The contrasting shades of Salah and Haaland

Manchester City secured a crushing 4-0 win against Liverpool FC, in a game where Erling Haaland was radiant, whereas Mohamed Salah endured one of the career's most forgettable displays.

With 14 minutes remaining in the match, the two star forwards left the pitch with completely opposite moods. Haaland concluded the game with a hat-trick (scoring three goals in one match), opening the path for Man City to pursue titles in the FA Cup and the Premier League. Meanwhile, Salah departed in disappointment, as his glorious journey at Liverpool risks ending in a bitterly sour manner.

Liverpool did not play poorly for the first 30 minutes at Etihad Stadium, but then inexplicably declined. The Reds performed disjointedly, lacking fighting spirit both physically and mentally. Basic elements such as contesting, movement, and defending nearly vanished.

Manager Arne Slot is under immense pressure following a disastrous season, and if he remains after this season it would be a surprise. Not only Salah, captain Virgil van Dijk also caused great disappointment. With Liverpool clinging only to the Champions League arena, the upcoming away trip to Paris Saint-Germain's ground becomes extremely pressured.

Salah had a forgettable day on the pitch. Early in the match, he missed a one-on-one chance against goalkeeper James Trafford in an unbelievable manner. In the second half, when his team was already collapsing, the Egyptian forward again shot over the bar from a favorable situation. The climax was the saved penalty, as his shot was too soft and predictable.

In contrast, Haaland demonstrated superior class. The opening goal came from a penalty spot after Van Dijk fouled Nico O'Reilly. The Norwegian striker finished accurately, triggering Liverpool's collapse. Within about 20 minutes, Man City scored four consecutive goals, completely suffocating the opponent.

The second conceded goal stemmed from a foolish Liverpool mistake following a throw-in. The defense played loosely, allowing Antoine Semenyo to comfortably cross for Haaland to head in. Shortly after, Semenyo himself scored again to make it 3-0 after a quick counterattack.

Haaland completed his hat-trick with a shot that rebounded off the bar into the net, sealing a perfect performance. Meanwhile, Salah continued to disappoint with a missed opportunity and an unsuccessful penalty after Matheus Nunes fouled Hugo Ekitike.

It was only in the 76th minute that Salah left the pitch, replaced by Federico Chiesa. The bland performance casts doubt on his future in Liverpool's lineup, especially ahead of the crucial upcoming match in Paris.