MAN CITY 2, LIVERPOOL 3
Manchester City claimed a share of an unwanted record as they lost to Liverpool in the semi-finals of the Emirates FA Cup.
Pep Guardiola’s team became only the second side to lost semi-finals in three consecutive seasons – neighbours United also did it in the 1960s.
After last Sunday’s pulsating 2-2 draw in the Premier League at the Etihad, the cup clash was also enthralling.
City look to have been blown away after Liverpool established a 3-0 interval lead through a double from Sadio Mane and an opener from Ibrahima Konate.
But City showed why they are such special side as they staged a spirited second-half recovery with goals from Jack Grealish and Bernardo Silva.
Again, it was fine margins as City goalkeeper Zach Steffen’s effort proved costly while Liverpool’s Alisson Becker made a vital stop kin the second half to deny Gabriel Jesus who was clean through on goal.
In the end they came up just short as their hopes of a treble now become a double while the quadruple remains very much alive for Liverpool.
Embed from Getty ImagesGuardiola said: “We gave everything after a tough first half. For the first goal, the set pieces they are very, very strong. The second was an accident. Difficult to come back but they did it perfectly in the second half.
“Our momentum was there in the second half. We had the chances to equalise and fought for every ball at the end and were close to coming back. The guys put in a lot of pride in the second half.
“It was not a question of tired. They were more tired in the first, football is not about the tiredness it is about what you do and how it works and how you play.
“We have had a lot of games and needed fresh, and I have a lot of confidence in my players.”
And on Steffen’s mistake for Liverpool’s second goal, Guardiola added: “It was an accident. One of the strong points is try to play [out] and as a keeper he has this quality. It was an accident, and he will learn for the future.
“I have spoken with the team not him personally, but he is strong.”
Mane, who was named man of the match, said: “Today is special – we were playing one of the best teams in the world. To win this kind of game, especially in a semi-final, is a big, big, big win.
“We were very pleased to win and qualify for the final.
“We started very well, everybody started on the front foot – for my first goal the goalkeeper made a mistake, but I think we pushed him to make that mistake. That is our style and I think that made the difference.”
On the possible quadruple, Mane added: “We have a lot of games to go and we will try to do our best – it’s our dream for sure and we will fight for it.”
Virgil Van Dijk said: “We made it very difficult for ourselves in the end. We created a chance to finish the game. When they scored their first goal quite early in the second half it gives them a boost, but overall, we are happy to go to the final.
“It is about scoring goals and that is what we did in the first half. A perfect first half in that case but we play City, the champions of England, and it is always going to be tough.
“There are moments you will have to suffer. You have to show a lot of strength and togetherness. It was intense like the previous game, but we should have killed the game off.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said: “Absolutely proud, incredible. I think the first half was one of the best we ever played. We did all the right stuff, we scored in the right moments, we played an incredible game in the first half. I really loved each second of it.
“The second half started with the goal for Man City and then it opens up, the quality of City is insane and you could see it was a much more open game.
“We respect the quality of City so much and it’s so difficult to win against them. But because we have these boys in our dressing room, we have a chance.
“It’s not a statement, we are just in the final. I think City knew beforehand that it could be difficult against us – that’s how it has been between us most of the time. There was one game where there was a strange scoreline – 5-0 – when we had an early red card.
“But when both teams were on top of their concentration, it has always been close.
“The quadruple talk I can’t believe it. This win means we have another game and then we have to play Aston Villa in a midweek, they have to move one game again.
“I don’t think we have a full free week before the last matchday – it’s all difficult but who cares? We came here and we wanted to go through to the final. We knew about the problems but qualifying for this final makes the quadruple even more difficult – it’s the only way to do it but it makes it more difficult as well so it’s a strange situation.
“But we are over the moon, we beat the strongest football team in the world and that’s a pretty special moment.”
Kevin de Bruyne was on the bench as City made seven changes to the side that drew with Atletico Madrid in midweek to progress to the Champions League semi-finals with an aggregate win.
De Bruyne went off injured in that game while Kyle Walker, who also went hurt, did not make the squad.
Steffen, Nathan Ake, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Fernandinho, Jack Grealish, Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus all started.
City had plenty of back up on the bench which included Ederson, Ruben Dias, Ilkay Gundogan, Aymeric Laporte, Rodrigo, De Bruyne and Riyad Mahrez.
It was also seven changes for Liverpool from their Champions League game against Benfica in midweek. Mohamed Salah started in attack with Sadio Mane and Luis Diaz.
Trent Alexander-Arnold, Andy Robertson and Van Dijk returned in defence while Thiago and Fabinho were in midfield.
Diogo Jota, an injury doubt for the game, was on the bench alongside the likes of Jordan Henderson, James Milner, Roberto Firmino and Joel Matip.
The 33th anniversary of the Hillsborough tragedy was marked by one minute’s silence before kick- off, but it was cut short after some City fans failed to observe it.
City later apologised, their statement reading: “Manchester City are extremely disappointed with the actions of some City supporters during the minute’s silence before today’s game.
“The club sincerely apologises to all those connected with Liverpool Football Club.”
Liverpool made the ideal start taking a ninth minute lead through centre back Konate who found the net with a towering header from Robertson’s corner as he won the aerial duel with Ake.
It was the French centre back’s third goal for the Reds in 22 appearances, and he has found the net in each of his last three games.
It looked a long way back for City when Liverpool doubled their lead in the 16th minute.
Mane quickly closed down what looked a routine back pass to Steffen whose clearance ricocheted back over the American goalkeeper to his acute embarrassment. It was the Senegal striker’s 17th goal of the season.
And surely it was game over when Liverpool added a third goal in the final minute of the half.
Mane struck again with a super volley which followed an intricate passing move on the edge of the City area.
City needed an instant response and got in within two minutes of the restart when Grealish began to make inroads into the deficit.
Brazilians Fernandinho and Gabriel Jesus linked to set up Grealish who rifled a left-foot shot high into the roof of the net, his fifth of the season. It was City’s first goal attempt on target in the match.
Jesus then bustled past Van Dijk only for goalkeeper Alisson to block his close-range shot.
City had a great chance to further reduce the deficit with 20 minutes left when Grealish out Jesus clean through, but Alisson made a vital block, a super save.
Liverpool so nearly had a fourth when Oleksandr Zinchenko’s header back to Steffen failed to reach the keeper. Mohamed Salah nipped in only to see his shot hit the side netting, a let off for City.
City made their first and only change of the game with seven minutes left, Mahrez for Jesus.
Liverpool were made to endure an anxious finish when City reduced the deficit to 3-2 in the 90th minute.
Mahrez dribbled to and along the by-line and his low cross deflected off Alisson to leave Silva with a simple finish at the far post.
The four minutes of added time produced fireworks at both ends.
Fernandinho had an effort deflected over and Sterling shot straight at Alisson as City went to complete a remarkable recovery.
But as City piled forward, they left themselves open at the back as Salah shot wide and Firmino’s effort was blocked by Steffen.