The two confrontations between the two teams in the league had ended in draws 2-2, where the visiting teams had twice managed to come back to the score and a tense duel was again expected.

If the very last minutes raised the pulse of Wembley, most of the match was to the advantage of the reds, both on the lawn and in the stands.

City's first 45 minutes were even quite incomprehensible, as the Sky Blues stammered their football and at times seemed almost lost on the pitch.

Liverpool, on the other hand, had taken the match by the right end, pressing their opponent very high and being incredibly realistic.

Steffen offers the second goal

From the 9th minute, Ibrahima Konaté, who had already opened the scoring with a header and from a corner in the first leg and return against Benfica, in the quarter-finals of the Champions League, did it again to put the Reds in control of the match. (1-0).

Certain choices of Pep Guardiola, even if they did not deviate from his general philosophy, had serious consequences.

Fernandinho, started in midfield despite playing very rarely this season and recently announcing his intention to leave City this summer, has been completely out of the game in midfield.

And Zack Steffen, preferred to Ederson, by virtue of an immutable rotation in the cages, has a big responsibility on the second goal.

On a back pass, with the sun in his eyes, he seemed not to see how fast Sadio Mané was coming on him and the Senegalese tackled perfectly to counter his pass attempt and push the ball to the bottom (2-0 , 17th).

Liverpool's Senegalese striker Sadio Mané scores the second goal against Manchester City's American goalkeeper Zach Steffen, during the Reds' victory (3-2) in the semi-finals of the FA Cup, on April 16, 2022 at the Stade from Wembley to London Adrian DENNIS AFP

Mané even offered himself a double at the conclusion of a magnificent collective action, taking advantage of a perfect shift by Thiago Silva to volley at the near post and still deceive Steffen with the questionable placement (3-0, 45th).

Alisson does the job

Despite the calamitous display, Guardiola made no change at the break and his players seemed to prove him right, with Jack Grealish reducing the score after a good serve from Gabriel Jesus, who had finally found a crack in the back guard. red (3-1, 47th).

Midfielder Jack Grealish scores Manchester City's first goal against Liverpool in the FA Cup semi-final on April 16, 2022 at Wembley Stadium in London Glyn KIRK AFP

The second act was much more balanced, but we can't say that Liverpool were often in danger in this match.

The entry of Riyad Mahrez seven minutes from the end of regulation time seemed to restore tone to the attack of the Citizens, but it was very late.

On one of his infiltrations, his shot from a tight angle was repelled by Alisson, but it returned to the feet of Bernardo Silva who reduced the score for the last three minutes suddenly more exciting than the 91 which had preceded.

Manchester City's Portuguese midfielder Bernardo Silva scores the second goal against Liverpool, who ultimately won 3-2 in the FA Cup semi-finals, on April 16, 2022 at Wembley Stadium in London Glyn KIRK AFP

Alisson did the job again on a strike from Raheem Sterling in the 90+3rd minute, but it is ultimately with great control that the Reds will return to Wembley in mid-May to try to win a second trophy this season after the European Cup. the league.

They will face Chelsea or Crystal Palace who will battle it out on Sunday.

© 2022 AFP