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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
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool28261164204479
2Manchester CityMan City27183668293957
3Leicester CityLeicester28155854282650
4Chelsea2813694739845
5Manchester UnitedMan Utd28119842301242
6Wolverhampton WanderersWolves28101264134742
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs28117104639740
8Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd27101072925440
9Burnley28115123339-638
10Arsenal2781363936337
11Everton28107113742-537
12Crystal Palace2899102532-736
13Southampton28104143551-1634
14Newcastle UnitedNewcastle2888122441-1732
15Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton28610123240-828
16West Ham UnitedWest Ham2876153549-1427
17Watford2869132743-1627
18Bournemouth2876152845-1727
19Aston Villa2774163452-1825
20Norwich CityNorwich2856172551-2621

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