It was over before it began. It was over when Kevin de Bruyne was injured in Manchester City’s battle with Atletico Madrid last week. It was over when City’s players, emotionally and physically exhausted, fought their way back up the tunnel at the end of the Battle of the Wanda Metropolitano past the head-butts and the fists, overcome by the relief and triumph of their two-leg victory.
It was over when Pep Guardiola named his team for this FA Cup semi-final at Wembley an hour before the kick-off. It was over when three of City’s first choice back-four were missing from the starting eleven. It was over when Fernandinho, a man who is starting to play like a midfielder who is leaving at the end of the season, was picked to hold the line. It was over when Zack Steffen was given a go in goal instead of Ederson.
It was over when the unmistakable message Guardiola sent out was that he was prioritising the Premier League and the Champions League. No blame should be attached to him for that. City’s squad is not as deep as Liverpool’s and however City may wish to try to disguise it, winning the Champions League for the first time in their history has become their Holy Grail. Everything else is secondary.
Liverpool claimed a 3-2 win over Man City to reach their first FA Cup final since 2012 and keep their quadruple dream alive
Ibrahima Konate headed them in front after nine minutes of the semi-final, getting above Nathan Ake to power the ball home
Konate ensured Jurgen Klopp’s men got off to the perfect start against City, who were torn apart inside the first 45 minutes
It was over when Jurgen Klopp was able to rest several of his first choice players for the tie against Benfica last week. It was over when the Liverpool team was announced and it was a first-choice eleven. It was one of those occasions when everyone could sense what was coming. Even Peter Reid, the great Evertonian, knew it when he was interviewed before the game. To his regret, he said, he foresaw a win ‘for the Reds’.
And so, if the league clash between the two best teams in England last weekend was a thriller, a nail-biter full of suspense, we knew how this film ended before we sat down to watch it. Sure, City improved in the second half and the closing stages were frantic but the scoreline did not reflect a first half, in particular, that was brutally one-sided. At its close, as we suspected, Liverpool had progressed to next month’s FA Cup Final, still in the hunt for an unprecedented Quadruple. City’s focus had narrowed.
It is to be hoped that this was merely the second instalment of a late-season trilogy between these two giants and that the third will come in the Champions League Final in Paris on May 28th. This match may not have offered too many clues to the outcome of that game, if City and Liverpool get past Real Madrid and Real Madrid respectively, but the way Klopp ran to the Liverpool fans after the final whistle and offered his customary fist-pumping celebration, suggested his side will eke as much meaning as they can from this result.
Even if City were below par, Liverpool’s performance in the first 45 minutes, in particular, was stunning. They played with a hunger that overwhelmed their opponents. Sadio Mane, the man of the match, was especially relentless. They swarmed all over City and forced them into a series of mistakes in possession. Thiago Alcantara swaggered around Wembley imperiously and Naby Keita and Fabinho obliterated Bernardo Silva and Fernandinho.
Sadio Mane then tackled hesitant City keeper Zack Steffen on his goal line to rob him of possession and double the Reds’ lead
Steffen wanted far too long on the ball and was made to pay by Mane, who left City with a mountain to climb at Wembey
Mane then added his second and Liverpool’s third before half time, tucking a superb volley into the bottom-right corner
City were blown apart by Liverpool and looked to be feeling the effects of their Champions League clash with Atletico Madrid
Pep Guardiola cut a frustrated figure on the Wembley touchline as his side were picked apart by their Premier League foes
‘Absolutely proud, incredible,’ Klopp said after the match. ‘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. We are over the moon. We beat the strongest football team in the world and that’s a pretty special moment.’
Guardiola had made seven changes from team that drew with Atletico last week and was unapologetic about it. ‘We have no alternative other than to make changes,’ he said. ‘We have injuries and we have had incredibly mentally and physically demanding fixtures, not just Atletico Madrid but Liverpool and Atletico again before that. We had no choice – we have to have fresh legs.’
Some of City’s fans brought shame on the club by chanting throughout the beginning of what was intended as a minute’s silence to remember Liverpool fans killed in the Hillsborough Disaster. City issued a prompt apology that was echoed later by Guardiola. ‘It does not represent who we are,’ the City manager said.
Despite the mood music, City did forge an early half-chance when Gabriel Jesus broke down the right and advanced on Andrew Robertson. He slipped the ball inside to Jack Grealish 18 yards out and a more confident Grealish might have hit it first time. But Grealish took a touch and allowed a defender to close him down enough to block his shot.
