The Reds pursuit of silverware for the 2025/26 campaign takes them to the Etihad Stadium for a high-stakes Emirates FA Cup quarter-final clash, with Manchester City and the fixture schedule posing a massive challenge for Arne Slot’s side.
Liverpool’s path to Wembley has been mapped out, and it couldn’t look much more formidable. After navigating a tricky fifth-round tie at Molineux with a 3-1 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers, the Reds have been handed the ultimate domestic litmus test: a trip to the Etihad to face Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.
The Football Association confirmed on Friday that the blockbuster clash will take place on Saturday, April 4, with a 12:45pm kick-off.
For Liverpool fans, it’s a familiar and often unpopular time slot, but one that carries immense significance as Arne Slot looks to secure his second trophy since succeeding Jürgen Klopp and winning the Premier League title in his debut season.
The early kick-off is no coincidence; it has been scheduled to allow both heavyweights maximum recovery time ahead of potential Champions League quarter-final duties on Tuesday, April 7. However, for that to matter, both sides have significant work to do on the continent.
A month of extremes
The trip to Manchester forms the centre-piece of a period that will likely define Slot’s maiden campaign. While Liverpool are currently battling to climb from sixth in the Premier League table to secure a vital top-four spot, the FA Cup represents their most realistic route to silverware.
The Reds must first navigate their Champions League second leg against Galatasaray, trailing 1-0 after a disappointing night in Istanbul. City find themselves in even deeper water, needing to overturn a 3-0 trouncing at the hands of Real Madrid.
Should both sides qualify to the Quarter finals of the Champions League, the schedule becomes a gauntlet.
For City, the Liverpool cup tie sits between a Madrid second leg and a trip to Chelsea, followed by a potential title decider against Arsenal.
For Liverpool, the physical demands of a 12:45pm start at the Etihad ahead of a European Tuesday cannot be understated.
FA Cup quarter-final schedule in full
The Reds are the headline act of a weekend that sees all four matches broadcast live across TNT Sports and HBO Max, with the BBC picking up two of the fixtures for free-to-air coverage.
| Date | Fixture | Kick-off (BST) | TV Channel |
| Sat April 4 | Manchester City v Liverpool | 12:45 | TNT Sports 1 / HBO Max |
| Sat April 4 | Chelsea v Port Vale | 17:15 | TNT Sports / BBC One |
| Sat April 4 | Southampton v Arsenal | 20:00 | TNT Sports / BBC One |
| Sun April 5 | West Ham v Leeds United | 16:30 | TNT Sports 1 / HBO Max |
Each winner will pocket £477,000 from the prize fund, with all eight clubs receiving a £175,000 broadcast fee though for Slot and Guardiola, the financial windfall is secondary to the psychological edge.
Having seen the Premier League title defense falter, Slot is under no illusions about the importance of the domestic cups. Liverpool’s road to the quarter-finals has been professional, if not always easy, overcoming Barnsley, Brighton, and eventually Wolves.
The 3-1 win at Molineux was a statement of intent, especially coming so soon after a 2-1 league defeat at the same venue. It showed a resilience that will be required in spades at the Etihad. City, meanwhile, reached this stage for the eighth successive season after sweeping aside Exeter, Salford, and Newcastle.
By the time the two sides meet on April 4, City will have already played the EFL Cup final against Arsenal (March 22). Whether they arrive as champions or runners-up, the intensity of a Liverpool visit rarely wavers.
For Slot, the priority remains clear: balance the pursuit of a top-four finish with the allure of a Wembley final. April 4 is the day we find out exactly what this squad is made of.
