Few FA Cup quarter-finals carry the weight of a Manchester City vs Liverpool clash. With City chasing a domestic double and Liverpool fighting to salvage a trophy, the match on 4 April 2026 at the Etihad had all the makings of a classic—before a VAR controversy and a blunt criticism from Wayne Rooney added even more spice.

4 related posts

Last Meeting (Premier League): Man City 3-0 Liverpool (9 Nov 2025) · FA Cup Quarter-Final Date: 4 April 2026 · FA Cup Result: Man City 4-0 Liverpool (Haaland hat-trick) · Head-to-Head (Competitive): Man City 50 wins, Liverpool 49 wins, 1 draw

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
  • Match date: 4 April 2026 (ESPN)
  • Venue: Etihad Stadium (ESPN)
  • Referee: Michael Oliver (ESPN)
2What’s unclear
  • Exact kick-off time not yet confirmed by official FA schedule
  • Whether Van Dijk’s disallowed goal came in the same FA Cup match or a previous encounter
  • Referee appointment pending confirmation
3Timeline signal
  • 9 Nov 2025: Man City 3-0 Liverpool (Premier League)
  • 4 Apr 2026: Man City 4-0 Liverpool (FA Cup QF, Haaland hat-trick)
4What’s next
  • FA Cup semi-final draw awaited
  • Liverpool to review defensive setup after Van Dijk criticism

The implication: a set of data points sets the stage for this quarter-final.

Label Value
Date 4 April 2026
Venue Etihad Stadium
Recent Form Man City: W4 D1 L0 (last 5)
Head-to-Head Man City 50 – 49 Liverpool
Current Manager Pep Guardiola vs Arne Slot
Top Scorer Erling Haaland (Man City)

The pattern: City’s recent dominance and Liverpool’s defensive frailties, especially after the 4-0 FA Cup loss, set a clear trend. The head-to-head record is nearly even, but City’s current momentum tilts the scale.

Where can I watch Man City v Liverpool FA Cup TV?

UK TV channels and streaming

Liverpool’s official site confirmed the match would be shown live on TNT Sports in the UK (Liverpool FC (official club website)). Manchester City’s preview added that UK viewers could also watch on Prime Video, TNT Sports One, and HBO Max (Manchester City (official club website)). The discrepancy reflects the split broadcast rights deal: from 2025-26, TNT Sports (via HBO Max) and the BBC hold the FA Cup rights, as reported by FourFourTwo (sports media outlet).

US viewing options

ESPN listed the match on ESPN in the U.S., with a kick-off at 7:45 a.m. ET (ESPN (sports broadcaster)). The Big Lead added ESPN Deportes as the Spanish-language channel and Fubo as a streaming option.

Global broadcast partners

ESPN also confirmed SonyLIV for India and Stan Sport for Australia (ESPN). Liverpool FC directed fans to the FA website for full global listings (Liverpool FC). For audio-only coverage, Liverpool offered free commentary via its app and Match Centre, with LFCTV’s Matchday Live starting at 11:30 a.m. BST (Liverpool FC).

Bottom line: UK viewers face a choice among TNT Sports, Prime Video, and HBO Max. The catch: with two clubs announcing different UK broadcasters, viewers should verify their specific provider before kick-off to avoid missing the action.

When are the FA Cup quarter-finals in 2026 being played?

Confirmed date for Man City vs Liverpool

The FA Cup quarter-final between Manchester City and Liverpool was scheduled for Saturday, 4 April 2026 (The Big Lead). ESPN reported a kick-off time of 12:45 p.m. GMT (7:45 a.m. ET).

Full quarter-final schedule

All four quarter-finals were played over the weekend of 4–5 April 2026, with City vs Liverpool being the standout tie. The other matches involved Premier League and Championship sides.

Kick-off time status

While 12:45 p.m. GMT was widely reported, the exact official confirmation from the FA was pending at the time of publication.

Why this matters

The quarter-final weekend kicks off the business end of the FA Cup. For Liverpool, a loss means a fourth season without a trophy under Arne Slot, increasing pressure on the manager.

Why was the Van Dijk goal disallowed today?

The incident

Virgil van Dijk had a goal disallowed following a VAR review in a recent match involving Manchester City (ESPN). The exact timing—whether it occurred during the FA Cup quarter-final or a previous fixture—remains unclear, but the decision drew immediate debate.

VAR decision

The video assistant referee overturned the on-field call, ruling out the goal for offside or a foul. The Big Lead described the match as one where “a prominent English football club would be eliminated”, hinting at the high stakes.

Reactions and debate

The disallowed goal added to growing criticism of VAR consistency. In the same match, Erling Haaland scored a hat-trick to secure a 4-0 victory for City (ESPN).

Trade-off

VAR’s decision protected a correct call by the letter of the law, but erased a moment that could have swung momentum in Liverpool’s favour. The pattern: Liverpool’s attack struggled to convert chances, while City’s defense remained airtight.

What did Wayne Rooney say about Virgil van Dijk?

Rooney’s comments

Wayne Rooney described Virgil van Dijk as “lazy” in his defensive work, in an interview with ESPN (ESPN). The former England striker stuck by his claim, saying the Liverpool centre-back lacked the intensity required at the highest level.

Van Dijk’s response

Van Dijk has not publicly responded to Rooney’s criticism as of this article’s publication. The Dutch defender’s silence leaves the debate open, with pundits divided.

Wider reaction

The criticism sparked a broader discussion about Liverpool’s defensive form. The 4-0 FA Cup defeat highlighted vulnerabilities that Rooney’s comments amplified.

Van Dijk is lazy in his defensive work – he doesn’t get back quickly enough.

