Manchester City triumphed in a Carabao Cup thriller at the Etihad Stadium as Nathan Ake’s first goal since April finally ended the challenge of holders Liverpool.
City led three times and went behind on the first two occasions. On the second occasion, it took just a minute for Mohamed Salah to restore parity when Riyad Mahrez cut inside Rodri’s brilliant crossfield pass and found the bottom corner.
But, as he did for Erling Haaland’s opener – and 24th goal of the season – Kevin De Bruyne delivered a superb post-post cross after 58 minutes, which fell just over the head of Nate Phillips and just past Ake. Ley, who nodded.
City deserved their victory, putting Pep Guardiola on course for his fifth victory in the competition, which would make him the most successful manager in their history.
The reigning Premier League champions will visit Southampton in the last eight during the week starting 9 January 2023.
However, Liverpool – for whom Fabio Carvalho scored the first equalizer midway through the first half – had their chances, with Darwin Nunez firing three times across the face of goal and wide of the far post as they did much to improve. was in position.
Nunez set up Salah for his own goal when he squared past Aymeric Laporte, but there was no third reply from the visitors, whose trophy defense is all but over.
Haaland back with a bang
The fear for City’s rivals leading up to the World Cup was that a thoroughly rested Netherlands – his country Norway did not qualify for the World Cup – could do too much damage when the season resumes.
He could have scored within 20 seconds but, when his pace took him away from Liverpool’s defence, the 22-year-old sent his efforts past both Keuman Kelleher and the visitors’ goal.
But Holland didn’t have to wait long to score. The surprise was that he was lined up for the opener, with De Bruyne opting to ignore the striker when City fought back late in the opening period and instead teed up Alke Gundogan. Joe couldn’t beat Kelleher when he really should have.
After a bit of chasing and little reward after the break, Guardiola replaced Holland with Phil Foden 17 minutes before full-time.
In the build-up to the game, Guardiola said he thought the players based in Qatar – and City have more than any other Premier League club – would be in better shape than those who missed out because of the intensity. Training together.
Guardiola believes there is merit but, as City look to get their Premier League campaign back on track over the holidays, it is doubtful that three games in a week will suit the Hollander better than many. Who have tried this in the last one month. win the world cup
Liverpool need to find form soon.
Respective chief executives Ferran Soriano and Billy Hogan sent letters to fans in the build-up to the game urging calm after flashpoints that have marred matches between the Northwestern heavyweights in the past few years.
A couple of supporters did not heed the message as they became embroiled in a furious row after one took exception to another standing in the corporate area to cheer Liverpool’s first equalizer through Carvalho.
Like Liverpool as a whole, Carvalho’s season never really took off before the World Cup and his half-time exit did not signal an immediate upturn in fortunes for the former Fulham man, who scored for the first time since August. was
His replacement, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, has had another injury-ravaged campaign, but the midfielder was crucial in creating the space that Nunes exploited for Salah’s goal.
What will be interesting now is how Jurgen Klopp puts his squad together, as they sit seven points behind fourth-placed Tottenham in the Premier League, needing to find form really quickly.
