Manchester City and Liverpool played out a high-quality game in their first fixture since the World Cup pause, with the Sky Blues winning it 3-2 to progress to the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup.
Erling Haaland and Riyad Mahrez scored early goals at the start of each half, but Liverpool pulled themselves level both times.
They couldn’t respond, though, to Nathan Ake‘s set piece goal, which proved to be the winner.
Haaland picks up where he left off
With Norway not qualifying, Haaland had to stay behind during the World Cup, but the centre-forward picked up where he left off, having a chance inside the first minute and then turning in a Kevin de Bruyne cross 11 minutes in.
Liverpool responded well, though, as Darwin Nunez hit the post and then Fabio Carvalho turned in a James Milner cross on the 20th minute mark.
Even though both teams had half-chances before the break, it remained 1-1 at half time.
But, the scoreboard moved again just a minute into the second half, as Mahrez took down a ball and finished beautifully into the bottom corner.
It really was a high-quality game, with Liverpool adding another goal to equalise just moments later, this time through Mohamed Salah from a few yards out after good work from Nunez.
Ake comes up with the winner
Just before the hour mark, though, Manchester City scored again and this time they made it stick.
De Bruyne – who was fantastic throughout after a poor World Cup – played yet another inch-perfect cross, which Ake was able to turn in for a 3-2 lead.
This time, Manchester City held on to it and they came closer to scoring in the final minutes, with Fabinho having to clear a De Bruyne shot off the line.
It means the defending champions are already out, while Pep Guardiola‘s side move on to the quarter-finals.
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