Poor Stephen. Pep Guardiola wanted to show his loyalty to the backup goalkeeper, but everything went wrong for the US No. 1 and Manchester City in the 17th minute. Going for a regular back-pass and under the usual orders to play from behind in Anderson style, Steffen took a heavy first touch and, after some hesitation, an even heavier second. Sadio Mané flew to throw the ball into the net for a 2-0 lead and Liverpool were on their way to a final against Chelsea or Crystal Palace – and, hopefully, the second element of an unprecedented quadruple. Liverpool’s dominance in the first half was complete and Stefan would have gotten worse when he conceded 3-0 on a crossbar from Manet. City responded in the style of the champions in the second half, Jack Grillis pulled a goal back, and after Allison rebuffed to deny Gabriel Jesούςs, he hinted strangely when substitute Riyad Mahrez crossed the ball into the 90th minute. Allison and Bernardo Silva returned home to the distant post. Guardiola’s team had opportunities in the delays to force the overtime as the latest clash between these opponents produced even more drama. Fernandinho was shot high, while Rahim Sterling shot low on Allison, but City were left with much to do. Guardiola made seven changes from the team that started the second match of the quarterfinals of the Champions League at Atletico Madrid on Wednesday night and one of them was Steffen. A lasting image would come after the whistle of full-time, when he sank sadly to his feet and had to be comforted by some of his teammates. Celebrations after the second goal of Santo Mane. Photo: Marc Atkins / Getty Images City’s war of attrition in Madrid had generated a lot of concentration and pushed Guardiola to make a sweeping turn, but it was not if they could meet that line. Liverpool are also on a penalty kick and have league games at home next week against Manchester United and Everton, their two biggest rivals. Even so, the relative strength of the starting line-up seemed to have given Liverpool the lead, with Klopp remembering his big arms after the Champions League draw on Wednesday at Benfica. It was Ibrahima Konaté, one of Liverpool’s few not-so-key first-teamers, who put his team ahead. Red smoke billowed into the stadium from flares that lit up the edge of Liverpool and their supporters sang their songs in full force. At that early stage, they believed it was their day and the feeling only intensified when Steffen suffered the moment of terror. City simply did not show up at the start, even though Grialis, playing as a fake nine, had a shot in the fourth minute that was blocked by Virgil van Dyke. The atmosphere was cracked from the start, although it was embarrassing that part of City support refused to remain silent during the pre-match silence for the 33rd anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster. Liverpool’s support disapproved of them and the referee, Michael Oliver, had to cut the memory. Bernardo Silva gives hope to Manchester City with the goal he scored in the last phase against Liverpool. Photo: Justin Setterfield / The FA / Getty Images Konaté’s goal was about strength and desire – but it’s one of the perfect corner kicks by Andy Robertson, an invitation to the center-back that should have been passed. Konaté surpassed Jesus and then rose higher than Nathan Aké. It was a very high finish. Konaté’s third goal for Liverpool and his third in three games. City looked nervous in the opening exchanges and tried to play from the back in the sixth minute. Was it a harbinger of Stephen’s indecision? While Klopp had stuck with Allison having started his No. 1 in the previous round at Nottingham Forest, Guardiola went with Stephen after selecting him in all but one of City’s previous cup matches this season. Liverpool’s third goal just before halftime was Exhibit B for the persecuted, as Stephen was terribly slow to get down and pass to Manet volley, which was cut to the near corner. The accumulation of Liverpool was very good with its enjoyment in the first half, all the sure touches and moves that were very fast for City. The great Thiago slipped between two blue T-shirts before exchanging passes with Trent Alexander-Arnold and the pass he had thrown directly at Manet was in his measurements. City, who struggled to suppress the electrician Luis Diaz, needed something at the beginning of the second half and they succeeded. Fernandinho won the ball and released Jesus inside the right channel. He made a great junk inside Fambino and then sent a square pass to Grialis, who made a difficult finish seem easy. The Fiver: sign up and receive our daily football email. City was a different proposition now: they were pushed higher and played with more aggression and aggression – even a note of anger. Could they find a second to trigger a contest? Jesus ran with a touch of Sterling to work Alisson on the crossbar and they created the great opportunity in the 71st minute – one on one for Jesus after an attacking ball by Grealish. Allison came down to block. Before that, Fernandinho flirted with a red card when he made a bad tackle on Mane – he escaped with a reservation – but, after Salah almost took advantage of the relaxed head of Oleksandr Zinchenko, City breathed their last. It was not enough.
