Liverpool retained a place in another final for the local cup after beating Manchester City 3-2 at Wembley on Saturday. Three goals in the first half proved to be enough for the Reds while holding, although City managed to return two in the second half.
Ibrahima Konate put Liverpool ahead in the early stages, and Sadio Mane’s double left Pep Guardiola’s team with too much to do after the break. The result comes less than a week after both teams drew 2-2 with Etihad in the Premier League.
Now Liverpool will face Crystal Palace or Chelsea in the final exhibition at Wembley next month, and here is what the national media did from Saturday’s match.
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“Liverpool’s chase for the four remains intact”
Paul Joyce – The Times: “In the course of his career in Manchester City, John Stones will have played the back pass hundreds of times without even thinking about what will happen next.
“In this case, however, not Ederson, but reserve goalkeeper Zack Steffen found the ball at his feet with an opponent who turned to him.
“Steffen made a touch, an open invitation to the tireless Sadio Mane to come closer. Nervous indecision ensued, then another touch, and suddenly the Liverpool striker rushed out, pulling out his right shoe to deal with the American practically on the goal line and happily turning the ball into a yawning net.
“It was a moment that encapsulated this FA Cup semi-final, with Liverpool’s pure desire to ensure that their pursuit of the four remained intact, as they reached the final for the 15th time and City is responsible for creating too. many of their own problems. ”
“Fear has never gripped Liverpool”
Sam Wallace – The Telegraph: “It was the FA Cup semi-final match of the Great Powers of English in 2022 and yet it felt like a draw for the Cup, which once promised to be in the last few added frantic minutes of time when Pep Guardiola’s players finally they considered themselves back in it.
“Before that it was a strange afternoon, which did not lead to the big clash of impasse in the race for the Premier League title last Sunday, but instead saw the insufficiently strong Manchester City, destroyed in the first half, only to build an unexpected part of the house in the second. scored twice after the break, the second in the 91st minute, by Bernardo Silva and finally drew the Cup only in the remaining time added at the end. Although it would be an impetus to say that fear once gripped Liverpool.
“They won their FA Cup final and the opportunity to double the national cup – perhaps a triple or a quadruple – with an exciting first half, dominated by goal scorer Sadio Mane and maestro Thiago Alcantara. Also, when the game was still in balance and the difference between the two teams was only Ibrahim Konate’s goal in the ninth minute, a desperate mistake by goalkeeper Zack Steffen gave Liverpool their second goal and made it a really difficult return for City. ”
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“Liverpool’s dominance in the first period was total”
David Hitner, The Guardian: “Zack Steffen wanted to be able to be everywhere, but not here, and Liverpool had a flaw in this FA Cup semi-final that it was difficult to turn them down. Poor Stephen. Pep Guardiola wanted to show his faith in the goalkeeper of the National Cup, but everything went wrong for the number 1 in the United States and Manchester City in the 17th minute.
“With a routine back pass and the usual Ederson-style back orders, Steffen made a heavy first touch and after some hesitation, an even heavier second. Sadio Mane flew in to deal with the ball at 2-0, with Ibrahima Conate scoring the first and Liverpool on their way to the final against Chelsea or Crystal Palace and, hopefully, the second element of an unprecedented quadruple.
“Liverpool’s dominance in the first period was total – Jurgen Klopp felt that this was one of the best halves his team had played – and it would have been worse for Steffen when he slightly lost to his close beam from Manet for 3-0. He excelled in the middle, as did Luis Diaz from the left wing, the January signing torment City with his velcro touch, fast legs and great balance. Thiago Alcantara pulled the strings from afar. “
“Now Liverpool’s task is clear”
Paul Horst, Liverpool Echo: “If this is a victory that must ultimately mean something in Liverpool’s grand plan for glory, then they must ensure that this is their name at the FA Cup on 14 May. From now on there is no other option. It was a victory statement over Manchester City that will only encourage those who are firmly convinced that Jurgen Klopp’s men can actually move the board from now until the end of May.
“Another final is attractive and they can sit with their legs raised on Easter, while Chelsea meet with Crystal Palace for the right to stand here again at Wembley in a month. Now the task is clear – to secure the first FA Cup since 2006.
But for now, even if the quadruple mission and its relentless confrontation mean it could only be a fleeting sensation, Jurgen Klopp may raise a toast to another memorable day and a performance over City that could still be extremely psychological in the coming weeks. With nothing to separate the two in the Premier League clashes at Etihad or Anfield this season, Liverpool needed a dominant game at the national stadium to secure their first victory against their already fierce enemy in November 2019.
“How well deserved; the right team is heading to the final and there can certainly be no worries about that on the part of Pep Guardiola. ‘
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