Diogo Jota’s late winning goal put a stop to Nottingham Forest’s remarkable run in the FA Cup as Liverpool took their place in the 2021/22 FA Cup.
The Reds started well and should have taken the lead through Roberto Firmino in the first half, but the forward squandered a one-on-one opportunity by attempting to lift the ball over goalkeeper Ethan Horvath and failing miserably.
The match settled into a rhythm, which the Championship side threatened to break in the 76th minute, when, released down the right flank, Brennan Johnson laid the ball on a plate for Philip Zinckernagel with an inch-perfect cross, but the attacker failed to guide his shot on target. Seconds later, Jota turned a Kostas Tsimikas cross in at the other end, giving Jurgen Klopp’s side the lead – and eventually, the match.
Elsewhere, Southampton faced Manchester City at the St Mary’s. The previous two ties between the teams this season had ended in stalemates, but Raheem Sterling broke the deadlock on the night in the 12th minute with a confident finish from close range. However, the Saints hit back; Mohamed Elyounoussi played in behind the City backline hooked the ball back towards the six-yard box, where it was inadvertently turned past Zack Steffen by his teammate Aymeric Laporte.
Kevin de Bruyne put the Citizens back ahead from the spot in the 62nd minute after Mohammed Salisu had shoved Gabriel Jesus onto the ground inside the box. From then on, City pulled far ahead; Phil Foden added a third from outside the box in the 72nd minute, and Riyad Mahrez added a fourth, three minutes later.
Owing to their respective progress into the semis, Manchester City and Liverpool will now face each other at Wembley for a spot in the final. On the other side of the draw, Chelsea, who moved on to the Last Four thanks to a win over Middlesbrough on Saturday, will play Crystal Palace following the Eagles’ 4-0 win over Frank Lampard’s Everton.
