Manchester City vs Liverpool: A Crucial FA Cup Quarter-Final
Manchester City will host Liverpool in a pivotal FA Cup quarter-final, marking the start of a crucial month for both teams across multiple competitions. This match is particularly significant for Mohamed Salah, who is set to begin his farewell with Liverpool, facing off against Pep Guardiola’s side. Although Salah is guaranteed a fitting send-off at the end of the season, his hopes of securing a final trophy rest on the FA Cup and the Champions League. Liverpool will face holders Paris Saint-Germain in the quarter-finals this month.
Live Coverage and Match Details
The match will kick off at 12:45pm BST on Saturday, 4 April, at the Etihad Stadium. Fans can watch the game live on TNT Sports 1 and HBO Max, which has become the new streaming home for the broadcaster, replacing Discovery+. Subscribers can log in using their existing details.
Line-Ups Confirmed
Manchester City XI:
Trafford; Nunes, Khusanov, Guehi, O’Reilly; Rodri, Bernardo; Semenyo, Cherki, Doku, Haaland
Subs: Donnarumma, Reijnders, Ake, Marmoush, Kovacic, Gonzalez, Ait Nouri, Savio, Foden
Liverpool XI:
Mamardashvili; Gomez, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Jones, Szoboszlai; Salah, Wirtz, Ekitike
Subs: Woodman, Mac Allister, Chiesa, Gakpo, Robertson, Frimpong, Nyoni, Morrison, Ngumoha
Team News
For Manchester City, Pep Guardiola has opted for an attacking lineup featuring Jeremy Doku, Antoine Semenyo, and Rayan Cherki behind Erling Haaland. James Trafford will be in goal, with Abdukodir Khusanov partnering Marc Guehi in defense. Guehi replaces Nathan Ake, the only change from the Carabao Cup final. Ruben Dias and John Stones are not fit for the match.
Liverpool’s team news includes Mohamed Salah being fit to start, as he begins his farewell tour in the FA Cup quarter-finals. Giorgi Mamardashvili is in goal, with Alisson likely to be sidelined for several weeks due to a muscle problem. Joe Gomez starts at right back, and Curtis Jones replaces Alexis Mac Allister in midfield. Alexander Isak is not in the squad.
Quotes from Managers
Pep Guardiola welcomed the clash with Liverpool, stating, “For many times [they] have been the rival, the biggest, biggest one. So this is a team, like you know, making incredible investment last season to be there for many, many years, and is in Champions League, and it’s a top contender, top-class players.”
He added, “We have the chance to reach an incredible milestone of eight semi-finals in a row, which has never been done.” Guardiola also paid tribute to Salah, saying, “It is a good moment to say goodbye in this country tomorrow. He deserves incredible, incredible recognition for what he has given to world football and especially in this country.”
Arne Slot expressed hope for a third time lucky against Man City after losing to them twice in the Premier League this season. He said, “I think we have felt this season multiple times how important it is to get a lead, we have struggled with that. It’s much easier than being 1 or 2-0 up. Scoring goals is vital, so I am happy Alex [Isak] is back.”
Slot added, “We have proven that we have quality and are a good team. We played much better against Man City at home, we didn’t deserve to lose. A refereeing decision in that game didn’t go in our favour for a red card on Mo Salah. Now we have to show the progress in an away game. It is tougher away from home.”
