A report by the Associated Press highlights a historic performance by Erling Haaland, who led Manchester City to a 4-0 demolition of Liverpool in the FA Cup. Haaland stunned the football world by scoring a hat trick in just 18 minutes, effectively ending Liverpool’s hopes and cementing City as the favorites to secure a domestic cup double this season.
The match, which took place over the weekend, saw Haaland at his most clinical, leaving Liverpool’s defense in shambles. The viral nature of the performance has dominated sports talk in both the UK and Nigeria, where Premier League culture remains a staple of daily entertainment and betting conversations.
The Mirror validated the feat, describing the performance as “a masterclass in poaching,” and quoted City manager Pep Guardiola saying, “Erling is a biological cheat code.” Sky Sports also covered the fallout, noting that “Liverpool’s season is now in a tailspin” after being knocked out of the competition so decisively by their rivals.
Echotitbits take: Haaland isn’t just a footballer; he’s a pop-culture phenomenon whose stats feel like they belong in a video game. For the Nigerian audience, where the City vs. Liverpool rivalry is intense, this 18-minute blitz will be the primary topic in “viewing centers” for weeks. Expect Haaland’s commercial value to skyrocket even further as he nears “immortal” status in the Premier League.
Source: Goal — https://www.goal.com/en-ng/lists/erling-haaland-super-happy-hat-trick-against-liverpool-man-city-hero-suggests-he-had-psychological-thing-against-arne-slot-men/bltf4940689c3ffdb39 April 5, 2026
Photo Credit: Goal
