The Norwegian opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 39th minute after Virgil van Dijk fouled Nico O’Reilly. Haaland then doubled the lead in first-half stoppage time (45+2’), powering a header into the top corner from Antoine Semenyo’s precise cross. He completed his treble in the 57th minute, rising a dominant display against the Reds.
City controlled large spells of the contest, with the midfield trio of Nunes and Cherki linking effectively down the right flank. Liverpool struggled to contain Haaland’s physical presence, and Semenyo, who assisted the second goal, caused constant problems with his direct running.
Manchester City’s next match is away to Chelsea on Sunday, April 12, with a 16:30 BST kick-off at Stamford Bridge. The Blues will pose a stiff test as City aim to close the gap at the top of the table following their emphatic cup win.