American goalkeeper Zack Steffen blundered to gift Liverpool a goal in Manchester City’s 3-2 loss in the FA Cup semifinals.
Manchester City was already trailing 1-0 at Wembley when Steffen’s allowed Sadio Mané to score Liverpool’s second in a meeting of the English Premier League’s top teams on Saturday.
Receiving a tame back pass from John Stones, Steffen dawdled controlling the ball rather than using his second touch to clear. It gave time for Mané race into the penalty area to put him under pressure and slide in to nudge the ball over the line.
City manager Pep Guardiola defended backup goalkeeper Zack Steffen, saying he should keep his place despite the error.
After Ibrahima Konate’s header put Liverpool in the lead, the mistake from the United States international Steffen gave the Reds a second goal in the 17th minute.
“It was an accident, but we need him to try because that’s how we play our football,” Guardiola told reporters after the game.
“He deserves to play and after that he had a good game,” Guardiola said. “He made good saves and is an exceptional keeper.”
Steffen took too long to dispatch a pass when receiving a back pass from City defender John Stones. Liverpool forward Sadio Mane slid in to tackle the keeper and the ball flew into the net.
“We use our keeper to move our opponents into different situations. I’m pretty sure Zack didn’t want to do it,” Guardiola said. “Sometimes the strikers miss in front of the keeper, other times the keeper makes a mistake.”
Steffen was one of the seven changes Guardiola made from the team that started in their Champions League game in midweek, with the City boss opting to rest several of the team starters including first choice keeper Ederson.
Manchester City is top of the Premier League on 74 points, one point ahead of Liverpool, with seven matches left. They host Brighton & Hove Albion in the league on Wednesday.
City manager Pep Guardiola said he didn’t regret his strategy of giving Steffen playing time in the FA Cup and resting first-choice goalkeeper Ederson.
“This can happen,” Guardiola said.
Manchester City began the second half as it should have when Jack Grealish pulled a goal back within 2 minutes of the restart, but the second goal by Bernado Silva in stoppage time arrived too late for a comeback.