Jack Grealish pulled one back for City at the start of the first half, giving them a glimmer of hope of a potential comeback
Grealish’s strike was the best possible start City could have made to the second half, but in the end it failed to spark a revival
Liverpool took the sting out of the game for the next 45 minutes and failed to let Guardiola’s side get properly back into the tie
A few minutes later, Liverpool were ahead. Robertson swung over a corner from the left and Ibrahima Konate muscled Gabriel Jesus out of the way and climbed majestically above Nathan Ake to power a header beyond the reach of Steffen. At the other end, the air turned red as a smoke bomb was hurled on to the pitch from the celebrating Liverpool fans.
Liverpool went further ahead inside 18 minutes. This time, the goal was an aberration. Maybe even an abomination. It seemed to be a symbol of the difference in approach between the two teams and the difference in intensity. Ederson was hailed as the King of Cool during the league meeting between these sides last weekend for his composure under pressure but when poor Steffen tried to affect the same nonchalance, he was brutally exposed.
There was no danger when John Stones rolled a backpass to the American goalkeeper but Steffen took one touch with his left foot and then, as Mane raced towards him, he wondered about taking another with his right foot but thought better of it. Then he did take a touch with his right foot after all and now Mane was upon him. Steffen tried to clear it but it was too late. Mane slid in, got to the ball first and forced it over the line.
The match was so one-sided, it felt strange. It seemed unnatural, almost, to see City outclassed like this. Liverpool’s confidence soared. Virgil van Dijk flicked the ball up and let it spin back to him before he played it square, Luis Diaz went through his repertoire of tricks and flicks and, in midfield, Thiago Alcantara ran the show. City, by contrast, seemed to turn into Atletico Madrid. All they could muster was a series of fouls.
Liverpool underlined their dominance on the stroke of half-time. After Diaz had seen a shot blocked, Klopp’s team recycled the ball and Thiago and Trent Alexander-Arnold exchanged quick passes on the edge of the City area. Thiago looked up and floated a delicate ball to Mane who volleyed it with the outside of his foot so that it span away from Steffen’s left hand and beat him at his near post. This match was not the reserve goalkeeper’s finest hour.
Bernardo Silva did pull another back for City at the start of stoppage time, but in the end his strike proved too little too late
Liverpool instead got over the line to continue their Quadruple bid and secure their first FA Cup final appearance in a decade
Klopp got the better of Guardiola in their latest epic battle, which failed to disappoint from the first minute to the last
It looked as if the match were turning into a rout but little over 60 seconds after the interval, City grabbed a lifeline. Robertson gave the ball away near the half-way line, Fernandinho carried it down the right and played it inside to Jesus. He stepped neatly inside his marker and laid the ball square to Grealish who lashed it first time past Alisson with the outside of his left foot.
City threatened again. Jesus raced through only to see his shot deflected over by Alisson. The tempo of the game grew more frantic. Fernandinho was lucky not to be given a straight red for a lunging, mistimed tackle on Mane, saved from dismissal only by the fact that his studs were not raised. Liverpool fans booed his escape lustily.
City, though, were keen to prove they were still in the game and they should have drawn even closer to Liverpool with 20 minutes to go. Grealish toe-poked a pass through to Jesus that left him one-on-one with Alisson. Jesus took it first time but hit it too close to the goalkeeper and it cannoned off his left boot and bounced wide of the goal. It was a big save. That’s what you get when you pick your best keeper.
A minute later, Liverpool had a chance to put the game out of reach when Oleksandr Zinchenko stooped to try to head the ball back to Steffen but allowed Mo Salah to steal in. Salah dinked the ball expertly over Steffen but it looped lazily into the side-netting.
City did get a second goal as the game ticked over into added time. Substitute Riyad Mahrez got past Robertson on the Liverpool left and tried to tuck his shot between Alisson’s legs. The ball squirmed free and ran Bernardo Silva who slid it into the empty net. That set up a frantic finish that saw Fernandinho blaze over the bar and Steffen make a last-ditch save from Roberto Firmino but Liverpool hung on.
Relive Sportsmail’s live blog for the FA Cup semi-final clash between Manchester City and Liverpool below.
