Liverpool go to the Etihad on Saturday afternoon as underdogs, and there is no point pretending otherwise.
Manchester City are at home, they have already beaten Liverpool twice in the league this season, and they remain one of the toughest knockout opponents in Europe. On paper, it is a difficult draw. In practice, though, it may also be the kind of occasion that gives Liverpool a chance to play with more freedom than they have had for weeks.
That is what makes this quarter-final so interesting.
Why this tie feels different
There is pressure, of course. There always is at Liverpool. But this is not a tie in which Slot’s side are expected to control the game, and that matters. At times this season, Liverpool have looked most dangerous when the outside noise has grown louder and the margin for error has felt smaller.
That was certainly true against Galatasaray. Three weeks ago, Liverpool trailed from the first leg and looked to be heading for an early Champions League exit. Instead, they produced one of their best performances of the season, winning 4-0 at Anfield to turn the tie around in emphatic fashion. It was not just the result that stood out. It was the reminder that this side still has quality, attacking threat and the ability to rise when the situation demands it.
The challenge now is very different. The Etihad is not Anfield, and City are not Galatasaray.
Where Liverpool can hurt City
Cup football rarely follows the neat logic of league form or reputation. It comes down to nerve, moments and whether a side can impose itself quickly enough to unsettle the favourite. Liverpool do have a route into this game. If they press with conviction, move the ball forward early and force City to defend facing their own goal, there will be opportunities.
The key, as ever, is whether Liverpool can stay in the tie long enough to make those moments count.
This is not a game Liverpool are likely to dominate for long spells. It is one in which they must stay compact, remain brave and take advantage when the openings come. If they can make City uncomfortable, the tone of the afternoon could change quickly.
Team news and the belief factor
There is some encouragement on the team-news front. Salah is fit and available after the issue that kept him out before the international break. Slot has also welcomed Federico Chiesa back into training, while Alexander Isak has returned to the training ground after his lengthy absence, even if this game is expected to come too soon for a start. Jeremie Frimpong is also reported to be available.
Against that, Alisson remains sidelined and Liverpool still have several absentees, including Conor Bradley and Wataru Endo.
City, meanwhile, go into the quarter-final under Guardiola with defensive issues to manage, and Guardiola himself will not be on the touchline because of suspension. That does not make City vulnerable by default, but it does give Liverpool every reason to believe there is room to make this uncomfortable for them.
And belief really is the word here.
Liverpool are not going to Manchester as the better side on current evidence. They are going there hoping to produce the better performance on one specific afternoon. That is a different challenge, and perhaps a simpler one. Be disciplined without the ball. Be brave enough to press. Feed Salah early. Stay alive in the tie. Ask City questions.
Do that, and the game could shift.
This is not a fixture many would have chosen at this stage of the competition. But if Liverpool are going to keep this season alive in a meaningful way, they will have to come through a day like this sooner or later. The odds are against them. That much is obvious. Even so, they do not go to the Etihad without hope.
And for a club like Liverpool, hope has often been where these stories begin.
Manchester City vs Liverpool in the FA Cup quarter-final kicks off at the Etihad Stadium at 12.45pm on Saturday 4 April 2026.
Where to watch Man City vs Liverpool
The match is live in the UK on TNT Sports, with coverage starting at 11.30am.
