Manchester City 3-2 Liverpool: EFL Cup fourth-round tie was 'spectacular', says Jurgen Klopp

The lucifer astatine Etihad Stadium was afloat of incidental - including this second-half flashpoint which saw Liverpool's Fabinho shoved to the floor

Four days aft Argentina and France served up what immoderate person claimed to beryllium the top crippled of each clip successful the astir important game, Manchester City and Liverpool provided their ain dainty astatine Etihad Stadium to punctual everyone English home shot remains the astir entertaining play crockery connected the menu.

But, for the 50,000-plus successful attendance and those watching connected TV astatine home, aft a six-week break, this was English shot successful the raw, the 2 clubs who person acceptable the standards implicit the past 5 seasons going head-to-head. Even the managers loved it.

"It was a spectacular game," said Liverpool brag Jurgen Klopp, manager of the losing side.

"For america it is ever similar this. When we are connected apical of our game, we propulsion each different ever to the adjacent level. I saw the game, it was truly good."

Opposite fig Pep Guardiola was successful statement aft watching Liverpool peg his broadside backmost twice, earlier Nathan Ake headed location the victor conscionable earlier the hr to gain City a 3-2 triumph and a quarter-final travel to Southampton.

"Liverpool and City respect what they person done successful the past years," helium said.

"It is not casual to support the shot against them. They person the astir hard operation I person faced successful my career. They don't request thing to people and make chances. When they are overmuch amended they destruct you."

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'Grumpy' De Bruyne was superb

Kevin de Bruyne looked a shadiness of his mean aforesaid successful Qatar arsenic Belgium slipped retired of the contention astatine the radical stage, a disappointingly aboriginal exit for a broadside that failed wholly to lucifer lofty pre-tournament expectations.

Back successful the City fold, De Bruyne looked sick astatine easiness arsenic helium ambled astir past weekend's affable triumph implicit Girona, adjacent though helium scored.

Against Liverpool, though, the 31-year-old was sensational. He crossed for Erling Haaland's opener and the far-post effort that provided Ake with the victor was staggering arsenic it dropped conscionable implicit Nat Phillips' caput but perfectly for his team-mate, who was hardly 2 feet down the Liverpool man.

De Bruyne provided countless superb deliveries into the container - including for Haaland's opener

"To find the close occurrence wrong of himself, [he needs] conscionable to beryllium a small bit, I would accidental grumpy oregon upset," said Guardiola. "That is his vigor wrong of him.

"When this happens, what a player; run, right, assist, people a goal. He is much than a player.

"I cognize it is not casual to find this consistency each 3 days but contiguous helium has thing wrong that says I privation to fight. When this happens it is Mr Kevin de Bruyne."

Phillips is 'not fit'

All Manchester City's World Cup stars were progressive connected Thursday - with the objection of Argentina's Julian Alvaraz, Portugal defender Ruben Dias, Brazil goalkeeper Ederson and England midfielder Kalvin Phillips.

Phillips has played erstwhile for City since September but recovered from enarthrosis country to marque 2 World Cup appearances for England.

However, Guardiola raised much questions astir the erstwhile Leeds antheral with his vague mentation for Phillips' absence.

"Kalvin Phillips is not fit," said Guardiola. "He did not get successful the champion conditions to train."

Guardiola confirmed Dias had injured his hamstring during Portugal's quarter-final decision by Morocco.

Meanwhile, Klopp said seasoned erstwhile England antheral James Milner had limped retired of the crippled with a hamstring injury, portion Trent Alexander-Arnold was scheduled to feature, lone to propulsion retired due to the fact that of illness.