But they didn’t have to wait too much longer, as the final whistle sounds and Liverpool have held out to reach the FA Cup final!
City were much improved after the break, but they gave themselves a mountain to climb in the second half after falling apart in the first.
Liverpool started like a house on fire and blitzed their way into a three-goal lead, and while Guardiola’s men came close to a comeback in the end it was too little too late.
The Reds will therefore face either Chelsea or Crystal Palace next month in their first FA Cup final since 2012.
Liverpool burst down the other end and have a five on two situation, but instead of taking the ball to the corner Salah produces a poor attempt which goes well wide.
They then launch another attack and Firmino sees an effort from close range denied by Steffen. That could have been game over!
After two City corners, the ball drops to Grealish over on the left and he slots it inside to Sterling, who takes a touch out of his feet in the box and sends a shot straight at Alisson.
Is the comeback on?!
Foden releases Mahrez over on the right-hand side with a brilliant long-range pass, and the Algerian skips past Robertson before attempting a shot from a tight angle.
Alisson can only parry it into the path of Silva, who strokes home to make it 3-2!
City have four minutes of stoppage time to complete one of the most remarkable comebacks in recent memory.
Thiago makes way for Curtis Jones in Liverpool’s fourth change of the afternoon.
Salah moves into the box from the right-hand side and Zinchenko fails to thwart him, but his eventual effort at goal rolls into the hands of Steffen.
There are two more substitutions for Liverpool, as Mane and Diaz are replaced by Jota and Roberto Firmino.
Grealish collects the ball on the left-hand side before cutting in and picking out Jesus towards the edge of the D, and the striker is brought down by Thiago before being replaced by Riyad Mahrez.
Sterling then sends the resulting free-kick flying over the bar.
Incredibly, Guardiola is still yet to make a change despite his side trailing by two goals heading into this final 10 minutes. He’s keeping the faith in his starting XI for now.
Klopp makes his first change of the day as Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson replaces Keita.
City almost gift Liverpool a fourth, with Diaz first attempting to flick the ball to Salah in the box and Oleksandr Zinchenko then intercepting to head back to Steffen.
The Ukrainian’s back-pass was far too weak, but Salah was only able to send a rushed effort into the side netting. Big let off.
The curse of the commentator almost strikes as Jesus misses a glorious chance for City!
The striker was released one on one with Alisson and only had to slot past him to make it 3-2, but the goalkeeper got down to make a fine save.
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That could end up proving a crucial moment in this semi-final.
Time is running out for City to claw their way back into this tie.
Liverpool seem to have weathered the early storm in this half and now look fairly comfortable once more. They’ll be keen to slow the tempo down as much as possible and see the job through.
After a mix-up between Thiago and Robertson the ball falls to Sterling, who darts into the right-hand side of the Liverpool area before firing in a cross.
Yet Konate, who’s been excellent so far today, stands strong to block the ball with his chest and clear away.
Mane also goes into the book for a retaliation trip on Fernandinho.
Fernandinho can have no complaints as he receives a yellow card for a dangerous late challenge on Mane.
Sterling flicks the ball into Jesus’ path and the striker gallops through on goal, but with Van Dijk breathing down his neck he takes it too wide before his shot is parried behind by Alisson.
Liverpool then clear the resulting corner, but City will be encouraged by these openings they’re now finding. They weren’t there in the first half!
Alexander-Arnold whips in a free-kick and the ball almost drops to Virgil van Dijk with the goal gaping, but Nathan Ake does well to intercept and send it out for a corner, which is eventually cleared.
City made such a strong start to the half, but Liverpool appear to have now taken the sting out of it.
Naby Keita picks up a yellow card for a high boot on Fernandinho.
Well it doesn’t look as much of a tall order now, as Grealish has just got City off to the best start possible in this second half!
Jesus dummied Fabinho brilliantly inside the box and teed up his City team-mate, who smashed home past Alisson from close range to reduce the deficit.
Game on!
City get the second half underway. They need three goals in 45 minutes – it might be a tall order!
There’s the half-time whistle. What an incredible 45 minutes of football that was.
Who saw this coming? City completely capitulated and Liverpool were buoyant. Barring a miraculous comeback, this tie is as good as over already.
Steffen’s error gave City a mountain to climb, but their overall performance has been sluggish, timid and uncharacteristically disjointed.
Liverpool, meanwhile, were firing on all cylinders and will be absolutely delighted at the break.
