Manchester City delivered a ruthless 4-0 demolition of Liverpool in the FA Cup quarter-final at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, April 4, 2026, booking their place in the semi-finals with a commanding performance. Erling Haaland stole the headlines with a hat-trick, while Rayan Cherki impressed with an assist and sharp play that helped set up another goal. Yet it was not Cherki’s on-pitch brilliance that dominated headlines afterward — it was one of the most bizarre off-field moments of the season.

With City already cruising to victory, Cherki was substituted in the 71st minute and replaced by Tijjani Reijnders. As he left the pitch, the 22-year-old Frenchman made a beeline for his France international teammate Hugo Ekitike, who had come off for Liverpool moments earlier. The pair exchanged shirts in a friendly gesture common among international colleagues after matches.

What happened next stunned everyone watching. Instead of heading straight to the dressing room or changing properly, Cherki sat down on the Manchester City substitutes’ bench — still wearing Ekitike’s red Liverpool jersey. TV cameras captured the surreal sight as the game continued with nearly 20 minutes remaining. Cherki appeared relaxed among his City teammates, including goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, while sporting the colors of their fierce rivals.

Coaching staff quickly noticed. A member of Pep Guardiola’s team could be seen gesturing urgently, telling Cherki to remove the shirt immediately. The young forward looked surprised, swiftly pulled it off, and raised his hand in a sheepish apology, acknowledging the awkward mistake. TNT Sports commentator Ally McCoist joked that the moment “was going to go down like a lead balloon in many quarters,” while fans on social media exploded with a mix of laughter, outrage, and memes.

Cherki later explained the incident simply: “I thought the game was over.” In the heat of the moment, with City dominating and the result seemingly secure, he had lost track of time and treated the situation like a post-match exchange. The swap itself was not unusual — players often trade jerseys with friends or opponents after full-time — but doing so while the match was still live and then wearing the rival shirt on the bench crossed an unspoken line.

The reaction was swift and divided. Many Manchester City supporters felt disrespected, accusing Cherki of lacking professionalism and showing poor judgment in front of the home crowd. Some called it “embarrassing” and questioned how he could wear Liverpool colors, even briefly, during such a historic rivalry clash. Liverpool fans were equally unimpressed with Ekitike, slamming him for giving away his shirt in a heavy defeat and appearing to fraternize too casually with the opposition.

Despite the backlash, Cherki’s overall performance earned praise. Teammate Antoine Semenyo described him as “one of the world’s best,” highlighting his creativity and contribution to City’s attacking dominance. The incident did not overshadow the result: City extended their strong record in the competition and advanced confidently.

The moment quickly went viral across platforms, with clips of Cherki pulling on the red jersey amassing millions of views. Memes flooded social media, some labeling it “the funniest moment of the season” and others joking that Cherki wanted to “see how losing feels” while sitting on the winning bench. Commentators noted that while shirt swaps are a longstanding football tradition symbolizing respect, timing and context matter — especially in a heated derby-like atmosphere.

Pep Guardiola and City’s staff appeared to handle the situation internally with a quick word rather than public punishment. No formal disciplinary action has been reported, and Cherki’s quick apology seemed to defuse immediate tension on the bench.

This unusual episode highlights the passionate tribalism of English football rivalries. Manchester City and Liverpool have produced countless memorable battles, and even in a one-sided 4-0 result, small details can spark huge debate. For Cherki, a talented young player still adapting to life at a top club after joining from Lyon, the incident serves as a learning moment about reading the room — or the pitch — in high-stakes environments.

In the end, the story adds another layer of color to an already dramatic FA Cup campaign. City march on toward semi-finals, while the viral clip of Cherki in a Liverpool shirt will likely be replayed for years as a classic “what were you thinking?” football moment. Football remains a game of intense emotion, fierce loyalty, and occasionally, unforgettable lapses in judgment.