Manchester City moved into the FA Cup semifinals with a 4-0 win over Liverpool on Saturday, Erling Haaland's hat-trick underlining a result that was as emphatic as it was one-sided.
Now, the stats are making a suggestion that's hard to ignore -- that he has found a new gear against the Reds.
The Norwegian's hat-trick at the Etihad was a compact showcase of some his repertoire -- a coolly dispatched penalty, a commanding header and a cutback finished with inevitable certainty.
Haaland's goalscoring has, by his own admission, fallen just shy of his outrageous standards this term. He told TNT Sports post-match that his form as been "too up and down, which has not been good enough." Even so, he remains top of the Premier League's scoring charts, with 22 -- three clear of his next challenger Igor Thiago.
After City booked another trip to Wembley, ESPN combs through some of the resulting numbers.
The Erl of Manchester continues his reign
There have been times where Liverpool have complicated things for Haaland, diluting his influence and cutting the supply line.
That has not applied this season. His three goals on Saturday made it six in three games vs. Liverpool this season -- twice what he had managed in his his previous eight meetings with the Reds.
The 25-year-old has only hit two at Anfield throughout his career -- separated by six years and four months -- with one coming during his stint at Red Bull Salzburg in 2019.
But he's made the most of playing at the Etihad, as he's now notched in each of his last four at home against Liverpool in all competitions. Only Blackburn's Chris Sutton and, naturally, Sergio Aguero have managed it since the Premier League era began.
City make their mark on the rivalry
Considering the goalfests that been laid on for football fans by the two sides, one would assume there's a City hat-trick is in recent memory within them. But in fact, Haaland became the first City man to take the match ball vs. Liverpool since 1937 -- when Eric Brook fired three at Anfield as City won 5-0.
In fact, that interbellum year marked a four-match consecutive spell of wins for City in this fixture.
- Lindop, Dawson: Haaland hits long-awaited hat-trick as pressure piles on Slot
- Man City 4-0 Liverpool: Pep Guardiola's men book another trip to Wembley - as it happened
- DominikSzoboszlai: Liverpool lacked 'fighting spirit' in City defeat
With the cup win and league double this season, it's the first time Pep Guardiola's men have won three-in-a-row since, ending an 89-year wait.
It took them to their record-extending eighth consecutive FA Cup semifinal run. Combined with four final appearances under Guardiola, 12 return fares from Manchester Piccadilly to London Euston would perhaps be a figure mixed up with Haaland's salary.
Liverpool problems go beyond one striker
Liverpool were beaten by the same time three times in the same season since 2015-16, when West Ham United managed the feat.
The figure comes as little surprise amid their malaise this campaign which has seen them lose 15 times in all competitions, the most in a season since 2014-15 season, when they suffered 18 defeats under Brendan Rodgers stewardship. The loss column this year has been, of course, subject to constant debate and analysis, given their swaggering run to the title under Arne Slot last season.
Slot's side have creaked at the back, translating to their largest margin of defeat under the Dutchman since he took charge at Anfield. While there was little to take away from City going forward, the visitors looked desperate at the Etihad at points -- cut open repeatedly in a blistering spell of 20 minutes either side of half-time.
Stalwart defender Virgil van Dijk complained little after his errant foot brought down Nico O'Reilly to concede the penalty which Haaland converted for the opener.
It came as a particular sting for travelling fans after a respectable opening spell, but chances from Mohamed Salah and Hugo Ekitike went begging -- with Salah having a tepid spot-kick of his own saved by James Trafford at 4-0 down, summing up Liverpool's afternoon.
Liverpool's trophy opportunities dwindled down to effectively one more, the Champions League, with Arsenal just one point away from eliminating the fifth-placed Reds from any more mathematical contention to win the league.
Information from ESPN Global Research contributed to this report.