Carabao Cup draw LIVE! Man United to host Charlton as Man City face Southampton in quarter-finals

Carabao Cup draw - LIVE!

The quarter-final lineup is set for the 2022/23 Carabao Cup. Manchester City booked their place in the last eight on Thursday night after outduelling fierce rivals Liverpool 3-2 in a thrilling affair at the Etihad Stadium, with their reward for that breathless victory coming with a trip to face familiar opponents Southampton at St Mary’s next month.

Charlton Athletic were the only non-Premier League club in the hat for the quarters and face a tough challenge against Manchester United at Old Trafford next after stunning top-flight Brighton on penalties after a goalless draw at The Valley on Wednesday evening.

Two teams currently occupying places in the Premier League’s relegation zone - Nottingham Forest and rock-bottom Wolves - will also meet at the City Ground for a place in the semi-finals of English football’s secondary domestic cup competition, with Eddie Howe’s Newcastle also hosting Leicester in a swift rematch of their next league encounter to come at the King Power Stadium on Boxing Day.

Carabao Cup latest news

• Charlton land Man United trip in quarter-finals

• Man City travel to Southampton for last-eight clash

• Quarter-final draw in full

• When will quarter-final ties be played?

• FT: Man City 3-2 Liverpool

Manchester City FC 3 - 2 Liverpool FC

Draw in full

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Manchester United vs Charlton

Southampton vs Manchester City

Nottingham Forest vs Wolves

Newcastle vs Leicester

The Carabao Cup quarter-final matches will take place the week beginning January 9.

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Newcastle vs Leicester

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Nottingham Forest vs Wolves

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Southampton vs Manchester City

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Manchester United vs Charlton

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Here we go with the draw...

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Charlton are the only non-Premier League team left in the Carabao Cup draw.

The third-tier strugglers stunned top-flight Brighton on penalties after a goalless draw on Wednesday, while Manchester United brushed aside Burnley and Nottingham Forest were big winners away at Championship Blackburn.

On Tuesday, Leicester eased to victory at MK Dons and there were wins over Lincoln and Bournemouth for Southampton and Newcastle respectively. Wolves are also still in the hat after seeing off lower-league Gillingham 2-0.

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Kevin De Bruyne also the target for hefty Guardiola praise after another superb performance against Liverpool that included two perfect assists.

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Sky evidently wanted to get interviews with both managers in before the draw.

Guardiola has just finished speaking, so we should be underway very shortly.

Pep full of praise for Rico Lewis, by the way. Fully deserved - a great performance from the 18-year-old tonight.

Liverpool injury update

22:36 , George Flood

Jurgen Klopp has just been talking to Sky Sports and confirms that James Milner felt his hamstring before going off in the first half, with hopes that it’s just minor.

He reveals that Trent Alexander-Arnold missed out through illness, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain also struggling before yesterday.

Virgil van Dijk trained as scheduled today after his World Cup return.

Just Ibrahima Konate to come back now. He’s due at Kirkby next week.

Van Dijk, Alisson and Alexander-Arnold should all be fit to face Aston Villa on Boxing Day.

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Good to see this pair with smiles back on their faces after England’s World Cup quarter-final heartbreak:

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While we wait for the quarter-final draw to begin, here’s one of City’s goalscorers tonight- Riyad Mahrez - talking to Sky Sports...

“We’ve beaten Chelsea and Liverpool [in the Carabao Cup already], so we’ll see,” he said of potential last-eight opponents.

“But we’ll take it game by game and concentrate on the next Premier League game, which is the most important one for us at the moment.”

On the win over Liverpool, he said: “It’s always good to score and to help the team win. Overall we were very good today and deserved to win.

“Everyone came back with a very good mentality and ready to start again. It was a tough opponent to start with.”

When will the Carabao Cup quarter-finals be played?

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The last-eight games will be played in the midweek of January 10-12, 2023.

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Sounds like the quarter-final draw will be coming at around 10:30pm, so in just over 20 minutes.

Stay tuned!

Quarter-final ball numbers

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1 Charlton Athletic

2 Leicester City

3 Manchester United

4 Newcastle United

5 Nottingham Forest

6 Southampton

7 Wolverhampton Wanderers

8 Manchester City

Full-time

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Manchester City 3-2 Liverpool

City into the quarter-finals!

