Liverpool's season has not gone to plan, but at the beginning of the campaign this week is the week they would have been dreaming of.
Playing in an FA Cup quarter-final followed by a Champions League quarter-final is exactly what the Reds want to be doing every April, and the first of those matches comes at Manchester City's Etihad Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
City, who won the Carabao Cup before the international break, will of course be formidable opponents, as will Paris Saint-Germain in midweek, but Liverpool have often thrived against the better opposition this season.
After a busy break that involved Mohamed Salah's announcement of his impending exit, a row of ticket prices and Alexander Isak's return to first-team training, Arne Slot will be happy to get his side back on the pitch.
Ian Doyle and Paul Gorst are both in Manchester to see how the Reds get on in the 12.45pm GMT, and you can follow their updates live here.
Kitbag has slashed the price of Liverpool kits and merch with up to 70% off select items.
Full time: Man City 4-0 Liverpool.
Arne Slot suffers the worst defeat of his Liverpool tenure as the Reds bow out of the FA Cup at the quarter-final.
Federico Chiesa is on for Mo Salah.
Erling Haaland makes way for Omar Marmoush.
"You're getting sacked in the morning!" sing the Man City fans to Arne Slot.
Mac Allister, Gakpo and Ngumoha all on.
Wirtz, Ekitike and Gravenberch off.
Salah is denied by Trafford. Still 4-0.
It's that kind of day, yes.
Liverpool have a penalty. Won by Ekitike.
Jeremie Frimpong is on for Joe Gomez.
The oles have come out from the home fans with a third of the game left.
This collapse is surely unacceptable to the 7500 Liverpool fans in the away ends today.
Erling Haaland has his hat-trick and Liverpool have caved in here.
This could get really embarrassing now with so much of the game left to play.
Forunately goal difference doesn't count in the FA Cup.
Semenyo has just found the roof of the from inside his own half.
Man City are in that kind of mood...
Rayan Cherki is playing his own game at times here, running the show.
And that is surely game, set and match.
Antoine Semenyo gets in behind and clips one past Mamardashvili for 3-0.
Another goal conceded after giving away the ball from a throw-in.
Damage limitation now for Liverpool.
Referee Michael Oliver with a couple of woeful decisions early doors in this second half.
First one was to somehow not give a foul when Wirtz was basically rugby tackled by Khusanov and then just now as O'Reilly jumped into Gomez after poking it out for a corner.
Back underway at the Etihad.
A huge half of football now for Liverpool.
They are back out the tunnel.
Giorgi Mamardashvili 7
Safe handling in the air, solid with his feet and held on to a couple of strong shots.
Had the beating of Doku in the physical battle first half and didn’t allow himself to be exposed for pace.
Careless in possession on occasion and bounced away by Haaland at one point and beaten by striker for second.
One good clearance before break and looked to orchestrate Liverpool’s play out of the back but needless foul for penalty.
Good challenge on Cherki in opening quarter and offered himself going forward regularly.
Particularly impressive in opening quarter when moving the ball forward but could have protected back four better at times, although unlucky in build-up to penalty.
Ability to hold on to ball useful at times but should have cleared down the line ahead of the second.
Denied by good Khusanov touch when found by long Mamarashvili punt but wasn’t involved enough down right.
Not as influential as of late and didn’t really have much of an impact from the number 10 position.
Looked dangerous whenever in possession and found good positions when drifting across the front line.
Led the line well with good physical presence but could have done better with first-half shot over.
That was exactly the same as in November.
Liverpool have clearly learned nothing in the five months since.
They still have a chance with 45 minutes remaining but concentration might soon turn to the Champions League in midweek.
And that's half time.
A long way back now for this team, whose decent 40 minutes was undone towards the end of the half.
Haaland heads home Semenyo's cross after a lovely move that was entirely avoidable from Liverpool's perspective. They have a throw-in and proceed to give it straight back to City and that might be the tie there and then in all honesty.
You can see why City won't win the Premier League and were easily dumped out of the Champions League.
They aren't a patch on their best teams but have some good individuals.
This is why defeat here will be frustrating for Liverpool. Still a good half to go, though.
No mistake from the City marksman, whose barely had a kick.
Shame from Liverpool's perspective because they have been decent but that is the story of the season really. Do well to a point and then concede an easy goal. It was certainly a penalty too.
Penalty to Man City, Van Dijk brings down O'Reilly. There can be few complaints.
Rodri is booked for trying to take down Ekitike, who spun him with a lovely flick and kept the move alive. Good decision by the referee to be fair.
Ekitike smashes over from inside the area, worked well but let down by the finish. Liverpool are playing well here in full fairness, Gomez's power has seen him get the better of Doku three or four times too.
Gravenberch booked for denying Doku on the halfway line. Slot incensed a free-kick wasn't given seconds earlier when Ekitike was brought down.
The game seemed to restart with Salah being sent clear but Oliver brought the game back.
Not sure why at first glance.
