Man City vs Liverpool LIVE: FA Cup semi-final result, final score and reaction as Reds reach final
Man City 2-3 Liverpool: Follow reaction after Liverpool and Manchester City play out another thriller as Reds reach first FA Cup final in a decade
Liverpool kept their bid for an unprecedented quadruple on track as their 3-2 FA Cup semi-final win also ended Manchester City’s hopes of a treble.
England’s top two teams served up another epic encounter but, having drawn 2-2 in the Premier League just six days ago, Jurgen Klopp’s side deservedly came out on top at Wembley.
It was not without a little help from City’s number two Zack Steffen, their designated cup goalkeeper, whose huge first-half error with the score at 1-0 contributed to the game getting away from them. Man of the match Sadio Mane scored twice to add to Ibrahima Konate’s opener as they raced into a 3-0 interval lead.
Goals from Jack Grealish, early in the second half, and Bernardo Silva, in added time, ensured Liverpool were never as comfortable as they wanted to be but, despite some concerted late City pressure, the seven-time winners booked a 15th final appearance.
The minute’s silence before the semi-final began to mark the 33rd anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster was stopped early after being disrupted by noise from the Manchester City fans.
Follow reaction from Manchester City vs Liverpool in the FA Cup semi-finals, below.
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Man City 2 - 3 Liverpool
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp to BBC One: “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.
“The second half started with the goal for Man City and then it opens up - the quality of City is insane and you could see it was a much more open game.
“We respect the quality of City so much and it’s so difficult to win against them. But because we have these boys in our dressing room we have a chance.
“It’s not a statement, we are just in the final. I think City knew beforehand that it could be difficult against us - that’s how it has been between us most of the time. There was one game where there was a strange scoreline - 5-0 - when we had an early red card.
“But when both teams were on top of their concentration, it has always been close.
“The quadruple talk I can’t believe it. This win means we have another game and then we have to play Aston Villa in a midweek, they have to move one game again.
“I don’t think we have a full free week before the last matchday - it’s all difficult but who cares? We came here and we wanted to go through to the final. We knew about the problems but qualifying for this final makes the quadruple even more difficult - it’s the only way to do it but it makes it more difficult as well so it’s a strange situation.
“But we are over the moon, we beat the strongest football team in the world and that’s a pretty special moment.”
Man City 2 - 3 Liverpool
Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk, speaking to BBC Sport: “We made it very difficult for ourselves in the end. We created a chance to finish the game. When they scored their first goal quite early in the second half it gives them a boost but overall we are happy to go to the final.
“It is about scoring goals and that is what we did in the first half. A perfect first half in that case but we pay City, the champions of England at the moment and it is always going to be tough.
“There are moments you will have to suffer. You have to show a lot of strength and togetherness. It was intense like the previous game against each other but we should have killed the game off.
“We go to the final now, we haven’t won anything at the moment but it is a big step for us as a group. It is the only trophy we didn’t win so we will give it a go.
“He has made a great impact, he is working hard every day. He has to perform when he is called upon and he is doing just that.”
Liverpool stun Manchester City with first-half blitz to reach FA Cup final and keep quadruple bid alive
A 3-2 win that, until a frantic final few minutes, had all the clarity of simple numbers. Liverpool’s first-class victory over Pep Guardiola’s second string ends Manchester City’s chances of a treble, and keeps Jurgen Klopp’s side on course for an unprecedented quadruple.
You could say that was largely down to the number-ones, since it was Zack Steffen’s errors that cost City and Alisson’s saves that kept Liverpool in front, but it was about so much more. Klopp has already achieved so much, as he guided the club to their first FA Cup final in a decade.
His Liverpool have also become just the eighth team to reach the finals of both domestic cups in one season, and may yet ensure they become the first English side to reach the finals of all major competitions in the same campaign.
Liverpool stun Manchester City with first-half blitz to reach FA Cup final
Manchester City 2-3 Liverpool: Sadio Mane’s double added to a towering header from Ibrahima Konate before half time, but were made to hang on after Jack Grealish and Bernardo Silva pulled goals back to set up a thrilling finish at Wembley
Man City 2 - 3 Liverpool
Liverpool’s Sadio Mane spoke to BBC One post match after netting twice for the Reds in their 3-2 victory over Manchester City. He said:
“Today is special - we were playing one of the best teams in the world. To win this kind of game, especially in a semi-final, is a big, big, big win.
“We were very pleased to win and qualify for the final.
“We started very well, everybody started on the front foot - for my first goal the goalkeeper made a mistake but I think we pushed him to make that mistake. That is our style and I think that made the difference.
“We have a lot of games to go and we will try to do our best - it’s our dream for sure and we will fight for it.”
Man City 2 - 3 Liverpool
Manchester City are only the second side to be eliminated from the semi-final stage of the FA Cup in three consecutive seasons, after Manchester United from 1963-64 to 1965-66.
Man City 2 - 3 Liverpool
Liverpool are into the FA Cup final for the first time in a decade since they lost to Chelsea in 2012. It is also a first FA Cup final for Jurgen Klopp as Liverpool keep alive their hopes of an unprecedented quadruple.
For Manchester City, the dream of a treble is over but there’s still the chance for Pep Guardiola’s men to pick up a Premier League-Champions League double this year.
Man City 2 - 3 Liverpool
Goals from Jack Grealish and Bernardo Silva set up a nervous finish to the game for Liverpool but the Reds held on and got themselves over the line.
Full-time: Man City 2 - 3 Liverpool
90+5 mins: There’s the whistle! Liverpool cling on at the death but they reach the FA Cup final for the first time under Jurgen Klopp!
It was a great fight back from Manchester City but they had too much work to do in the second half. It’s Liverpool’s day at Wembley, they’re into their 15th FA Cup final.
Man City 2 - 3 Liverpool
90+3 mins: Fernandinho wins a corner as his headed effort is deflected behind. It comes to Mahrez who shoots and City get another chance as his effort is flicked over the crossbar. Liverpool are under pressure.
The second corner is won by Van Dijk who heads it out of the box but City recycle the ball. It comes to Sterling and he drills his shot straight at Alisson who clings on to it.
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