SADIO MANE left Manchester City’s Treble hopes for dead as Liverpool breathed life into their charge for the Quadruple.
The Reds winger’s first-half double was enough to see Jurgen Klopp’s side book their place in the FA Cup final.
Konate gave Liverpool an early lead over Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-final Credit: Getty
Steffen gifted Liverpool a second goal inside the opening 20 minutes Credit: PA
Mane netted his second before half-time as Liverpool raced into a 3-0 lead Credit: Alamy
Grealish pulled one back less than two minutes into the second half Credit: Getty Man City keeper Zack Steffen’s blunder gifted Mane Liverpool’s second after Ibrahima Konate’s early opener.
And the Senegal star had Liverpool fans dreaming about becoming the first English club to complete the quad after his second completed a first-half rout.
City fought back with goals from Jack Grealish and Bernardo Silva but it was too little too late from Pep Guardiola’s side.
And with the League Cup already claimed, a Champions League semi-final booked and now an FA Cup final to look forward to, a Treble is definitely on.
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Pep gamble backfires as howler from City keeper Steffen gifts Mane goal But all four will depend on maintaining their Premier League charge in the remaining seven games to overturn City’s one-point advantage.
Still recovering from their scrap with Atletico Madrid in midweek, Guardiola called upon the cavalry with seven changes.
And with Liverpool having the opportunity to rest their stars in their own Champions League match, it was no surprise the Reds started on top.
Grealish had an effort blocked inside four minutes but that was as good as it got for City in the first-half.
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Konate headed in his third goal in as many games after his perfect leap over Nathan Ake gave Klopp’s side the upper hand in the ninth minute.
But with a red cloud of smoke still loitering above the pitch from the flares lit from Liverpool fans in celebration, stand-in City keeper Steffen handed them a second.
With Mane charging, the American stopper failed to show the same nonchalant footwork of first choice Ederson and was caught pondering on the ball.
And the Senegalese international slid in to poke the ball into the back of the net to send the red half of the stadium into full party mode.
Klopp mentioned the game would be like a boxing match and his side landed another devastating blow moments before the break.
With City on the ropes, the ball was played out to Mane who lashed home beautifully for his second and Liverpool’s third.
Silva scored late on to set up a thrilling finale but Liverpool held on Credit: AFP
Klopp got the better of Guardiola at Wembley in their latest tussle Credit: Reuters But on Easter weekend, Gabriel Jesus was always going to have a say.
The Brazilian striker ensured City came out swinging as his fancy footwork allowed Grealish to smash into the roof of the net.
Tempers boiled as Fernandinho walked away with a booking after leaving something on Mane.
Alisson denied Jesus from close range but was helpless as Silva tapped in a City second in the 90th-minute to set up a tense finish.
Fernandinho fired an effort over the bar, before Raheem Sterling tested the Liverpool keeper.
But it was not enough to overturn the damage inflicted in the first 45 minutes as Liverpool clinched their place in a potentially historic Cup final.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
