Danny Murphy analyses key talking points after Liverpool beat Man City

beat 3-2 on Saturday in their FA Cup semi-final at Wembley to move one step closer to an unprecedented Quadruple.

In a game with no shortage of drama, Liverpool raced into a 3-0 first half lead thanks to an header and Sadio Mane brace, before City fought back after the break with goals from Jack Grealish and , and nearly forced extra time. 

Sportsmail expert Danny Murphy analyses the key talking points from the gripping contest, and assesses Liverpool’s chances of winning three more trophies this season to add to their Carabao Cup success.

A CHANGE TOO FAR

My television colleague Micah Richards was uncharacteristically pensive in the Manchester City corner before the semi-final, concerned that Ederson wasn’t in goal after the other alterations Pep Guardiola had to make.

The call to play Zack Steffen in only his fourth City match of the year was the key selection decision at Wembley.It’s no reflection on Steffen’s ability but more the circumstances of the game.

Whereas Jurgen Klopp was able to put Caoimhin Kelleher behind Liverpool’s regular back-four in the Carabao Cup final, Steffen was an extra change City didn’t need without Kyle Walker, Ruben Dias and Aymeric Laporte.

Steffen lined up with only one of City’s first-choice defenders, Joao Cancelo, and even he had to slot in at right-back after playing on the left most of the season.

So it’s no surprise there was less cohesion than usual and that might have contributed to the American completely throwing away an early goal by taking a poor touch in front of Sadio Mane.

City’s weakness in that area was amplified by the brilliant save Alisson made from Gabriel Jesus when Guardiola’s team were trying to fight back at 3-1.

The City line-up was already weaker without key defenders and the injured Kevin De Bruyne.It wasn’t the right time to recall Steffen even if he has been their FA Cup goalkeeper this season.

As for Alisson, he is turning into one of the greatest Premier League goalkeepers and if he stays at the club could one day be seen as a true Liverpool goalkeeping legend alongside Ray Clemence.

MANE’s THE MAIN MAN

Mo Salah stands comparison with any Liverpool goalscorer since Ian Rush while Luis Diaz will become an superstar.Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino have also had huge impacts.

But my favourite of Klopp’s forwards is Sadio Mane who is getting the recognition he deserves by scoring the goals while Salah has a brief lean period. In addition to his obvious offensive talents, Mane is also the best defensive forward Liverpool have and it is so key to their success.Playing him down the middle and bringing his energy to that position was a masterstroke which was rewarded with that chase-down to dispossess Steffen for his key goal.

Mane is not an extrovert but in his own way is a leader.He set the tone for the Liverpool press against City, even Salah took his lead from Mane and gave Oleksandr Zinchenko precious little opportunity to get forward for City from left-back.

Mane may never be able to match Salah’s legacy but between now and the end of the season, he’s the first name on the teamsheet up front in all the big games to come.

BELIEF QUADRUPLED

For the first time, I have to accept this Liverpool team are so remarkable that the impossible dream of winning four trophies in the same season — never done by an English club — is indeed possible.

I don’t want to say likely or even probable because there is so much football to be played and I don’t want three trophies to be regarded as some kind of underachievement.But standing pitchside at Wembley for the BBC yesterday, I felt a surge of belief and confidence from the Liverpool supporters I’ve not experienced before.

It reminded me very much of the 2001 season when we went for the three cups — and got the lot.

Liverpool have already won one trophy, are in the FA Cup final and have more than one foot in the Champions League final because I can’t see any way Villarreal beat them over two legs.That just leaves the Premier League where they are neck-and-neck with City.

I don’t think Klopp will be feeling over-confident even though the intensity of Liverpool’s play swept City aside in the first half.

If they face City again in the Champions League final, fresnojunkservice.com Guardiola might be able to call on Ederson, Walker, Dias, De Bruyne, Rodri and Riyad Mahrez.That would make a huge difference.