Manchester City suffered a 3-2 defeat to Liverpool in the FA Cup semi-finals on Saturday afternoon and Zack Steffen was one of many who underperformed. The 27-year-old was given a surprise start between the sticks ahead of Ederson and didn’t vindicate the decision with two costly errors.
With City already 1-0 down, Steffen dwelled on a backpass and gifted a goal to Sadio Mane for 2-0. He was then beaten at the near post from a volley just inside the area. Steffen was culpable for two of the three goals scored by Liverpool which won’t do wonders for his lack of confidence.
Stuart Brennan of the Manchester Evening News gave Steffen a player rating of 3/10 and said he ‘looked haunted’ from his error against Chelsea in 2021. Brennan added that Steffen’s confidence ‘drained away’ when he gifted Mane a goal.
Jack Gaughan of the Daily Mail gave the US international a player rating of 3/10 and called his mistake ‘embarrassing’ while criticising Steffen for letting in the third goal at the near post. Andy Hunter of the Guardian gave Steffen a player rating of 4/10 and noted how Guardiola’s decision to start him ‘backfired’.
The 27-year-old has made nine appearances in all competions this season, conceding 10 goals with only two clean sheets. It remains to be seen if he’ll add to that tally after his FA Cup performance.
Sorry , you’re wrong. For the first goal Ederson would have flung his right arm up and tipped that header over the bar. Steffan never moved a muscle, he was culpable for all three.