The holders fall after a five-goal thriller at the Etihad.

The last-eight draw is coming up shortly.

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91 mins: Brave goalkeeping from Ortega, who comes out to claim and gets a hefty knock from Nunez.

It’s now or never for Liverpool.

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90 mins: FOUR minutes of added time for Liverpool to find a third equaliser that would take this fourth-round tie straight to a penalty shootout.

No extra time, remember.

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88 mins: Bernardo Silva replaces Gundogan.

Ake now holding his hamstring for City.

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87 mins: Gundogan is down here and will need to go off as we tick down towards the 90-minute mark.

These injuries perhaps to be expected given the sheer intensity of this first competitive game back after the World Cup break.

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83 mins: City are battering Liverpool now as they push hard for that fourth goal that would seal their place in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals.

Fabinho makes a crucial block to deny De Bruyne before Kelleher gets down to smartly repel Foden’s lashed half-volley.

They are still in this...

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81 mins: Kelleher goes to punch a cross and connects heavily with Rodri, who seemed to get there first.

No penalty.

Keita booked now for a foul on Rodri.

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79 mins: Robertson is not happy as he challenges Lewis inside the box and then takes exception to the youngster’s claims for a penalty.

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77 mins: A huge flashpoint erupts inside the final 15 minutes as Rodri and Fabinho go at it following a full-blooded challenge from the Brazilian.

Rodri is furious and gets up to remonstrate, barging over his midfield counterpart.

Both sets of players get involved, but the situation eventually simmers down.

Yellow card for both. Rodri kicked out at Carvalho in the first half as well, remember.

Is he lucky to still be on the pitch?

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75 mins: Salah wastes a decent overlap chance for Liverpool as a cute backheel is easily cut out by Ake.

Just not happening for the Reds now as Ortega comes out to claim a long pass forward.

They are running out of steam.

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73 mins: Two more England World Cup stars are coming on for City.

Foden and Grealish replace Haaland and Palmer.

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71 mins: It just hasn’t been Darwin Nunez’s night in front of goal.

This is the third decent chance he has wasted now, again trying to find the far corner but pulling a low effort wide of the post after being released by another brilliant pass from Gomez.

Was he offside? Looked very, very tight.

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69 mins: Another Liverpool change in midfield, with the fit-again Naby Keita entering the fray for the final 20 minutes.

Off goes Thiago.

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67 mins: Liverpool want a penalty after Oxlade-Chamberlain goes down under the challenge of Ake, who brings his arm across to make contact with the former England midfielder.

Referee David Coote isn’t interested, however, and the VAR check is over with nothing given.

Klopp not happy on the touchline as he makes his case to the fourth official.

Watch: Ake heads in De Bruyne’s cross

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64 mins: Buckle up... this is going to be quite some final 25 minutes.

Another sight of goal for Liverpool as a lofted ball into Nunez is headed on expertly by the Uruguayan, with City caught defending narrowly.

Lewis scrambles to get out and close down Robertson, who lashes a half-volley high and wide.

Klopp and Guardiola share a joke over on the touchline.

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61 mins: Guardiola looks to his replacements now with this thrilling contest having gone beyond the hour mark.

It’s England’s John Stones on for Akanji at the back, with the latter having picked up a knock.

Haaland lurking menacingly as City push to put this game to bed.

GOAL! Manchester City 3-2 Liverpool | Nathan Ake 58'

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58 mins: City ahead for the third time tonight!

Ake sneaks around the back to head home the influentiual De Bryune’s perfect cross after the visitors are caught sleeping from a short corner.

Back over to you, Liverpool... can they immediately hit back again?!

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57 mins: Elliott is the man to make way for Henderson.

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55 mins: You can’t take your eyes off this scintillating game for a single second.

End-to-end stuff at an incredible pace - just brilliant.

Henderson is preparing to come on for Liverpool now as Klopp looks to his bench once again.

Watch: Salah hits straight back for Liverpool

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Watch: Mahrez fires City back in front

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52 mins: Fantastic defending from Lewis on this occasion to keep Salah at bay.