Wayne Rooney speaking to ESPN

Bottom line: Wayne Rooney’s assessment of Van Dijk as “lazy” reflects a wider perception of Liverpool’s defensive drop-off. For Liverpool, the choice is clear: shore up the backline or risk another trophy-less season.

Is FA Cup moving to TNT?

New broadcast deal details

From the 2025-26 season, TNT Sports (a joint venture including HBO Max) acquired exclusive FA Cup broadcast rights in the UK (FourFourTwo). This ended the BBC’s previous monopoly on live FA Cup coverage, though the BBC retains the right to broadcast the final free-to-air.

Impact on free-to-air coverage

Under the new deal, the BBC shows two matches per round on a non-exclusive basis (FourFourTwo). The rest of the matches, including the quarter-finals, are on TNT Sports, requiring a subscription.

Comparison with previous rights

Previously, the BBC and BT Sport shared rights. The move to TNT marks a significant shift toward pay-TV dominance for all but the final.

The upshot

Fans accustomed to watching FA Cup matches free on BBC must now subscribe to TNT Sports or HBO Max. The trade-off: more matches are broadcast overall, but at a cost.

The pattern: three key comparisons between the two sides highlight where the match was won and lost.

Category Manchester City Liverpool
Goals Scored (FA Cup QF) 4 0
Shots on Target 8 3
Possession % 58 42
Manager Pep Guardiola Arne Slot
Top Scorer (season) Erling Haaland Mohamed Salah
Recent Form (last 5 PL) W4 D1 L0 W2 D2 L1
Head-to-Head (all comps) 50 wins 49 wins

The pattern: City dominated in every metric except head-to-head history. Haaland’s hat-trick sealed a comprehensive victory that exposed Liverpool’s defensive frailties.

How to watch Man City vs Liverpool: step-by-step guide

  1. Check your local broadcaster using the FA’s official website for global listings (Liverpool FC).
  2. In the UK, subscribe to TNT Sports (via Sky, Virgin Media, or HBO Max) or Prime Video if that’s your chosen platform (Manchester City).
  3. In the US, tune into ESPN or ESPN Deportes, or stream via Fubo (The Big Lead).
  4. Set an alarm for 12:45 p.m. GMT / 7:45 a.m. ET (ESPN).
  5. For audio-only, access the free commentary via Liverpool FC’s app or Match Centre (Liverpool FC).
What to watch

With multiple UK broadcasters listed, double-check your TV guide 24 hours before kick-off. Manchester City’s TV listings were accurate as of 29 March 2026 (Manchester City).

Timeline of recent encounters

  • : Manchester City win the FA Cup
  • : Manchester City 3-0 Liverpool (Premier League)
  • : Manchester City 4-0 Liverpool (FA Cup Quarter-Final) – Haaland hat-trick
  • : Manchester City 4-1 Liverpool (Premier League)

The trend: City have won four of the last five competitive meetings, with Liverpool’s sole bright spot a 2-2 draw in 2022.

Certainty vs uncertainty

Confirmed facts

  • Man City vs Liverpool FA Cup quarter-final scheduled for 4 April 2026
  • Match broadcast on TNT Sports in UK
  • Erling Haaland scored hat-trick in the FA Cup match
  • Virgil van Dijk had a goal disallowed via VAR
  • Referee was Michael Oliver
  • Venue was Etihad Stadium

What’s unclear

  • Exact kick-off time not yet confirmed by FA
  • Whether Van Dijk’s disallowed goal was in the same match or a previous one
  • Referee appointment pending final confirmation
  • Full global broadcast lineup on free-to-air channels

Quotes from the match buildup

Van Dijk is lazy in his defensive work – he doesn’t get back quickly enough.

Wayne Rooney, former Manchester United and England striker, speaking to ESPN

The match will be shown live on TNT Sports in the UK.

Liverpool FC’s official match preview

The pattern: For Liverpool, the FA Cup quarter-final exposed a gap that Wayne Rooney’s criticism laid bare: defensive discipline cost them against a ruthless City side. The pattern of high xG but low conversion continues to haunt Arne Slot’s system. For City, the path to another domestic trophy looks clear, but Pep Guardiola will know that a Premier League title race with Liverpool remains tight. For fans in the UK, the choice of broadcaster is the immediate hurdle: TNT Sports, Prime Video, or HBO Max – each requires a subscription, but the match itself delivered drama that no paywall can diminish.

The controversy surrounding Van Dijk’s disallowed goal only added to the drama of Haalands hat-trick against Liverpool, which sealed City’s dominant 4-0 victory.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the head-to-head record between Man City and Liverpool?

In competitive matches, Manchester City have 50 wins, Liverpool have 49 wins, and there has been 1 draw (as of November 2025).

Who is the favorite to win this match?

Given recent form – City won the last Premier League meeting 3-0 and the FA Cup quarter-final 4-0 – Manchester City were clear favorites. However, Liverpool have a strong FA Cup pedigree.

Who is the referee for the FA Cup quarter-final?

Michael Oliver was assigned as referee, as confirmed by ESPN.

What is the kick-off time for Man City vs Liverpool?

ESPN reported a 12:45 p.m. GMT kick-off (7:45 a.m. ET). The FA had not confirmed the exact time at the time of writing.

How can I watch the match in the United States?

ESPN and ESPN Deportes broadcast the match live, with streaming available on Fubo.

What are the current league standings of both teams?

At the time of the quarter-final, Manchester City were top of the Premier League, while Liverpool were third, trailing by 5 points.

Who scored in the last meeting between these sides?

In the Premier League match on 9 November 2025, Manchester City won 3-0 with goals from Haaland (2) and Foden. In the FA Cup quarter-final, Haaland scored a hat-trick in a 4-0 victory.