City clinch Liverpool's summit and qualify for League Cup quarter-finals
Manchester City completed the contract of the quarter-finalists of the English Professional League Cup, by defeating its guest Liverpool (3-2), on Thursday evening at Etihad Stadium.
City's hat-trick was scored by Erling Haaland (10), Riyad Mahrez (47) and Nathan Ake (58), while Liverpool's brace was scored by Fabio Carvalho (20) and Mohamed Salah (48).
City started the game strongly, with Haaland receiving a through in the first minute to single out the Liverpool goalkeeper, and hit a falling ball from outside the area, which went wide of the goal.
City squandered a chance to open the scoring in the sixth minute, after a run from Haaland on the right side, to pass the ball to the completely uncontrolled Palmer inside the area, to shoot a direct ball that went strangely away from goal.
Palmer then paved the way for De Bruyne in the tenth minute, and the Belgian hit a direct shot that went weakly into the hands of Kelleher.
City translated its control by opening the scoring in the tenth minute, after Haaland followed a cross from De Bruyne inside the area, shooting a ball on the bird inhabited the net.
Liverpool managed to level the score from the offensive debut in the 20th minute, after Milner passed a magic ball to Carvalho inside the area, to shoot a direct ground ball into the net.
City resurfaced in the 35th minute, with a quick start from De Bruyne on the right side, sending a ground cross to the completely uncontrolled Gundogan inside the area, to hit a ground ball that Kelleher was brilliant in saving.
In the 37th minute, De Bruyne sent in a cross from the right flank, followed by Ake with a header that was saved by Kelleher.
Liverpool looked to add the second goal, with a distinctive through pass from Matip in the 42nd minute, received by Nunez on the right side of the area, then shot a ground ball passed next to the post.
Rodrigo struck a shot from outside the box in the 45th minute, which went wide of the post.
Núñez missed a chance to score the second goal in stoppage time, following up on a cross from a violation inside the area, shooting a ball on the bird, passed next to the post to end the first half with a draw (1-1).
City started the second half strongly, adding the second goal in the 47th minute, after Mahrez received a through inside the area from Rodrygo, shooting a distinctive arc ball that inhabited the net.
Liverpool's response was not delayed by scoring an equalizer in the 48th minute, with a quick start from Núñez on the left side, passing the ball to Salah inside the area, who shot a direct ball into the net.
City managed to add the third goal in the 58th minute, after Ake rose to cross from De Bruyne, shooting a distinctive header that inhabited the net.
Liverpool tried to get back in the score again in the 65th minute, with a shot from Robertson from the left side of the penalty area, which went wide of the goal.
Núñez continued to waste chances, after receiving a distinctive cross in the 72nd minute, to go on the right side and reach the penalty area, then hit a ground ball that passed next to the post.
City looked to kill the meeting in the 84th minute, with a strong shot from De Bruyne from the edge of the area, Fabinho removed it from the line, to pave the way for Foden, who shot another strong ball, Kelleher starred in the save, to end the meeting with a victory City (3-2).