Man City, Man Utd ease into League Cup quarter-finals
Pep Guardiola admitted it was essential to keep a clean-sheet as League Cup holders Manchester City got back on track with a 3-0 win against Burnley, while Manchester United joined their rivals in the quarter-finals after beating Brighton 3-0 on Wednesday.
Guardiola's side suffered their heaviest home Premier League loss beneath the Spaniard on Sunday when Leicester handed them a humiliating 5-2 defeat.
A brace from Raheem Sterling at Turf Moor ensured they washed away a few of that bitter taste from that defeat and Spanish forward Ferran Torres, a close-season signing from Valencia, added City's third goal with his first for the club.
"It had been important we didn't concede and the team was good generally," Guardiola said.
"When you lose a game the most important thing may be the next one. Firstly, because if you lose in this competition, you're out.
"We are still far away from our best because we're not training much. We've a whole lot of players out, six due to Covid and four injuries.
"But step-by-step when we have all of the squad we will get better. We are in the quarter-finals of the competition again so it is good."
City have won the League Cup four times within the last five seasons plus they remain on course to wthhold the trophy.
Guardiola's men could have won by a straight bigger scoreline but also for a fine display from Burnley keeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell.
Sterling and Kevin De Bruyne both started in a strong City side that also included Riyad Mahrez and a debut for 18-year-old midfielder Cole Palmer.
Sterling made the breakthrough ten minutes before the interval with a powerful strike from Benjamin Mendy's cross.
THE TOWN forward doubled his tally on 49 minutes, finishing off an excellent move involving De Bruyne and Torres.
City put the result beyond doubt in the 65th minute when Sterling didn't control a Mahrez pass and the ball ran through for the 20-year-old Torres to slam past Peacock-Farrell.
- 'Never surprised' -
At the Amex Stadium, Manchester United inflicted more misery on Brighton four days after beating them 3-2 in a dramatic Premier League game.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side needed a 100th minute Bruno Fernandes penalty to see off Albion on that occasion and conceding an equaliser occasions early.
There is less drama this time as United made 10 changes and Brighton nine, with Solskjaer's stand-ins proving far superior.
United, who last won the League Cup in 2017, took the lead in the 44th minute when Scott McTominay headed home from Juan Mata's free-kick.
United doubled their advantage in the 73rd minute, with Donny Van De Beek finding Spanish midfielder Mata, who showed slotted home his 50th goal for the club.
Paul Pogba came off the bench to score seven minutes later when his free-kick curled in with a deflection off Brighton's Joel Veltman.
"A great performance by Juan Mata. He was the main one who got on your golf ball and calmed us down. He was composed. He pretty much creates the first goal himself. I am never surprised when he plays like this," Solskjaer said.
"We needed the first 20-25 minutes to get our confidence and can get on the ball. We have done set pieces. You keep a clean sheet which is important for a back four."
Dominic Calvert-Lewin hit a hat-trick as Everton thrashed West Ham 4-1, but the win was overshadowed by injuries to the Toffees' Brazilian stars Richarlison and Allan.
Calvert-Lewin put Everton ahead along with his sixth goal of the growing season after 11 minutes after Goodison Park.
Carlo Ancelotti's side, who've won six consecutive matches in every competitions this season, were pegged back by Robert Snodgrass's 46th minute equaliser.
Richarlison restored Everton's lead ten minutes later before Calvert-Lewin bagged his second treble already this year with goals in the 78th and 84th minute.
Newcastle survived a scare from fourth tier Newport before achieving the last eight with a 5-4 penalty shoot-out win after their 1-1 draw.
