Man City vs Liverpool: FA Cup quarterfinal – team news, start, lineups | Football News | Al Jazeera

## Summary
Listen Listen (7 mins) Save Click here to share on social media share2 Share facebook twitter whatsapp copylink google Add Al Jazeera on Google info Liverpool's Mohamed Salah in action against Galatasaray on March 18 [Michael Regan/Getty Images] By Al Jazeera Staff , AFP and AP Published On 3 Apr 2026 3 Apr 2026 Who: Manchester City vs Liverpool What: FA Cup quarterfinal Where: The Etihad Stadium, Manchester When: Saturday, April 4 at 12:45pm (11:45 GMT) How to follow: We’ll have all the build-up on Al Jazeera Sport from 08:45 GMT in advance of our live text commentary stream. These 48 teams are going to North America list 4 of 4 Iran’s World Cup talks with Infantino sees progress as war darkens US trip end of list Man City produced perhaps their best performance of the season to dominate Arsenal and win the League Cup final 2-0 before the international break. So many good players around the world – he’s definitely one of them in the last 10 years – and to show that hunger every three days, that professionalism, that commitment to the club and to the team, wanting to score again, always wanting to play … “When you take him out three minutes before the end, he’s like, ‘Ah, maybe I could have scored one extra.'” Salah tries to score past Galatasaray goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakır in the Champions League last 16, second-leg at Anfield on March 18 [Adam Vaughan/EPA] Slot hopes Liverpool can ‘be the team we were’ against Galatasaray In their penultimate game before the international break, Liverpool overturned a one-goal deficit in the first leg of their last 16 Champions League clash against Turkish giants Galatasaray to claim a 4-0 triumph at Anfield, winning 4-1 on aggregate . However, that impressive display was followed by a 2-1 league defeat to Brighton. “I hope and expect we can be the team that we were against Galatasaray,” he told the club website in an interview. “That’s also what we need to be because City have shown … when they won the League Cup how good of a team they are, how many good players they have and how good a manager they have. “It’s a very nice game to look forward to.” Hugo Ekitike scores his Liverpool’s second goal against Galatasaray [Michael Regan/Getty Images] Guardiola suspended for Liverpool clash City boss Pep Guardiola will miss the game on Saturday through suspension after picking up a sixth booking of the season in the 3-1 win over Newcastle United in the fifth round of the FA Cup.

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Liverpool's Mohamed Salah in action against Galatasaray on March 18 [Michael Regan/Getty Images]
By
Al Jazeera Staff
,
AFP
and
AP
Published On 3 Apr 2026
3 Apr 2026
Who:
Manchester City vs Liverpool
What:
FA Cup quarterfinal
Where:
The Etihad Stadium, Manchester
When:
Saturday, April 4 at 12:45pm (11:45 GMT)
How to follow:
We’ll have all the build-up on
Al Jazeera Sport
from 08:45 GMT in advance of our live text commentary stream.
Liverpool face a daunting trip to Manchester City in the standout tie of the FA Cup quarterfinals this weekend as
Mohamed Salah
seeks to end nine spectacular seasons at Anfield on a high.
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Man City produced perhaps their best performance of the season to dominate Arsenal and win the League Cup final 2-0 before the international break.
City remain in the running to match their feat as the only English side to ever win the domestic treble of League Cup, FA Cup and Premier League in 2018/19.
Liverpool, meanwhile, face a defining 10 days for their season and possibly Arne Slot’s future at Anfield.
Despite leading Liverpool to a record-equalling 20th English top-flight title less than a year ago, Slot is under huge pressure to end a difficult second season with a trophy if he is to remain in the job.
Languishing fifth in the Premier League, the FA Cup and Champions League are the Reds’ only remaining hope of glory.
After visiting the Etihad, Slot’s men face European champions Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League quarterfinals over two legs on April 8 and 14.
Salah’s long farewell
The Egyptian announced over the international break that he will leave at the end of the campaign, having netted 255 goals so far for the club.
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“Hopefully, he can make his legacy even more special in the upcoming weeks and months, where we still play for something special, but he will always leave this club as a legend,” said Slot.
The 33-year-old Salah had been left out of the Liverpool team for four straight games at the end of 2025 in what appeared to be a
breakdown in his relationship
with Slot and the club.
Since returning from the Africa Cup of Nations, Salah virtually has been an ever-present in the lineup, seemingly winning the Dutch coach round.
“That hunger never drops,” Slot said of Salah. “It’s the thing I find most special about him. So many good players around the world – he’s definitely one of them in the last 10 years – and to show that hunger every three days, that professionalism, that commitment to the club and to the team, wanting to score again, always wanting to play …
“When you take him out three minutes before the end, he’s like, ‘Ah, maybe I could have scored one extra.'”
Salah tries to score past Galatasaray goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakır in the Champions League last 16, second-leg at Anfield on March 18 [Adam Vaughan/EPA]
Slot hopes Liverpool can ‘be the team we were’ against Galatasaray
In their penultimate game before the international break, Liverpool overturned a one-goal deficit in the first leg of their last 16 Champions League clash against Turkish giants Galatasaray to claim a 4-0 triumph at Anfield,
winning 4-1 on aggregate
.
However, that impressive display was followed by a 2-1 league defeat to Brighton.
“I hope and expect we can be the team that we were against Galatasaray,” he told the club website in an interview.
“That’s also what we need to be because City have shown … when they won the League Cup how good of a team they are, how many good players they have and how good a manager they have.
“It’s a very nice game to look forward to.”
Hugo Ekitike scores his Liverpool’s second goal against Galatasaray [Michael Regan/Getty Images]
Guardiola suspended for Liverpool clash
City boss Pep Guardiola will miss the game on Saturday through suspension after picking up a sixth booking of the season in the 3-1 win over Newcastle United in the fifth round of the FA Cup.
Guardiola had been incensed by a robust challenge by Kieran Tripper on City winger Jeremy Doku – the City manager was cautioned for his angry protests to the fourth official after the referee failed to award a free kick.
It is possible that Guardiola could be missing out on his last game against Liverpool amid speculation over his future in Manchester.
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While Guardiola has one more year left on his contract to take him to the end of next season, he is reportedly considering leaving the club at the end of this term.
The Telegraph newspaper reported this