He looks a really special talent.

GOAL! Manchester City 2-2 Liverpool | Mo Salah 48'

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48 mins: Liverpool straight back on level terms through Salah!

What a game.

Oxlade-Chamberlain releases Nunez down the left with a fine pass with the outside of his boot.

Nunez then turns on the jets and beats Laporte for pace, laying the ball across for Salah to tap home.

An incredible start to this second half. Another classic is brewing between these two powerhouse sides.

GOAL! Manchester City 2-1 Liverpool | Riyad Mahrez 47'

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47 mins: City immediately in front after the break!

Rodri’s lofted pass into the box picks out Mahrez, who takes a glorious first touch to take Robertson out of the game before rifling brilliantly into the bottom corner beyond Kelleher.

Superb from the Algerian.

Double Liverpool change at half-time

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Back underway at the Etihad, with two more changes from Liverpool.

Fabinho and Oxlade-Chamberlain replace Bajcetic and goalscorer Carvalho.

Klopp evidently wants more control in that midfield.

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A really decent half, that.

City started like a train, creating numerous chances and taking a deserved lead inside 10 minutes through Haaland.

But Carvalho’s composed finish against the run of play gave Liverpool a foothold and they have retained a threat on the break, though Nunez will need to put his shooting boots on.

Plenty of intensity and no shortage of quality and feistiness, as is always the way between these sides - whether it’s a Champions League knockout clash or lower-key Carabao Cup contest.

More of the same after the interval, please!

Half-time

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Manchester City 1-1 Liverpool

All square after a hugely engrossing first half at the Etihad.

Haaland and Carvalho on target, but there could have been so many more goals.

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47 mins: It’s an enticing delivery from Robertson, but Nunez skews the ball wide of the far post off his ankle.

Some key chances wasted by the Uruguayan in this first half.

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45 mins: Frustration for De Bruyne and Haaland as the confident Palmer weaves his way forward and decides to go it alone, but ends up firing high and wide.

Akanji’s foul on Carvalho offers Liverpool a decent free-kick chance just before the interval...

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44 mins: City press forward once again with half-time looming, though Rodri fails to trouble Kelleher.

Two minutes of added time signalled at the end of a breathless opening 45.

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43 mins: That will help settle the nerves!

Phillips is quickly called into action to defend a dangerous one-v-one against Haaland, but he stands up strong and makes a superbly-timed challenge.

That was a crucial intervention.

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41 mins: City want offside as Gomez’s lofted pass releases Nunez, who drags a disappointing low shot wide of the far post.

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39 mins: Milner makes his way off gingerly, replaced by Nat Phillips.

Another injury worry for Klopp to contend with.

Many Liverpool fans will have wanted to see Calvin Ramsay come on there.

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38 mins: How are City not in front here?!

It’s another gorgeous, perfect De Bruyne delivery, with Ake’s header parried well by Kelleher.

Milner is down and in discomfort for Liverpool. I don’t think he’s going to be able to continue.

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37 mins: Another big City chance!

De Bruyne goes clear down the right and wants to play in Haaland, but his pass instead falls for Gundogan, whose low drive is parried wide by the legs of Kelleher.

Another major opportunity botched by Guardiola’s men.

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35 mins: The intensity of this game is quite remarkable given that it’s both teams’ first competitive fixture for some six weeks.

Bajcetic into the book for hauling down Palmer.

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33 mins: Rodri takes exception to being (accidentally) stood on by Carvalho, rising up quickly and shoving the Liverpool goalscorer.

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31 mins: A little bit of a lull in the game now as Liverpool are well marshalled at one end before a poor touch from Mahrez gifts Kelleher a pressure-relieving goal kick at the other.

Some better moments from the likes of Thiago, Bajcetic and Elliott now in the Reds’ previously overawed midfield.

Liverpool have come into this game nicely since the equaliser, with City’s attack largely neutralised... for now.

Carvalho almost set free again.

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29 mins: De Bruyne and Palmer almost link-up again as the clock ticks towards the half-hour mark at the Etihad.

That first 30 minutes has absolutely flown by.

