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How Manchester City reached the EFL Cup final

How Manchester City reached the EFL Cup final
© Reuters
City's route to the final.

Manchester City will take on Aston Villa in Sunday’s Carabao Cup final at Wembley.

City are attempting to successfully defend their title and lift the trophy for the fourth time in five seasons.

Here, the PA news agency looks back over the five matches that took Pep Guardiola’s side into the final.

Round three: Preston 0 Man City 3

Raheem Sterling, hidden, celebrates at Deepdale
Raheem Sterling, hidden, celebrates at Deepdale (Richard Sellers/PA)

City kicked off their quest for a third straight League Cup in style as they breezed to victory over Preston at Deepdale. First-half goals from Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus and a Ryan Ledson own goal wrapped victory up early for Pep Guardiola’s men.

Round four: Man City 3 Southampton 1

Nicolas Otamendi, right, was on the scoresheet against Southampton
Nicolas Otamendi, right, was on the scoresheet against Southampton (Nick Potts/PA)

Sergio Aguero scored twice as City beat a Southampton side still shell-shocked by their 9-0 defeat to Leicester four days earlier. Nicolas Otamendi headed the opener before Aguero’s double, while Jack Stephens headed a late consolation for the Saints.

Quarter-final: Oxford 1 Man City 3

Raheem Sterling was at the double against Oxford
Raheem Sterling continued his scoring streak at Oxford (Mike Egerton/PA)

City relied on Raheem Sterling to dig them out of a hole against resolute Oxford at the Kassam Stadium. Joao Cancelo’s opener was cancelled out by Matty Taylor’s equaliser for the hosts and, despite Sterling’s late double, it was far from plain sailing for Guardiola’s men.

Semi-final: Man City 3 Man United 2 (on aggregate)

Bernardo Silva, left, scored a stunner at Old Trafford
Bernardo Silva, left, scored a stunner at Old Trafford (Martin Rickett/PA)

City took a huge step towards Wembley by outclassing their derby rivals at Old Trafford. Bernardo Silva, Riyad Mahrez and an Andreas Pereira own goal gave the visitors a 3-0 lead at the break and it could have been more. Marcus Rashford’s second-half strike gave United a glimmer of hope for the second leg, but a 1-0 win at the Etihad Stadium was not enough for the Red Devils.

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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City32227376324473
2Arsenal32225575264971
3Liverpool32218372314171
4Aston Villa33196868491963
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs32186865491660
6Newcastle UnitedNewcastle321551269521750
7Manchester UnitedMan Utd32155124748-150
8West Ham UnitedWest Ham33139115258-648
9Chelsea31138106152947
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton321111105250244
11Wolverhampton WanderersWolves32127134651-543
12Fulham33126154951-242
13Bournemouth32119124757-1042
14Crystal Palace3289153754-1733
15Brentford3388174758-1132
16Everton3298153248-1627
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3379174258-1626
18Luton TownLuton3367204670-2425
19Burnley3348213368-3520
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd3237223084-5416


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