Arthur Greene
Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final tie between Liverpool and Manchester City lived up to its billing as a showdown between the greatest rivals in the history of English football, as the Reds beat their opponents 3-2 in a thrilling encounter.
Liverpool stormed into an early, insurmountable lead, scoring three goals in the opening 45 minutes without reply – something no team had ever managed to do against Pep Guardiola’s Man City side.
Ibrahima Konate gave them the advantage after just nine minutes, thundering in a header from a corner – the third such goal scored by the defender in his last three appearances.
Gurdiola’s decision to stick with his second keeper Zack Steffen for the cup tie would come back to bite him. After receiving a back pass, the American international dallied on the ball for an extraordinary amount of time, allowing Sadio Mane to tackle him and score in one fell swoop.
Mane then doubled his tally in much more stylish fashion. Thiago looped a ball over to Mane on the edge of the box, who sailed the ball low into the bottom corner with a volley to make it 3-0.
Guardiola’s side looked defeated at half time but emerged defiant. Jack Grealish scored to give his side a fighting hope just two minutes after the break.
Having been lacklustre in the opening, City’s passing was thereafter sharp and their attacks were direct.
But Liverpool held firm, and City did not take another bite out of their lead until the 91st minute, when Bernardo SIlva slotted home after a brilliant run from Riyad Mahrez.
But Silva’s effort came too late in the day, and City were unable to reply again to the drubbing they received in the first half.
A mixture of relief and jubilation rang around Liverpool’s half of Wembley stadium. Their chants had smothered out City fans’ voices all afternoon long, and Mane’s comments could barely be picked up by the mic as he gave his post match interview.
“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,” said Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp once the noise eventually died down.
Liverpool now continue their pursuit of claiming an historic quadruple of trophies this season.
As well as booking a place in the final of the FA Cup, they remain in contention in both the Premier League and Champions League and have already won the Carabao Cup.
In the Champions League, they face Unai Emery’s underdogs Villarreal next Tuesday night at 9pm while City come up against Real Madrid at 9pm the following evening.
Chelsea face Crystal Palace in the second FA Cup tie of the semi-final at 5.30pm on Sunday.
Image source: @Ian_Rush9
