Man City knock out holders Liverpool in League Cup thriller

Liverpool’s Uruguayan striker Darwin Nunez (L) shoots but fails to score during the English League Cup fourth round football match between Manchester City and Liverpool, at the Etihad stadium in Manchester on December 22, 2022. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP) /

Nathan Ake’s header proved decisive as Manchester City knocked holders Liverpool out of the League Cup in a dramatic 3-2 win at the Etihad Stadium on Thursday.

This last-16 clash marked the return to competitive action of two of English football’s heavyweights following the World Cup break with City’s Kevin De Bruyne the outstanding player in a high-class field.

Premier League champions City twice led through Erling Haaland and Riyad Mahrez, only for Liverpool to waste little time in drawing level thanks to goals from Fabio Carvalho and Mohamed Saleh.

But after Ake made it 3-2 shortly before the hour mark, the visitors were unable to fashion a third equaliser.

“After the World Cup and a long time of not playing, both teams were incredible with high level and intensity,” City manager Pep Guardiola told Sky Sports.

“Liverpool are so difficult, when they play good they destroy you.”

– ‘De Bruyne fire’ – He added: “Kevin played with a fire inside of him. He had to find it. What a player. How many years he been coming here? Eight years? He’s an absolute legend.”

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp had no qualms in saying City are a “super, super, super side who do things extremely well,” but still lamented his team’s defending.

“The goals we conceded were completely unnecessary…We played a good game but not good enough to beat City tonight.

“There’s a lot we can build on and we can take into the next games and that’s what we’ll do.”

Guardiola named six World Cup players in his starting