Right from the first minutes, Man City actively pushed up the squad, imposing the game with a high-level control and pressing style. The turning point came in the 36th minute when Virgil van Dijk made a mistake in the penalty area, fouling O'Reilly, bringing a penalty for the home team.
From the 11m spot, Haaland showed the bravery of a top center forward when deceiving goalkeeper Mamardashvili, opening the score for Man City. The goal helped coach Pep Guardiola's team play more and more excitedly.
Right before the first half ended, in the 45+2 minute, Haaland continued to speak up with a cross and accurate header after Semenyo's cross, doubling the gap. The Liverpool goalkeeper was completely helpless before the close-range finish.
Haaland's two goals helped Man City completely control the game according to their tactical intentions. Although Liverpool tried to organize counter-attacks and created some notable opportunities, they still could not penetrate the tightly organized defense of the home team.
Stepping into the second half, Man City continued to maintain a high attacking pace. In the 56th minute, Haaland completed a hat-trick after an assist from O'Reilly, increasing the score to 4-0, almost deciding the outcome of the match.
In a one-sided game, Man City controlled the ball overwhelmingly, circulated smoothly and suffocated all of Liverpool's attacking efforts. This resounding victory not only affirmed the strength of Pep Guardiola's team but also brought them closer to the FA Cup semi-finals for the 8th consecutive time, with Haaland continuing to be the leader in attack.