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## Expert Analysis

### Merits
- These 48 teams are going to North America list 4 of 4 Iran’s World Cup talks with Infantino sees progress as war darkens US trip end of list Man City produced perhaps their best performance of the season to dominate Arsenal and win the League Cup final 2-0 before the international break.
- Guardiola had been incensed by a robust challenge by Kieran Tripper on City winger Jeremy Doku – the City manager was cautioned for his angry protests to the fourth official after the referee failed to award a free kick.
- James Trafford is expected to benefit from an FA Cup rotation to get a start in goal ahead of Gianluigi Donnarumma.

### Areas for Consideration
- Despite leading Liverpool to a record-equalling 20th English top-flight title less than a year ago, Slot is under huge pressure to end a difficult second season with a trophy if he is to remain in the job.
- Guardiola had been incensed by a robust challenge by Kieran Tripper on City winger Jeremy Doku – the City manager was cautioned for his angry protests to the fourth official after the referee failed to award a free kick.
- Conor Bradley, Giovanni Leoni and Wataru Endo have all been ruled out with injuries, and Alisson Becker is also unlikely to start as he recovers from a muscular problem.

### Implications
- Liverpool, meanwhile, face a defining 10 days for their season and possibly Arne Slot’s future at Anfield.
- Salah’s long farewell The Egyptian announced over the international break that he will leave at the end of the campaign, having netted 255 goals so far for the club.
- Advertisement “Hopefully, he can make his legacy even more special in the upcoming weeks and months, where we still play for something special, but he will always leave this club as a legend,” said Slot.
- So many good players around the world – he’s definitely one of them in the last 10 years – and to show that hunger every three days, that professionalism, that commitment to the club and to the team, wanting to score again, always wanting to play … “When you take him out three minutes before the end, he’s like, ‘Ah, maybe I could have scored one extra.'” Salah tries to score past Galatasaray goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakır in the Champions League last 16, second-leg at Anfield on March 18 [Adam Vaughan/EPA] Slot hopes Liverpool can ‘be the team we were’ against Galatasaray In their penultimate game before the international break, Liverpool overturned a one-goal deficit in the first leg of their last 16 Champions League clash against Turkish giants Galatasaray to claim a 4-0 triumph at Anfield, winning 4-1 on aggregate .

### Expert Commentary
This article covers city, liverpool, cup topics. Notable strengths include discussion of city. Areas of concern are also raised. Readability: Flesch-Kincaid grade 0.0. Word count: 1342.