Erling Haaland ended his goal drought in emphatic fashion with a hat trick as Manchester City thrashed Liverpool 4-0 in the FA Cup quarterfinal at the Etihad Stadium. The Norwegian striker, who hadn't scored a hat trick for City since August 2024, converted a penalty before adding two more goals in a devastating 18-minute spell either side of halftime.

Antoine Semenyo also found the net as Pep Guardiola's side cruised into the semifinals for a record eighth consecutive season. Liverpool's misery was compounded by Mohamed Salah missing a penalty and two other good chances in what was described as his 'farewell tour' after announcing his summer departure. The result leaves Liverpool facing a daunting Champions League trip to Paris Saint-Germain with mounting pressure on manager Arne Slot.

Haaland's return to form comes at a crucial time for City, who now turn their attention to key Premier League clashes against Chelsea and Arsenal. The victory also saw Guardiola break a 150-year FA Cup record with City's 18th consecutive home win in the competition. With their Champions League exit to Real Madrid, City can now focus fully on the FA Cup and Premier League title race, where Haaland's rediscovered sharpness could prove decisive.