Liverpool put on a spectacular first-half performance to reach the FA Cup final in one of the high-scoring football results of the weekend. Ibrahima Konate put them ahead after nine minutes before Sadio Mane doubled the advantage in the 17th minute. Mane put Liverpool three up before the break although Jack Grealish pulled one back two minutes after the break. Bernardo Silva scored in the first minute of stoppage time but it proved a little too late for the Premier League leaders.
Player Ratings
Man City: Steffen (4), Cancelo (6), Stones (5), Ake (5), Zinchenko (6), Fernandinho (5), Bernardo (7), Foden (6), Grealish (7), Jesus (6), Sterling (6).
Subs: Mahrez (7).
Liverpool: Alisson (8), Alexander-Arnold (7), Konate (8), Van Dijk (7), Robertson (7), Fabinho (7), Thiago (8), Keita (8), Diaz (8), Mane (8), Salah (7).
Subs: Henderson (6), Jota (6), Firmino (6), Jones (6).
Man of the match: Sadio Mane
Managers Reaction
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp: “I think it was [one of our best performances]. That was the feeling I had when I saw the first half because of the quality of the opponent. We did all the right stuff, we scored in the right moments; we played an incredible game in the first half, I have to say. I loved each second of it. To deny them in so many moments is so difficult, as is creating your own opportunities against them. The first half was outstanding in pretty much all parts of the game.”
Man City boss Pep Guardiola: It was an accident. One of the strong points is trying to play [out] and as a keeper, he has this quality. It was an accident and he will learn in the future. When the ball is there, it can always happen. I have spoken with the team, not him personally, but he is strong. When you play a lot of games, and you continue to do it, always these kinds of situations can happen.”
For more football results, click here
