Carabao Cup – Manchester City makes an offer and pays for Liverpool!

Manchester City qualified for the quarter-finals of the English Premier League Cup by defeating defending champions Liverpool 3 goals to 2 In the last match of the fourth round program Thursday in Manchester. At this post-world meeting, the two teams presented themselves in new combinations, with many sides absent. At first, the Nationals appeared without Kyle Walker, Jack Grealish, John Stones, Calvin Phillips, Phil Foden, Ederson, Robin Dias, Bernardo Silva and Julian Alvarez, the Argentine World Champion. On the other hand, Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne had a good start. For his part, Liverpool deprived Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate and Diogo Jota.

The first shivers were not long in coming at the Etihad Stadium from the very first minute, as Erling Haaland, the City star, single-handedly sprinted on goal but completely missed his high shot, which went over Kawemehen Kelleher’s goal. Six minutes later, Haaland, who was about to offside again, crossed for Cole Palmer, but the young 20-year-old left winger, in a perfect position, also completely missed his recovery (seventh). City’s apparent dominance at the start of the game was finally rewarded by the inevitable Haaland’s opener who beat defender Joe Gomez on a Kevin De Bruyne cross to trick Keeler into a recovery from the left (10).

But the Reds reacted quickly, then Portuguese Fabio Carvalho equalized with James Milner’s pass (20). The match, despite its balanced rhythm, saw the citizens miss two great chances by Gundogan (36th) and Nathan Ake’s header (37th), both of whose attempts, each time a pass from the excellent De Bruyne, were saved by Keeler. . Then the Uruguayan from Liverpool Darwin Nunez distinguished himself in quick succession by wasting two chances before the break (42, very cross shot, 45 + 2 flat-footed recovery missed at the far post).

Great goal from Mahrez

The second half started as strong as the first: Algerian international Riyad Mahrez gave City the advantage with a curling left-footed shot after finishing off his direct opponent with a brilliant direction (47th). The spectators have no time to breathe since Mohamed Salah equalized after one minute, at the end of a counter-attack and a cross from Nunez (48). But ten minutes later, De Bruyne threw a new cross at the head of Dutchman Nathan Ake, who this time left no chance for Keeler (58th).

On the other hand, Nunez, who was not very successful on Thursday, again distinguished himself with a great waste, as he crossed his shot a lot, alone in front of Ortega (72). Thus, Manchester City joins the quarter-finals in the qualifiers on Tuesday and Wednesday: Wolverhampton, Southampton, Newcastle, Leicester, Charlton (D3), Nottingham Forest and Manchester United. But by then, Liverpool (6th) resumed the championship on Monday, December 26th in Aston Villa (12th) and Manchester City (2nd) the next day in Leeds (15th).