FA Cup quarter-final don start for Etihad Stadium as Manchester City host Liverpool. The match kick off 12:45pm local time for Manchester, England. Both teams don reach this stage after winning their Round 5 matches last month. Manchester City eliminate Newcastle United 1-3 away with goals from Savinho and two from Omar Marmoush. Liverpool beat Wolves 1-3 away with goals from Andy Robertson, Mohamed Salah, and Curtis Jones.
For their last match before international break, Manchester City win EFL Cup by beating Arsenal 2-0 at Wembley Stadium. Liverpool lose 2-1 to Brighton away for Premier League. This na third time both teams go face each other this season. For their last matchup, Man City defeat Liverpool 2-1 at Anfield with late penalty kick from Erling Haaland.
Official lineups don come out. Manchester City goalkeeper na James Trafford. Defenders be Nico O'Reilly, Marc Guehi, Abdukodir Khusanov, Matheus Nunes. Midfielders na Rodri, Bernardo Silva, Rayan Cherki. Forwards na Jeremy Doku, Erling Haaland, Antoine Semenyo. Liverpool goalkeeper na Giorgi Mamardashvili. Defenders na Milos Kerkez, Virgil Van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Joe Gomez. Midfielders na Dominik Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch, Curtis Jones. Forwards na Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Mohamed Salah.
Match dey available to watch for United States through ESPN Select, ESPN Unlimited, ESPN, ESPN Deportes, Fubo Sports. For UK, TNT Sports 1, TNT Sports Ultimate, HBO Max go show am.
Pep Guardiola dey serve final match of his ban from dugout. The Catalan no go dey technical area for clash against Arne Slot side after picking sixth yellow card of season for fifth-round win over Newcastle. Guardiola don already sit out one FA Cup game this season, watch from stands for third round after picking three yellow cards for eligible games.
City dey without defensive duo Ruben Dias and John Stones through injury. Marc Guehi partner Abdukodir Khusanov for defence with James Trafford keep his place for goal. Liverpool boss Arne Slot talk say Mohamed Salah work hard to return after injury for last game against Brighton. Slot say Hugo Ekitike return na big boost because Alexander Isak no dey available yet.
Match don start with electric intensity from both sides. Early minutes show end-to-end action. Liverpool carve out first big chance from long punt downfield from keeper. Salah get clear but Khusanov make recovery challenge to prevent Egyptian get shot away. City respond with pressure yield corner.
For 18th minute, penalty appeal come up. Haaland force his way into box, ball break for Cherki who go down under challenge of Kerkez but referee Michael Oliver wave away appeals. Liverpool staff Lijnders and Kolo Toure go talk with fourth official, Arne Slot dey his ear too.
For 24th minute, City no put ball out so VAR can quickly review penalty claim wey never be. Rayan Cherki want am, but e never look like penalty. Guardiola for stands think say e suppose be penalty. City fans feel like Michael Oliver no give them enough for these opening 20 minutes.
For 27th minute, chance come for Liverpool. Ekitike flash shot over angle of post and bar after City no fit control bouncing ball for box. Atmosphere dey crackling with sizeable Liverpool contingent behind goal for South Stand.
Rodri future dey for spotlight. Pep Guardiola believe say Rodri go snub serious interest from Real Madrid to commit future to Manchester City. Midfielder dey coveted by Spanish giants and no yet agree contract extension as e approach final 12 months of contract. Guardiola say club want Rodri stay, stay, stay.
Phil Foden dey face fight to be selected for England World Cup squad after disappointing outings for latest international break. Guardiola urge Foden do as much as possible with Manchester City for next six weeks to book place for World Cup this summer.
FA Cup semi-final draw go take place after West Ham game with Leeds on Sunday afternoon. Draw go dey available for fans to watch on TNT Sports 1, HBO Max and TNT Sports YouTube channel approximately 15 minutes after full-time. Ally McCoist go make draw.
City get 17-game home winning run for FA Cup. Victory here go make this outright longest home winning run by any side for competition proper, surpass Clapham Rovers 17 wins from December 1873 to February 1881. Since losing to Wigan Athletic for 2017/18 fifth round, each of City last 31 FA Cup matches outside semi-finals and finals don be victorious.
Liverpool win their last four away FA Cup ties against City. They progress from 17 of their last 19 FA Cup quarter-final ties, although they lose 4-3 to Manchester United for their most recent for 2023/24. Mohamed Salah don score for each of his last three FA Cup appearances for Liverpool, including for quarter-final against Manchester United for 2023/24.
Match dey continue with both teams dey push for breakthrough. High stakes dey for both clubs as early kick-off after international break make Guardiola nervous. No much time for training beforehand and you no know how team go click until they get on pitch.
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