MANCHESTER, United Kingdom (AFP) - Holders Manchester City can look forward to defending the League Cup in next month's final at Wembley as Gabriel Jesus struck four goals in a 9-0 thrashing of Burton Albion in their semi-final, first leg on Wednesday (Jan 9).
Kevin de Bruyne, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Phil Foden, Kyle Walker and Riyad Mahrez were also on target against Nigel Clough's League One side as City ensured their visit to the Pirelli Stadium on January 23 is a mere formality.
After also thrashing Rotherham 7-0 in the FA Cup on Sunday with a much-changed side, Pep Guardiola was able to again hand a rest to a number of his key players but named a strong side with De Bruyne continuing his comeback from injury.
And the Belgian set the tone for the evening by heading City into a fifth-minute lead as he timed his run into the box perfectly to head home David Silva's cross.
Clough admitted before the game it would take a "miracle" for Burton to blunt the Premier League champions' might over two legs.
So it proved, but the visitors missed a glorious chance to get straight back on level terms when Marcus Harness blasted over Lucas Akins's cross when completely unmarked inside the penalty box.
It took City until the half hour mark to double their advantage, but a glut of three goals in seven minutes followed to put the tie to bed before the break.
Jesus headed home his first from close range after Bradley Collins had denied Leroy Sane before the Brazilian slotted home Silva's cushioned pass via the inside of the post.
City didn't need any luck, but still got some when Zinchenko's intended cross then looped over Collins to make it 4-0.
Other sides may have slacked off in the second period, but with competitions for places so fierce among Guardiola's side, the hosts were ruthless to match the Catalan's biggest ever win as a coach.
Jesus powered home a header to complete his second hat-trick of the season.
De Bruyne was then replaced by home favourite Foden, who was surprisingly left out the stating XI, just before the hour mark.
It took just four minutes for the 18-year-old to score his third City goal as he profited from the rebound after Collins did well to parry Jesus's first effort.
Jesus did soon have his fourth with a delicate finish from Sane's cross and City's dominance was summed up when right-back Kyle Walker strode forward to fire home his side's eighth of the evening.
Mahrez made it nine seven minutes from time and those City fans still in the Etihad cried for a historic 10th.
But that was the only thing City fell short of on the night with a final meeting against Tottenham or Chelsea on February 24 guaranteed.
The Merlion Cup returns for an eighth edition this June in a new format after a 10-year hiatus. First introduced in 1982, the invitational tournament was an annual affair until 1986 and saw participation from teams hailing from 18 countries including Australia, Iraq, China and Chile in past editions.
Merlion Cup returns after 10 years - au.sports.yahoo.com
Football: 10-man Arsenal slump in Rennes, Sevilla held, in Europa League RENNES, France (REUTERS) - Arsenal took an early lead but a red card for Sokratis Papastathopoulos changed the game as the Gunners slumped to a 3-1 defeat at Rennes on a night of tightly-contested Europa League last-16 first-leg ties on Thursday (March 7).
Soccer-10-man Arsenal slump in Rennes, Sevilla held - Reuters
Elliot May, 14, has this message on the placard he has been holding up for close to three hours as he ambles round the city centre in Madrid. This wasn't how the young Liverpool fan pictured the Champions League final when he and his father, Teddy, floated the idea of a trip to Spain. Teddy, though, is upbeat.
LONDON: Liverpool's stunning victory over Barcelona in the Champions League semi-finals on Tuesday was made possible by the belief manager Jurgen Klopp's has instilled in his squad, according to Jose Mourinho. Liverpool produced one of the greatest comebacks in the competition's history to beat Barcelona 4-0, overturning a three-goal
Klopp mentality behind Liverpool's historic comeback
Valencia stroll into last four with 2-0 Villarreal win. Valencia eased into the semifinals of the Europa League for the first time in five years with a comfortable 2-0 win at home Villarreal.
Valencia stroll into Europa semis with Villarreal win - CNA
Football: Gareth Bale 'nowhere near' being Real's leader, says ex-Madrid striker Mijatovic Real Madrid's Gareth Bale celebrates scoring their second goal against the Kashima Antlers in Abu Dhabi
Football: Gareth Bale 'nowhere near' being Real's leader
sportsloveme.com/soccer/football-gareth-bale-nowhere-near-being-reals-leader-says-ex-madrid-striker-mijatovic/
Football: Gareth Bale 'nowhere near' being Real's leader, says ex-Madrid striker Mijatovic 01/04/2019 La Liga , Real Madrid (REUTERS) - Former Real Madrid striker Predrag Mijatovic criticised Gareth Bale for lacking leadership qualities and hit out at coach Santiago Solari after the club's La Liga title ambitions were dented by Thursday's
Gareth Bale 'nowhere near' being Real Madrid's leader, says
Pep Guardiola predicts roller-coaster title run-in after Liverpool blip Back-to-back draws for Liverpool have handed Manchester City an opportunity to move to the top of the league table for the first time since December with a win over Everton on Wednesday.
Guardiola predicts roller-coaster title run-in after
'Massive' victory gives Pochettino renewed belief. The Spurs manager admitted it was vital for his team to start the new year with a bang and record a "massive" victory at Cardiff that
Latest TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR | The Straits Times
Pogba strikes twice as Man Utd win on Solskjaer home debut - FootyNews.co.uk Pogba strikes twice as Man Utd win on Solskjaer home debut - FootyNews.co.uk. Sign
Players nabbed in Spain fixing probe - theworldnews.net
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp takes some responsibility for the club's 'long dry spell'. The Reds last won a trophy in 2012 - the League Cup - but have not won the Champions League
Klopp takes responsibility for Liverpool's 'long dry spell
Now, I have landed a potential starting two guard, I have my three of the future set in Miles Bridges, I have an intriguing four man in Isaac, and I have Cody Zeller at the five. Even without Walker, this is a team that can start gelling and learning from each other right away.
How To Replace the F-35: Meet the 'Advanced' Super Hornet for
Pochettino was fuming at full-time, confronting Dean and his assistants on the pitch in a lengthy rant that showed his frustration at both Burnley's first goal and Tottenham's missed opportunity.
Pochettino loses his cool as Spurs slump, Huddersfield closer
Everton's hopes of finishing in seventh and a potential Europa League qualification spot suffered a blow as they were held to a 0-0 draw by Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park in the Premier League on
Everton held to goalless draw at Palace - eurosport.com
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