Match Report: Manchester City 3-2 Liverpool (Carabao Cup)

Manchester City returned from an extended break with a deserved win against Liverpool in an exciting Carabao Cup encounter on Thursday evening.

The Citizens took the lead through the inevitable Erling Haaland, who converted from a wicked Kevin De Bruyne cross before the visitors equalised through Fabio Carvalho.

The second half was packed full of early drama with Riyad Mahrez giving City an early advantage but the Premier League champions were instantly pegged back by Mohamed Salah’s close range shot.

Nathan Ake then gave City the lead again after heading home from another De Bruyne cross and despite several chances for both sides, the score did not change again and Guardiola’s side claimed the spoils.

The win means City have already vanquished two top-quality opponents in their League Cup campaign, having beaten Chelsea in the previous round as well.

✅👋 Chelsea, 2-0 W.
✅👋 Liverpool 3-2 W.#ManCity are into the @Carabao_Cup quarter-finals! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/JU8Ht6Hddl

— City Xtra (@City_Xtra) December 22, 2022

Thursday’s game kicked off with early chances for both strikers, as Haaland and Darwin Nunez saw their attempts not converted within the first two minutes at opposite ends of the pitch.

City continued to press and put Liverpool’s backline under pressure, much to the delight of the supporters in the Etihad Stadium who were vocal all night.

The Blue faithful had even more to cheer about as their team soon took the lead, making good on their early dominance.

City’s creative star De Bruyne whipped in a pinpoint cross for target man Haaland to strike home, sending Pep Guardiola’s side in front.

Liverpool then had a rare attack but Nunez saw his shot strike the post, though the striker was found to have been offside in the move regardless.

The away side then summoned up an equaliser against the run of play, as former City player James Milner’s pass was converted by Carvalho, beating Stefan Ortega all too easily.

After a slight lull, City sprang back to life and nearly took the lead through captain Ilkay Gundogan but the German saw his powerful attempt saved by Liverpool keeper Caoimhin Kelleher.

This was followed up by a magnificent opportunity for Nathan Ake but the defender also saw his effort denied by the Irish shot stopper.

After a few more chances spurned by Nunez, the referee called time on the first half, with the sides going into the break level.

It did not take City long to retake the lead after play restarted as Rodri’s lofted through ball was excellently hit home by Mahrez.

Then the game took another dramatic turn as Liverpool scored a quickfire equaliser at the other end via a tap-in for Salah, meaning the Egyptian has scored 10 goals against City.

Going level appeared to rattle City who went forward in search for yet an other goal and the quest proved successful thanks to the magic of De Bruyne.

The Belgian’s long-range cross was met by the head of Nathan Ake to score his third career goal versus the Reds and send the Etihad wild.

Guardiola decided a change was needed following this and took off Manuel Akanji for John Stones, providing fresh legs in the City backline.

Nunez then wasted another glorious chance, dragging his shot wide of Ortega’s goal for the third time on the night.

England international duo Jack Grealish and Phil Foden then came on for Cole Palmer and Haaland, with both English attackers having scored at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar in the last month.

Tensions then flared as the two sides’ defensive midfielders came together as Fabinho made a crunching late challenge on Rodri, leading to the Spaniard becoming engulfed in rage and having to be held back by his countryman and teammate Aymeric Laporte.

Both midfielders were shown a yellow card and play resumed at the same frantic pace it had been all evening in Manchester.

This was all before De Bruyne and substitute Foden saw their great strikes stopped by Kelleher in what were fantastic back-to-back saves.

Gundogan was then forced off with an injury and on came Bernardo Silva in his place, meaning that the Portuguese attacker has featured in every single City match this season.

Little happened thereafter and thanks to a man of the match performance from De Bruyne, City ensured safe passage into the next round of the Carabao Cup.

The Premier League champions will learn of their next opponents in the competition later on tonight when the quarter-final draw takes place.

Guardiola’s men are next in action after Christmas as they take on Leeds United at Elland Road on Wednesday in the Premier League.