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27 mins: Milner wipes out Palmer and City have the chance to swing in a free-kick from wide on the left, but a below-par delivery is confidently claimed by Kelleher.

But in his eagerness to launch a quick counter, the Republic of Ireland ‘keeper gifts possession straight back to City.

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25 mins: An interesting start to this game from City’s 20-year-old academy graduate Palmer, who was guilty of a shocking miss but has also looked impressive at times.

He earns a corner and then sees a hopeful shot well blocked inside the box.

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23 mins: City immediately go about trying to restore their lead.

Palmer shows good feet before standing up a cross that somehow evades both Mahrez and Haaland inside the six-yard box.

Watch: Carvalho gets Liverpool level

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GOAL! Manchester City 1-1 Liverpool | Fabio Carvalho 20'

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20 mins: Liverpool are level against the run of play!

To their credit, it’s another incisive passing move, with Matip finding Milner in space.

He lays it off for Carvalho, who coolly sweeps beyond Ortega and into the bottom corner.

A really composed finish, that. All square despite City’s dominance.

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15 mins: That move aside, Liverpool have been very disappointing during this opening quarter of an hour.

They can’t retain any possession and are being repeatedly put under huge pressure as a result.

City could be 3-0 up already. Klopp’s midfield is struggling massively at the moment.

Watch: Erling Haaland gives City deserved early lead

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13 mins: Woodwork!

Liverpool’s first good move of the match as Salah does brilliantly to pick out Elliott, whose cross is turned onto the post by Nunez.

But the offside flag is up. It wouldn’t have counted.

GOAL! Manchester City 1-0 Liverpool | Erling Haaland 10'

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10 mins: You can’t keep him at bay for long!

Goal machine Haaland picks up where he left off, atoning for that earlier miss by getting across Gomez, thrusting out one of those long legs and getting his studs on a De Bruyne cross from the left.

City deservedly ahead inside 10 minutes. Liverpool have made a really poor start.

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9 mins: Liverpool’s high press is getting them into bother here as it’s leaving no shortage of space in behind for City to exploit, with Haaland playing right on the last shoulder.

Palmer feeds De Bruyne from the left, but the Belgian - in acres of space - drives into the ground and harmlessly into the hands of Caoimhin Kelleher.

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6 mins: Another huge early chance for City goes begging!

Haaland is just being played on by Milner as he’s released by a long pass from Akanji.

He saunters into the box and lays it on a plate for Palmer, who can’t sort his feet out quick enough and it bounces off him and well wide.

What an opportunity that was. A really menacing start from City, who are playing with real intensity during the early going here.

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4 mins: City are dominating possession now as a raking cross-field pass splits the Liverpool defence.

De Bruyne tries to whip in a trademark cross from the right but it’s blocked behind.

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2 mins: What a lively start amid the smoky haze from that pre-match light show.

Suddenly Liverpool are away and only a fine challenge from Laporte snuffs out the danger posed by Nunez inside the City box.

End-to-end stuff already in a febrile atmosphere. Domestic football is well and truly back.

KICK-OFF

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1 min: Underway at the Etihad!

An immediate chance for City is spurned by a rusty Haaland, who dinks his first-time effort straight into the stands after a fine pass from Gundogan.

That could easily have been 1-0 City inside the first minute.

Not a great start from young Bajcetic.

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The two teams are in the tunnel after a lively light show at the Etihad.

Kick-off is just minutes away!

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Final preparations at the Etihad!

The final place in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals is up for grabs in a blockbuster clash between two of English football's biggest clubs.

These fixtures are never dull...

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When asked about City’s returning World Cup stars, Guardiola tells Sky that he had no other choice but to pick them.

He is still clearly irritated by the scheduling, with many other countries having weeks off before resuming domestic competition.

He says Haaland is still some way from full fitness after experiencing pain in Abu Dhabi, but he is full of confidence in young Rico Lewis.

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When asked how he feels about facing City at this stage of the Carabao Cup, a seemingly relaxed Klopp simply laughs and says: “Great!”

He added: “When you see it - it’s city, away, oh great. But I’m sure City have thought similar stuff about us.

“It’s not too cool but it just shows how the competition goes. There are not that many rounds to go and you can face proper and tough opponents.

