Manchester City put one foot in the League Cup final

Manchester City have crushed West Ham United 6-0 in this evening's League Cup semi-final first leg at the Etihad Stadium.

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Alvaro Negredo scored the first of his three goals in the 12th minute, volleying home left-footed after watching Yaya Toure's long ball float over his shoulder.

He grabbed his second by firing into Adrian's top corner after being fed by Edin Dzeko.

Toure made it 3-0 before the break, as he was allowed to venture forward unchecked to sweep the ball past the Spanish stopper.

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It did not take long after the break for Negredo to complete his hat-trick, as he rifled home with his left once again after the ball fell kindly to him inside the area.

Dzeko then got in on the act in the 60th minute, stabbing home Gael Clichy's cross at the front post.

The Bosnian then wrapped up the scoring in the 89th minute by lashing into the top corner from Alexandar Kolarov's cutback.

The second leg takes place at Upton Park on January 21.