Liverpool have added a third a minute before the break and Mane has his second!
After some neat interplay between Thiago and Alexander-Arnold on the edge of the box the former lofts the ball over to Mane, who brings it down and slices a beautiful volley into the bottom-right corner.
City have been well and truly steamrolled in the opening 45 minutes at Wembley. They may have just been knocked out to the point of no return there.
Would love to be a fly on the wall of their dressing room at half-time…
Jesus heads into the path of Phil Foden and the latter then gives it back to him on the edge of the box, only for Trent Alexander-Arnold to intervene with an important challenge.
That feeble counter-attack pretty much sums up City’s half.
Fabinho brings down Jesus as his fellow Brazilian tries to get away down the right-hand side and joins him in the book as a result.
Liverpool have looked so much sharper and stronger than City in this first half. Guardiola’s men have been chasing shadows at times off the ball and are making little use of it when they have possession.
He’ll be keen to get his side in at the break and give them a kick up the backside. It’s much needed!
The goalkeepers have made a nervy start here, with Alisson gifting City possession on the edge of Liverpool’s area.
Fortunately for the Brazilian, City failed to make use of the opening and the half chance went begging.
Gabriel Jesus picks up the first booking of the day for bringing down Luis Diaz.
Konate and Mane – with the help of a hesitant Steffen – have given Liverpool a dream start.
Liverpool fans are in full voice at Wembley now. They couldn’t have made a better start and City look rattled!
But 2-0 can be a dangerous score line… One goal and the Premier League leaders are back in it.
Klopp will be urging his side not to get complacent from the touchline.
Liverpool have doubled their lead… and it’s an absolute disaster for City goalkeeper Steffen.
The American spent far too long in possession on his own goal line and paid the ultimate price, with Sadio Mane closing him down, making a tackle and turning the ball into the back of the net as a result.
That is a serious howler from Steffen and City now have a mountain to climb early on in this semi-final.
Wembley is now a mist of red after Konate’s opener, with flares from a jubilant Liverpool end creating a thick fog at the national stadium.
We’ve had an early goal, tackles are flying in and the atmosphere is electric. What a start!
Ibrahima Konate heads Liverpool in front!
Andrew Robertson whips in a perfect corner and the centre-back gets above Nathan Ake to power home a superb header that flies past Zack Steffen and into the back of the net.
The Reds have drawn first blood here at Wembley!
Fernandinho switches the play to the right flank excellently and finds Joao Cancelo, who pulls the ball back to Jack Grealish in acres of space inside the box.
But the £100m man takes too long to pull the trigger, meaning his eventual shot is comfortably blocked.
After a minute’s silence for the victims of the 1989 Hillsborough tragedy, both sets of teams take the knee before Liverpool kick us off at Wembley.
Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp are level on nine wins each in their head-to-head record, with five draws coming in their 14 meetings.
Who will claim the 10th today?
Here’s your 10-minute warning! Kick-off is just around the corner.
It’s a Clash of the Titans at Wembley today and the sun is shining brightly on the famous white arch. Games don’t come much bigger than this!
Pep Guardiola has made seven changes from his side that battled their way into the Champions League semi-finals on Wednesday night.
Kevin De Bruyne is only fit enough to make the bench, while Kyle Walker is out of the squad completely.
In come Zack Steffen, Nathan Ake, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Fernandinho, Jack Grealish, Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus.
For Jurgen Klopp, it’s also seven changes from the side that drew 3-3 with Benfica.
Trent Alexander-Arnold, Andy Robertson and Virgil van Dijk, while Fabinho and Thiago start in the middle. Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane are back in up top.
Liverpool XI: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson, Fabinho, Thiago, Keita, Diaz, Mane, Salah
SUBS: Kelleher, Milner, Firmino, Gomez, Henderson, Jones, Jota, Tsimikas, Matip
Manchester City XI: Steffen, Cancelo, Stones, Ake, Zinchenko, Fernandinho (C), Bernardo, Foden, Grealish, Jesus, Sterling
SUBS: Ederson, Dias, Gundogan, Laporte, Rodrigo, De Bruyne, Mahrez, Delap, Lavia
Manchester City v Liverpool. Pep versus Klopp. First against second. Trebles and quadruples on the line.
They don’t come much bigger, do they?
Harry Slavin
Host commentator
Oliver Salt
Host commentator