“We have that tonight. We are here and we will give it a try.”

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Speaking in his pre-match interview with Sky Sports, Klopp says Salah looked “exceptional” throughout the mid-season break.

“He wants to make this a special season for himself and for us,” he says of the Egyptian talisman.

Haaland and Mahrez start for City

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Despite both lacking a bit of fitness, Erling Haaland and Riyad Mahrez both start for City this evening.

World Cup stars such as Manuel Akanji, Aymeric Laporte, Nathan Ake, Rodri, Kevin De Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan are all present in a strong XI, along with youngsters Rico Lewis and Cole Palmer.

There’s no Ederson, so German deputy Stefan Ortega lines up in goal.

A very strong City bench contains many of their other World Cup players such as Kyle Walker, John Stones, Joao Cancelo, Jack Grealish, Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden.

Also hoping for some minutes tonight are SergioGomez and their own teenage midfielder in Alex Robertson.

Liverpool hand start to teenage star Bajcetic

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So Liverpool do hand a second senior start to 18-year-old Spanish midfielder Stefan Bajcetic, who already has five first-team appearances under his belt this term and was also picked for the penalty shootout win over Derby in round three before the World Cup break.

Elsewhere, James Milner and Joel Matip both start despite social media whispers over potential injuries.

Jordan Henderson is on the bench after England’s World Cup exploits, along with the fit-again Naby Keita and Brazilian Fabinho.

Also among the substitutes is teenager winger Ben Doak, though Kaide Gordon is still on the comeback trail.

As expected, Roberto Firmino joins Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota, Arthur Melo and Curtis Jones in the treatment room.

Virgil van Dijk, Alisson and Trent Alexander-Arnold are all still off, with Darwin Nunez up front alongside Mo Salah and Fabio Carvalho.

Man City lineup

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Man City XI: Ortega, Lewis, Akanji, Laporte, Ake, Rodrigo, De Bruyne, Gundogan, Mahrez, Haaland, Palmer

Subs: Carson, Walker, Stones, Cancelo, Grealish, Gomez, Bernardo, Foden, Robertson

Liverpool lineup

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Liverpool XI: Kelleher, Milner, Matip, Gomez, Robertson, Bajcetic, Thiago, Elliott, Salah, Nunez, Carvalho

Subs: Adrian, Fabinho, Keita, Henderson, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Tsimikas, Ramsay, Phillips, Doak

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It sounds like Stefan Bajcetic is definitely starting for Liverpool tonight.

Lineups expected imminently...

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Whispers on Twitter at the moment that this is the Liverpool lineup tonight, with both Joel Matip and James Milner starting in an XI that also includes teenage Spanish midfielder Stefan Bajcetic.

We’ll see how accurate this is when the official team news drops very shortly...

Kelleher, Milner, Matip, Gomez, Robertson, Bajcetic, Thiago, Elliott, Salah, Nunez, Carvalho

Liverpool must ‘control their emotions'

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Lijnders, meanwhile, was keen to stress the need for Liverpool to remain in complete control of their emotions as the Carabao Cup holders target a place in the quarter-finals.

“Top sport is emotion. It’s going to edges. Top sport is seeing the line that you want to go over but you hold yourself,” he said.

“For us it’s impossible to be fully emotional because the game is too quick for that.

"If I’m emotional to one side (of the pitch) the ball is already on the other side or Pep has already changed something tactically and we have to be aware to counter it or whatever.

"The ones who control their emotions are always the ones who go furthest.

"Control your emotions, don’t let the emotions control you.

"We are an example of that in our team."

Guardiola: I cannot be a ‘statue’ on the touchline

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The last clash between City and Liverpool also saw Klopp sent to the stands and later serve a touchline ban for berating an assistant referee, furious that he had not flagged for an apparent foul on Salah by Bernardo Silva.

And while Guardiola also subscribes to the need for greater respect between the two clubs, he insists he cannot be expected to act “like a statue” on the touchline, having been very animated himself after Foden’s effort was disallowed at 0-0.

“People cannot behave like they’re marble, like ice cold, when you’re disallowed a goal in these type of games against the biggest opponents,” he said.

