-cup-quarter-final-tie/), Pep Guardiola had made one change to the starting lineup that beat Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final two weeks ago. Marc Guehi replaced Nathan Ake in the Manchester City starting lineup for today’s match. Ruben Dias and John Stones missed today’s match due to injury.
#### First half.
Both teams began the game brightly in the first ten minutes of play. Jeremy Doku fired the first shot of the match wide in the second minute after Nico O’Reilly had shown some great footwork and composure to create an opening for Doku. The Belgian winger fired a shot wide from 20 yards out, which didn’t trouble Liverpool keeper Giorgi Marmardashvilli.
Liverpool also had their own bright moments, with the combination play of Florian Wirtz, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Hugo Ekitike in particular looking a real threat to the Manchester City defense. There was a great tempo to the early stages of the FA Cup quarter-final tie.
Matheus Nunes had the first shot on target of the match in the 13th minute. A spell of City possession set up Nunes for a shot on goal from 25 yards out, which was hit straight at Giorgi Mamardashvili. Mamardashvili played a superb long ball to Mo Salah, sending the Egyptian international in behind the Manchester City defense. But Salah couldn’t sort his feet out, and by the time he got his shot away from a good position, Abdukodir Khusanov got back to block Salah’s shot.
Bernardo Silva played a pass to Rayan Cherki in the 15th minute. But Cherki’s first touch was heavy and the ball got away from him. Cherki got a shot on target, but Mamardashvili was on hand to smother Cherki’s shot.
#### Manchester City’s penalty shout in the 18th minute falls on deaf ears.
Erling Haaland would make a surging run at the Liverpool defence in the 18th minute. Haaland’s run drew out the Liverpool defence and he slipped a ball to Rayan Cherki in the Liverpool area. Cherki checked inside and Liverpool left-back Milos Kerkez put in a challenge on the French international. Cherki went to ground and appealed for a penalty as it seemed that Kerkez’s trailing leg tripped over Cherki. But Michael Oliver didn’t award City a penalty and play continued. Pep Guardiola looked frustrated by Michael Oliver’s in the stands as the boos rung out at the Etihad.
Hugo Ekitike fired a good chance just over the bar in the 27th minute. A good spell of possession from Liverpool saw Florian Wirtz find Mo Salah on the left wing. Salah drove at the City defence and played a ball into the City area, which the Manchester City defence half-cleared. Rodri’s clearance fell to Hugo Ekitike, who fired a stinging volley just over the bar with James Trafford scrambling.
#### ERLING HAALAND GIVES CITY THE LEAD WITH A COMPOSED SPOT-KICK!!!!!
Manchester City would be awarded a penalty in the 37th minute. Leading up to the spot-kick both teams had spells of possession before Pep Guardiola’s side earned themselves a penalty. Matheus Nunes played a ball into Nico O’Reilly, who took the ball on the turn and was fouled by Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk. This time, Michael Oliver awarded City a penalty. Up stepped Erling Haaland who sent Giorgi Marmardashvilli the wrong way to give City a 1-0 lead.
#### ERLING HAALAND DOUBLES MANCHESTER CITY’S LEAD ON THE STROKE OF HALFTIME!!!!
Manchester City took a 2-0 lead right on the stroke of halftime. Matheus Nunes played a ball to Rayan Cherki on the right. Cherki played a ball to Semenyo with a sublime piece of skill, and the Ghana international played it into the area. Erling Haaland beat Ibrahima Konate to the ball and flicked a header into the back of the net to double Manchester City’s lead. City had upped the ante after taking the lead and fully deserved their 2-0 lead.
Erling Haaland’s second goal of the match would be the final moment of the first half. Manchester City were great value for their lead after taking the lead. Although Liverpool had their moments in the first half, Erling Haaland’s finishing was the difference between the two teams as was Manchester City’s quality when they went up a gear.
#### Second half.
It didn’t take long for Manchester City to take a 3-0 lead. Liverpool gave away possession off a throw-in as Nico O’Reilly intercepted it. O’Reilly played a ball to Rayan Cherki, who had acres of space outside Liverpool’s area. Cherki spotted a surging run by Antoine Semenyo, and the French international played an inch-perfect through ball to the Ghana international. Semenyo beat the oncoming Giorgi Mamardashvili with a superb chip to give City a 3-0 lead in the 50th minute.
