Erling Haaland reflects on inconsistent season after hat trick against Liverpool

Erling Haaland scores hat trick in Manchester City FA Cup win over Liverpool
Striker describes his season as inconsistent despite return to scoring form
City progress to a record eighth consecutive FA Cup semi final

Erling Haaland has described his season as inconsistent after returning to form with a hat trick in Manchester City 4-0 victory over Liverpool in the FA Cup.

The forward scored his first club hat trick since August 2024, helping City secure progression to a record eighth successive semi final in the competition. His goals included a penalty, a header before half time and a close range finish that struck the underside of the crossbar before crossing the line.

Haaland said his performances across the season have fluctuated and acknowledged that his output has not met expectations. He noted that a significant portion of his goals had come earlier in the campaign.

Manchester City are no longer involved in the Champions League, leaving domestic fixtures as the focus in the closing phase of the season. Haaland said the team must now prepare for upcoming matches, including a fixture against Chelsea Football Club.

Assistant coach Pep Lijnders, standing in for the suspended Pep Guardiola, highlighted the quality of Haaland’s second goal and praised his movement and finishing. He said the striker’s approach reflects traditional centre forward play, with an emphasis on attacking crosses and converting chances inside the penalty area.

Haaland was given a reduced workload during the recent international period with Norway national football team, featuring in only one match. The decision provided additional recovery time during a demanding schedule.

Lijnders said the physical and tactical demands placed on Haaland remain high across domestic and international competitions. He added that maintaining performance levels over a full season requires resilience, and pointed to the striker’s response in this match as evidence of his mentality.

WRITTEN BY

Hailey

Hailey Russell is a football journalist and former Division 1 collegiate athlete in the United States, bringing a unique blend of elite playing experience and professional insight to her work. Currently competing at the professional level in Europe, Hailey combines first-hand knowledge of the modern game with sharp analysis across match reports, player development, and tactical breakdowns.