Arsenal stunned by second-tier club in shock FA Cup exit; Liverpool hammered by Man City
Second-tier Southampton caused a huge shock by beating Premier League leaders Arsenal in the FA Cup quarter finals on Sunday morning (AEST) after Manchester City dispatched Liverpool 4-0 thanks to a hat-trick from Erling Haaland.
Fresh off losing the English League Cup final to City before the international break, Arsenal saw another potential trophy slip from their grasp when conceding in the 85th minute to lose 2-1 at Southampton — a team in seventh place in the Championship.
It left City as the big favorite to clinch a cup double this season, with the thrashing of Liverpool securing a place in the FA Cup semi finals for a record eighth-straight season.
READ MORE: Walsh in hospital as Broncos sweat on premiership heroes
READ MORE: Heeney, Swans soar as Reid's Eagles crumble
READ MORE: Lomax grounded after 'steep build' into rugby
Southampton players celebrate against Arsenal. Getty
Mohamed Salah’s failure from the penalty spot added to the woes of Liverpool, whose meltdown at Etihad Stadium will put more heat on under-pressure manager Arne Slot.
Haaland's 18-minute hat trick started with a penalty in the 39th minute, heading home a cross from Antoine Semenyo in first-half stoppage time, and sweeping in a finish off the crossbar in the 57th. His first hat-trick of the season for City was his 12th for the club.
Semenyo scored the other goal in the 50th for City. which sealed a return to Wembley Stadium two weeks after beating Arsenal there in the League Cup final.
Football's new home, Stan Sport, is the only place to watch the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, FA Cup, WSL, European World Cup qualifiers, J.League, NSWL and K League
“This club has to win trophies,” said Haaland, who was described after the game as a “machine” by City assistant coach Pep Lijnders — the former Liverpool assistant who was deputising in the dugout while Pep Guardiola served a touchline suspension.
Salah, who announced during the international break he’s leaving Liverpool after nine trophy-filled seasons, was beginning his long goodbye to the Reds but couldn’t mark it with a goal. The best of the many chances he spurned came from a penalty, which City goalkeeper James Trafford palmed away in the 64th.
It was a record 18th straight home win for City in the FA Cup, dating to 2017.
Guardiola's team shared a record with Clapham Rovers for reaching seven consecutive FA Cup finals but now holds it outright.
Many Liverpool fans were seen leaving the stadium after the fourth City goal.
A dejected Curtis Jones during Liverpool's loss. Getty
“The fighting spirit wasn’t there enough, the mentality wasn’t there enough," Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai said. "None of us were there to be honest as much as we could. It’s a hard time but we have to stick together."
In another quarter final clash, Chelsea romped to a big win - which was expected.
Playing without Argentinian midfielder Enzo Fernandez for disciplinary reasons, Chelsea still had more than enough to dispatch Port Vale 7-0 at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea have won the FA Cup eight times, most recently in 2018.