“We will always react in that way but respect for the officials, the rules and the opponent is always there from my point of view, and my teams, absolutely.

“Reactions happen, that’s why the referees are there, to react and do what they believe is correct.”

Lijnders praises Man City and Liverpool ‘cooperation'

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As he often does in the domestic cups, Jurgen Klopp deferred pre-match press duties this week to his assistant Pep Lijnders, who fully endorsed the statement signed by respective club CEOs Ferran Soriano and Billy Hogan.

“It’s very positive that both clubs are cooperating. Ferran and Billy made a good statement,” said the Dutchman.

“I worked at Porto for seven years and PSV Eindhoven for five years and the rivalry between PSV, Feyenoord and Ajax was from a different level. The rivalry between Porto, Benfica and Sporting was a different level. The only reason it’s a rivalry is because the games matter, the games are decisive. Thursday is a decisive game, but playing against City has this importance.

“With rivalry comes emotion and that’s good because we need emotions from the stand, we need emotion for our players. The only problem with emotion is when there’s no respect, then it becomes really harmful and that can’t happen. It happened, but it’s positive that both clubs are cooperating.”

Man City and Liverpool write to fans over 'unacceptable' behaviour

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With that in mind, here is the letter (in full) that has been issued to all matchgoing fans by both clubs ahead of tonight’s Carabao Cup meeting, demanding an end to the unacceptable behaviours and pledging to hand out bans to those who persist...

"We write to you today on behalf of both Manchester City FC and Liverpool FC, ahead of our Carabao Cup match at the Etihad Stadium later this week,” it read.

"As with any meeting between our clubs, it promises to be a fantastic spectacle of football and we are sure that you are all counting down to kick-off with much anticipation following the break in domestic football for the World Cup.

"The passion and enthusiasm that we see from our fans when we play each other – at the Etihad Stadium or Anfield – is part of what makes matches between our clubs so special, and we know you are committed to creating a stadium environment where everyone is welcomed, accepted and has a fantastic matchday experience.

"Regrettably, based on recent meetings between our clubs, we also know that a minority of fans are responsible for behaviours and actions that have no place in our game.

"We are therefore writing to ask for your full support in tackling these behaviours and to ensure that both of our Clubs’ good names are preserved. You can help us by reporting any incidents via the options at the bottom of this email so they can be investigated.

"We appreciate that some fans may not be aware of the impact of their behaviours on other fans, both inside and outside the stadium, and we will continue to work with our fans on this education.

"It is however important for everyone to be aware that we are fully committed to dealing with unacceptable behaviours and will take action by issuing bans to those found to be responsible.

"We have engaged the Chairs from both our respective fan groups in our discussions and have their full backing to help create the right environment for our matches.

"If we all stand together to report the behaviours and actions that cause harm - including inappropriate gestures, chanting, throwing of objects, as well as any and all forms of discrimination - then we can all concentrate on supporting our teams.

"Thank you for taking the time to read this email, and for your commitment to help eliminate unacceptable behaviours in football. We hope you enjoy the match.”

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Aside from the obvious questions surrounding which players will or won’t be available after the World Cup, the main narrative in the build-up to tonight’s heavyweight Carabao Cup showdown has been attempting to foster better relations between these two clubs.

While always superb fixtures on the pitch, recent meetings between two modern rivals have been plagued by unsavoury incidents in the stands.

Pep Guardiola claimed he was pelted with coins by home supporters during Liverpool’s pulsating 1-0 Premier League win at Anfield in October, while City fans were condemned for chants and graffiti relating to the Heysel and Hillsborough disasters.

City also alleged that their team bus was damaged again, while before the game Jurgen Klopp categorically denied claims that his comments over City’s spending power were borderline xenophobic in nature.

It’s all contributed to an increasingly hostile and worrying atmosphere that both clubs have taken steps to cool over recent days.

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Tonight’s venue....

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A very Christmassy feel outside the Etihad tonight, as you might expect with only three days to go now (where has that time gone?!).

Let’s all hope for an early present with a cracker of a contest tonight...

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That Firmino knock will serve as a bit of a worry for Jurgen Klopp in a season in which Liverpool have been dogged by repeated fitness issues.

