Erling Haaland scored his 24th goal of the season and Kevin De Bruyne delivered a masterclass as Manchester City beat holders Liverpool 3-2 to reach the Carbao Cup quarter-finals.
The two heavyweights served up a thriller at the Etihad Stadium in their first game after the World Cup break and it was the Premier League champions who deservedly came out on top.
Haaland opened the scoring, only for Fabio Carvalho to equalise in the first half of a pulsating tie on Thursday.
Riyad Mahrez restored City’s lead right at the start of the season half but Mohamed Salah soon levelled with his 15th goal of the campaign.
The outstanding De Bruyne then provided a second assist of the game for Nathan Ake and Jurgen Klopp’s men were unable to respond for a third time, suffering a first defeat to City in six matches.
Liverpool had been unable to cope with City’s early intensity and Haaland netted the opener 10 minutes in, getting in front of Joe Gomez to volley De Bruyne’s pinpoint cross into the bottom-left corner.
The Reds were level from out of the blue 10 minutes later, Carvalho calmly stroking into the far corner after James Milner picked him out in the penalty area.
Caoimhin Kelleher denied Ilkay Gundogan and Ake after they were brilliantly set up by De Bruyne, before Darwin Nunez twice drilled wide.
Mahrez caught Liverpool out with a great touch from Rodri’s pass before firing home just over a minute into the second half.
Yet City’s lead only lasted 79 seconds as Nunez showed great pace to get away down the left and unselfishly laid an equaliser on a plate for Salah.
Liverpool were punished for another defensive lapse just before the hour-mark, though, switching off from a short corner and allowing De Bruyne to whip in an exquisite delivery for Ake to nod in.
Nunez spurned another great chance when he shot wide of the far post after bursting clear, with City this time holding on to advance.
What does it mean? No signs of rust from slick City
Almost six weeks since they were last in action prior to the World Cup, City were the better side and deserved their place in the last eight as they beat Liverpool for the first time since February 2021.
City lost to Brentford in their last match before the break but sent an ominous warning to their rivals and will be strong favourites to win the cup after their run of lifting the trophy in four consecutive years ended last season.
Liverpool have beaten Pep Guardiola’s men twice this season but they were made to pay for some slack defending and poor finishing.
Normal service resumes for De Bruyne
It was a miserable World Cup for De Bruyne but the Belgium midfield maestro was by far and away the best player on the pitch on his return to club duty.
He should have had more than two assists, cutting Liverpool open time again with his incredible range of passing and vision, creating five chances as he ran the show.
Not to be for Nunez
It was a hugely frustrating night for Nunez, who failed to find the back of the net for Uruguay in Qatar and fired another blank here.
He had four shots, including two ‘big chances’ from which Opta would expect a player to score but failed to hit the target with any of them.
What’s next?
City resume their bid to chase down Premier League leaders Arsenal with a trip to Leeds next Wednesday, with Liverpool at Aston Villa on Boxing Day.