James Trafford would make his first save of the afternoon two minutes after Semenyo’s goal. Mo Salah worked his way into the City area and fired a low shot on goal. Trafford got down well to his right to make a strong save.
#### ERLING HAALAND COMPLETES HIS HAT TRICK AS PEP GUARDIOLA’S SIDE GO THROUGH THE GEARS.
Manchester City took a 4-0 lead in the 57th minute. Erling Haaland tapped in a Nico O’Reilly cross to rub more salt into Liverpool’s wounds. However, the way that City played through Liverpool from the back was absolutely superb. The ball went from Rodri to Bernardo Silva, to Jeremy Doku, to Nico O’Reilly, to Erling Haaland, the move was absolutely superb. If Pep Guardiola could draw up a goal from the training ground, that one would be it.
#### James Trafford saves a Mo Salah penalty to send the Etihad delirious.
Liverpool would earn a penalty in the 63rd minute. Matheus Nunes brought down Hugo Ekitike after the French international on the left with a needless challenge. Up stepped Mo Salah who hit a powerful penalty to the left of the goal. James Trafford got down superbly well to keep out Salah’s penalty with a quality save.
As the game entered the 75th minute, there was a party atmosphere at the Etihad. Liverpool’s traveling fans were departing, and the Manchester City fans were enjoying their team’s performance and the scoreline. The sting had well and truly come out of the game with 15 minutes to play. James Trafford would make another strong save to deny a stinging Alexis MacAllister shot from 25 yards out.
With five minutes plus stoppage time left in the match, today’s FA Cup quarter-final was well and truly over as a contest. Both teams were playing out time with the result of the match well and truly set in stone.
There would be no stoppage time as Michael Oliver blew the final whistle as the game ticked into the 90th minute. Manchester City had booked another trip to Wembley as they secured their spot in this season’s FA Cup semi-final stage. Manchester City put in an ominous display; once Erling Haaland opened the scoring, there was only ever one winner as Manchester City had too much class for a struggling Liverpool side.
### City player ratings.
**James Trafford-8.5/10:** Another great keeping performance from Trafford. He made several impressive saves and kept out a Mo Salah penalty.
**Matheus Nunes- 6.5/10:** Not the best display from Matheus Nunes at right-back today.
**Abdukodir Khusanov-7.5/10:** Did his job superbly well at the back and he has to stay in the City starting eleven from here on in.
**Marc Guehi-7.5/10:** A polished performance from Guehi.
**Nico O’Reilly-8.5/10:** Yet another quality outing from O’Reilly. He grabbed an assist and his work in possession and defensively was brilliant.
**Rodri-8.5/10:** Another superb display from Rodri. He controlled the game in mmidfield before he was taken off after an hour.
**Bernardo Silva-8.5/10:** A proper captain’s performance from Bernardo. He set the tone for his team through today’s match.
**Antoine Semenyo-9/10:** A brilliant performance on the right from Semenyo. He scored a goal and grabbed an assist and he perhaps showed what his best position is in this City side.
**Rayan Cherki-8.5/10:** For the first 20 minutes it didn’t seem like it would be Rayan Cherki’s day. Then he burst into life. He played a key role in Manchester City’s second goal and grabbed an assist for Semenyo’s goal. Another quality display from Cherki.
**Jeremy Doku-7.5/10:** The Belgian winger started the game slowly then he grew into the match. His pace and dribbling was a constant threat to the Liverpool defence before Doku was taken off on the hour-mark.
**Erling Haaland-10/10:** A superb hat trick from Haaland and his overall performance was brilliant. His finishing was great, and he made several driving runs which showed that Haaland is looking fit for the run-in.
### Substitutes.
**Nico-6/10:** He did his job in midfield but not much more after coming on.
**Savinho-6/10:** The Brazilian winger made a couple of strong runs after coming off the bench.
**Tijjani Reijnders-N/A:** Not on long enough to mark.
**Phil Foden-N/A: Not on long enough to mark.**
**Omar Marmoush-N/A:** Not on long enough to mark.