Though the likes of Mo Salah, Darwin Nunez and Fabio Carvalho are all fit to feature up top, Diogo Jota is still some way off a return and Luis Diaz is going to miss another three months after a key setback in his recovery from a serious knee injury.

You wonder if Klopp will be tempted to look for more attacking reinforcements in the January window, with his sixth-placed side sitting seven points adrift of the top four ahead of the Premier League restart.

They have such little margin for error already, with the FA Cup also beginning in early January and the small matter of a two-legged Champions League last-16 showdown with Real Madrid to ponder.

Man City vs Liverpool prediction

17:48 , George Flood

This could turn into a bit of a classic if the two teams unleash their pent-up energy on each other. City have the edge going into the game with Haaland available.

Man City to win, 3-2.

Early Man City team news

17:47 , George Flood

City were boosted by the returns of Kevin De Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan, Nathan Ake, Rodrigo and Manuel Akanji last week, while another six World Cup stars were back at training on Wednesday.

Pep Guardiola confirmed at his pre-match press conference yesterday that his players that travelled to Qatar are generally in better physical condition than the ones who did not, admitting that Erling Haaland and Riyad Mahrez are both short of fitness, along with Sergio Gomez and Cole Palmer.

It remains to be seen if the likes of Phil Foden, Bernardo Silva and Ederson will be available tonight, though Julian Alvarez is still away after winning the World Cup with Argentina.

Youngsters such as Palmer, Rico Lewis and Shea Charles will all hope for another opportunity.

BREAKING: Liverpool without injured Firmino tonight

17:42 , George Flood

Roberto Firmino does indeed miss out for Liverpool tonight due to injury, according to James Pearce of The Athletic.

It is said that the Brazilian forward - who was not picked in the Selecao’s World Cup squad - received a kick to his calf in training at Kirkby earlier this week and was subsequently sent for a scan.

His problem is only thought to be minor, but he won’t be risked at the Etihad tonight.

Liverpool apparently hope he can play some part in their festive schedule, with Premier League games against Aston Villa, Leicester and Brentford coming up.

17:38 , George Flood

This is reportedly Liverpool’s squad for tonight’s game, featuring a number of youngsters including Melkamu Frauendorf, Stefan Bajcetic, Ben Doak and Bobby Clark:

Adrian, Caoimhin Kelleher, Harvey Davies, Calvin Ramsay, Nat Phillips, Joe Gomez, Andy Robertson, Kostas Tsimikas, Jordan Henderson, Melkamu Frauendorf, Stefan Bajcetic, Fabinho, Naby Keita, Thiago, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ben Doak, Harvey Elliott, Darwin Nunez, Mohamed Salah, Bobby Clark.

Early Liverpool team news

17:37 , George Flood

It sounds like there is no Virgil van Dijk, Alisson Becker or Trent Alexander-Arnold in Liverpool’s travelling squad tonight as expected after their World Cup exertions, though England’s Jordan Henderson is said to be available for selection.

There are also unconfirmed suggestions on social media that both Roberto Firmino and the thought-to-be fit-again Joel Matip have not travelled.

Fabinho and losing French finalist Ibrahima Konate are also not ready to return after Qatar, while Arthur Melo (thigh), Luis Diaz (knee) and Diogo Jota (calf) are all sidelined through injury, along with Curtis Jones.

Where to watch Man City vs Liverpool

17:31 , George Flood

TV channel: In the UK, tonight’s match will be televised live on Sky Sports Main Event and Football, with coverage starting at 7pm.

Live stream: Fans can also watch the action live online via the Sky go app.

Welcome to Man City vs Liverpool LIVE coverage!

17:26 , George Flood

Good evening and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of a huge Carabao Cup fourth round showdown at the Etihad Stadium tonight.

The latest instalment of an increasingly fierce modern rivalry takes place in an early Christmas cracker as Manchester City and Liverpool renew hostilities for the last place in the quarter-final lineup.

Kick-off tonight is at 8pm GMT, so stay tuned for live minute-by-minute updates of a massive contest. We’ll also have all the build-up covered before then, including words from both camps and breaking team news.

Games between these two powerhouses are always electric - you won’t want to miss it!