Liverpool top Manchester City to reach FA Cup final
Sports Desk, Apr 16 (EFE).- Liverpool jumped out to a 3-0 lead over Manchester City in Saturday’s FA Cup semifinal and hung on to win 3-2 and reach the final for the first time in a decade.
With the 2021-2022 Carabao Cup already in the trophy case at Anfield and their spot in the Champions League semifinals secured, the Reds trail Premier League holders City by just a point and have a real chance to become the first English club to achieve a quadruple.
While both City and Liverpool played at midweek in the Champions League, the lingering effects of the Manchester side’s visit to Atletico Madrid forced Pep Guardiola to do without the injured Kyle Walker and to leave Kevin de Bruyne on the bench to start.
Even so, Liverpool’s dominance in the first half at London’s Wembley Stadium came as a surprise, especially in the wake of last weekend’s hard-fought 2-2 draw between the rivals.
Ibrahima Konate opened the scoring with a goal off a corner in the 9th minute and Sadio Mane doubled the advantage seven minutes later, exploiting a poor touch by City goalkeeper Zach Steffen.
The Senegal international got his second of the evening in the 45th minute to make it 3-0 at the break.
Jack Grealish pulled back a goal for Man City two minutes into the second half and the battle was on. Gabriel Jesus tested Reds keeper Alisson on two occasions before Mohamed Salah put the ball in the side-netting when he an opportunity to restore the three-goal margin.
Bernardo Silva scored in the 91st to narrow the deficit to 3-2, but that’s as far as City’s comeback would go and it will be Liverpool who face the winner of Sunday’s tie between Chelsea and Crystal Palace in the May 14 final at Wembley. EFE msg/dr
