Liverpool purposely pressed Manchester City high and looked to establish a big first-half lead in their FA Cup semi-final win at Wembley.
A refreshed Liverpool side shocked a much-changed City with three first-half goals as Ibrahima Konate's header and a Sadio Mane brace put them in full control of the tie. City scored at the start of the second half, and then set up a nervy finish with Bernardo Silva's 90th-minute goal, but Liverpool ultimately held on.
Mane's first goal saw him slide in as City goalkeeper Zack Steffen paused on the ball under his own crossbar, and it was that aggressive pressing that the Senegal frontman said was a pre-match tactic from Liverpool.
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He told BBC Sport: "We started very well, everybody started on the front foot - for my first goal the goalkeeper made a mistake but I think we pushed him to make that mistake. That is our style and I think that made the difference.
"Today is special - we were playing one of the best teams in the world. To win this kind of game, especially in a semi-final, is a big, big, big win. We were very pleased to win and qualify for the final."
Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk added that the Reds played a perfect first half that saw them establish a big lead ahead of an anticipated City fightback.
"We made it difficult for ourselves in the end. We had a chance to finish it off," he said.
"The game was played [won] in the first half, you cant give 3-0 away. When you scored the first it gives them a boost. Overall we're happy to be in the final.
"3-0, it's all about scoring goals. Perfect first half, we played against City, the champions of England. It will always be tough no matter their line-up. There will be moments to suffer and we saw that.
"You have to show strength and togetherness because it's tough. It was warm, intense, like the previous game. If I'm thinking back we should have killed the game off."
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