Rayan Cherki leaves Man City and Liverpool fans fuming after Hugo Ekitike swap caught on TV

• 

• Sport
• Football
• Rayan Cherki

Rayan Cherki enjoyed another great performance for Manchester City, but his antics after coming off may have angered some of his own supporters

The sight of Hugo Ekitike swapping shirts with Rayan Cherki left both Liverpool and Manchester City supporters furious. Cherki was wonderful in City's dominant 4-0 FA Cup quarter-final victory over last season's Premier League winners.

The Cityzens were put under pressure by Liverpool in the first half, but Erling Haaland's hat-trick and a sublime finish from Antoine Semenyo resulted in Pep Guardiola's side storming into the semi-final.

Liverpool's afternoon was made even worse by Mohamed Salah seeing a penalty get saved by James Trafford, who has kept back-to-back clean sheets, having also thwarted Arsenal in the League Cup final triumph.

Watching from the touchline, Arne Slot chose to make substitutions with his side 4-0 down midway through the second half, among them withdrawing Ekitike in favour of Cody Gakpo.

Shortly afterwards, Cherki, who had provided the assist for Semenyo's goal, was withdrawn for Tijjani Reijnders by City.

Straight after he left the pitch, he bee-lined to French international team-mate Ekitike and swapped shirts with him.

Cherki even pulled on Ekitike's Liverpool shirt, which sparked fury among some City supporters in the stands, prompting the former Lyon player to swiftly take it off.

One City fan commented: "What are some players even thinking these days? Insane stuff."

However, it was Ekitike and Cherki's eagerness to swap shirts that rankled with a number of fans, particularly following such a dismal display that is sure to pile further pressure on beleaguered manager Slot.

"Ekitike and Cherki swapping his shirt before full time at 4-0 down tells you all you need to know about the mentality of this squad," said one fan on X.

Another added: "Hugo Ekitke swapping shirts with Rayan Cherki when it's 4-0 tells you everything you need to know about this squad at the moment. Heads in the clouds." A third added: "Ekitike's first thought after being subbed off after stinking the joint up was getting Cherki's shirt."

Another responded to the shirt swap by writing: "There's absolute zero man management, leaders or captains in this side anymore. no one cares."

City will now have plenty of days to savour their triumph before travelling to the capital to face Chelsea on Sunday April 12.