Haaland Hat-Trick Sinks Liverpool, Slot On The Brink

Erling Haaland scored a hat-trick as Manchester City thumped Liverpool 4-0 in the FA Cup quarter-final on April 4 at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester. Haaland netted two goals before halftime and completed his treble in the second half, with Antoine Semenyo also scoring. Mohamed Salah had a penalty saved by City keeper James Trafford, summing up a miserable day for Liverpool. This is City's third straight win over Liverpool this season—their first such run since 1937—and extends their record to 18 consecutive home FA Cup wins.

The defeat piles immense pressure on Liverpool manager Arne Slot. Chants of "you're getting sacked in the morning" from City fans echoed during the game. Liverpool have won only two of their last seven matches across all competitions and sit fifth in the Premier League, dangerously close to missing next season's Champions League. This is a staggering drop for Slot, who was on the verge of guiding Liverpool to a record-equalling 20th league title just last year. With a crucial Champions League quarter-final first leg against Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday, Slot desperately needs a positive result to quiet critics.

For Manchester City, the victory comes as a relief after a difficult season trailing Arsenal in the league and exiting the Champions League. Having just won the League Cup, City can now focus on the FA Cup—a trophy they last won in 2023—and an outside shot at the Premier League title. Haaland's return to form is timely; he had scored just once in his previous six games before this display.

For Nigerian viewers, the story centers on Liverpool's sudden collapse and the future of a manager once hailed, while City's resurgence offers a reminder of their relentless winning culture.

With Salah's continued struggles and Slot's future in doubt, will Liverpool's season implode completely after the PSG tie?

SOURCE: https://www.channelstv.com/2026/04/04/haaland-hat-trick-destroys-liverpool-as-man-city-reach-fa-cup-semis/