Eight-time champions Manchester City will face Southampton in the EFL Cup quarter-finals after eliminating holders Liverpool in a 3-2 squeaker.
Manchester United will play League One side Charlton Athletic in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup.
Charlton are the only non-Premier League team left in the competition following their victory against Brighton on penalties in the fourth round.
Meanwhile, Nottingham Forest will welcome fellow Premier League side Wolves while Newcastle will slug it out with Leicester City.
Reigning Premier League champions City led thrice via Erling Haaland, Riyad Mahrez and Nathan Aké.
ALSO READ: The night Messi led Argentina to World Cup glory
Fabio Carvalho and Mohamed Salah restored parity for the Reds twice before Aké’s goal – his first since April – sealed the win.
Pep Guardiola is still on course to claim his fifth EFL Cup title. This would make him the most successful manager in the competition’s history.
Liverpool had chances of their own though. Darwin Núñez shot across the face of goal thrice when he was in a very promising position to do better.
The Uruguayan however was the provider for Salah’s goal when he outpaced Aymeric Laporte to set up the Egyptian.
Reactions & Injury updates
Speaking about Kevin De Bruyne, who was outstanding throughout the game, Guardiola said: “To find the right fire inside of himself, [he needs] just to be a little bit, I would say grumpy or upset. That is his energy inside of him.
“When this happens, what a player; run, right, assist, score a goal. He is more than a player.
“I know it is not easy to find this consistency every three days but today he has something inside that says I want to fight. When this happens it is Mr Kevin de Bruyne.”
Guardiola also confirmed Ruben Dias suffered a hamstring injury while on international duty. The defender sustained the injury during Portugal’s quarter-final defeat by Morocco at the World Cup.
Meanwhile, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp said versatile player James Milner had limped out of the game with a hamstring injury. Kloop also stated Trent Alexander-Arnold was scheduled to feature, only to withdraw from the game due to illness.
The quarter-finals will take place in the week commencing 9 January.
Full quarterfinal draw
- Manchester United v Charlton Athletic
- Southampton v Manchester City
- Nottingham Forest v Wolves
- Newcastle United v Leicester City
Discover more from News Round The Clock
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
