West Ham ended Manchester City’s four-year retention in the League Cup on Wednesday when Liverpool and Tottenham booked their places in the quarter-finals.
The City record in the competition came to an end at London Stadium when the Hammers came out leading 5-3 on a penalty shootout after both sides missed many opportunities in a 0-0 draw.
Phil Foden was the only man to fail from the spot when Mark Noble, Jarrod Bowen, Craig Dawson, Aaron Cresswell and Said Benrahma found the net for David Moyes’s men.
Pep Guardiola was known for naming a strong side and will feel that City should have continued their 21-game League Cup run without a loss.
Nathan Ake, John Stones, Ilkay Gundogan and Raheem Sterling all squandered great opportunities when the scoreline belied a match that spread from one extreme to the other.
Tomas Soucek also deflected two great game-winning opportunities for the hosts.
Foden was thrown along with Jack Grealish in an attempt to win the game over Guardiola.
But the English international took City’s first penalty and substitute goalkeeper Zack Steffen was unable to rescue his teammate despite receiving a hand on goals from Bowen and Benrahma.
Liverpool are now imagining the chances of winning the League Cup for the first time in nine years, but had to get over a bad start to win 2-0 at Preston.
The Reds had scored 30 goals in eight previous away games this season, but a much-changed side of Jurgen Klopp failed to reach the heights of Sunday’s famous 5-0 win over Manchester United.
Preston had by far the best of the first half when Adrian made a point-blank save from Sean Maguire, Neco Williams cleared the line and Brad Potts fired within seconds.
Liverpool were clinicians when they took the lead with their first shot on goal just past the hour mark when Williams’ cross was an acrobatic move Takumi Minamino came home.
Klopp’s men controlled the final half hour and doubled their lead in spectacular fashion when Divock Origi’s heel passed the ball over Delcan Rudd.
Tottenham’s bid for a first trophy since they last won the League Cup in 2008 is ongoing, as Nuno Espirito Santo was rewarded for naming a strong team with a 1-0 win at Burnley.
Lucas Moura scored the only goal 22 minutes from time with a powerful downward header from an Emerson Royale cross.
Leicester also needed penalties to dismiss.Infobarcelona.cat Brief news.
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