An ominous presence has returned for Manchester City which stood out against Liverpool | OneFootball

Manchester City swept Liverpool aside today at the Etihad Stadium to pick up a 4-0 win over Arne Slot’s side in their FA Cup quarter-final tie. Pep Guardiola’s side were at their sparkling best from the half-hour mark to the 60th minute as a hat trick from Erling Haaland and a quality chip from Antoine Semenyo put Liverpool to the sword. The entire performance from Manchester City was a sight to behold. Perhaps the biggest positive to emerge from the match was that Erling Haaland returned to his destructive best. At his best, Haaland is an ominous presence who looms over any match. If Haaland carries today’s form into the final stages of the 2025/26 season, Pep Guardiola’s side stands every chance of claiming silverware and overhauling Arsenal in this season’s Premier League title race.

Erling Haaland was at his clinical best against Liverpool today.

It took until the 39th minute for Manchester City to take the lead against Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium today. Up until Virgil van Dijk fouled Nico O’Reilly to give City a penalty, the match was evenly poised. Up stepped Erling Haaland to take the spot-kick. The Norwegian international beat Giorgi Mamardashvili with ease from the spot to set City on their way. From the moment Haaland’s penalty hit the back of the net, City were off and running. As was Haaland as he and his team ruthlessly put Arne Slot’s side to the sword.

Erling Haaland gave Manchester City a 2-0 lead on the stroke of halftime. Antoine Semenyo played a superb cross from the right, and Haaland got the better of Ibrahima Konate to glance a header past Marmardashvilli, giving City a 2-0 lead. It was a quality striker’s finish from Haaland and it came at a crucial time.

Haaland would complete his hat trick in the 57th minute of today’s match. Antoine Semenyo had made it 3-0 in the 50th minute and Manchester City were all over Liverpool by this stage. A sweeping City move which started deep in their own half ended up with Jeremy Doku playing in Nico O’Reilly. O’Reilly picked out Haaland who finished the move with a typical Haaland finish to end today’s FA Cup quarter-final tie.

Erling Haaland had three shots today and scored three goals. Outside of that, he looked fit and raring to go. He made several driving runs at the Liverpool defence which was a sight to behold. With Jeremy Doku on the left, Semenyo on the right, Rayan Cherki drifting all over the pitch and Nico O’Reilly surging forward from left-back, Haaland had the supply he needs. That made a huge difference as Haaland scored a hat trick in a big match for his team.

If Erling Haaland plays like he did today anything remains possible for Manchester City.

Today, Erling Haaland resembled the pkayer who plundered goals to start the 2025/26 season. Haaland was a man possessed to begin this season before fatigue set in. Erling Haaland’s performances dipped recently as for the first time in his Manchester City career the goals dried up. At the Etihad Stadium today, Haaland looked like the wrecking ball of a striker that he is. As the 2025/26 season enters a pivotal stage, it is now hoped from a City point of view that Haaland’s hat trick against Liverpool is a sign of things to come.

If Erling Haaland is firing, like he was today, anything remains possible for Manchester City. City have an FA Cup semi-final to look forward to. They also sit nine points behind Arsenal, who are currently top of the Premier League. Pep Guardiola’s side do have a game in hand on the Gunners. Also, Mikel Arteta’s side have to come to the Etihad Stadium in a couple of weeks’ time in a huge Premier League fixture. If Haaland is back to being an ominous presence, nothing is out of the realm of possibility for City.

Erling Haaland looked back to his bulldozing best today as Manchester City swept aside Liverpool in their FA Cup quarter-final tie. The hope is that Haaland is back at his best. If he is, he is an ominous presence who could shape how the remainder of the 2025-26 season is written.