Man City vs Watford LIVE: Carabao Cup result and final score after Doku and Nunes goals
Follow all the action from Etihad Stadium
Follow live coverage as Manchester City face Watford in the EFL Cup.
City had something of a monopoly on this competition up until 2021, winning five out of six finals to that point and six in total between 2014 and 2021. It’s approaching four years since their last appearance in the final, however, so Pep Guardiola and his trophy-winning machine will no doubt be keen to find themselves in the latter stages of the Carabao Cup once more.
Standing in their way as their first challenge is Watford, with the Championship side eighth in their table after three wins from six so far. They have already knocked out MK Dons and Plymouth, but naturally face a mammoth challenge to go any further - even though City are likely to rotate heavily, following on from a huge tussle in an eventual 2-2 draw with Arsenal at the weekend.
Follow live updates from today’s game in the live blog below.
City’s forgotten man makes his case - but Nunes still an afterthought
If a midfielder has dominated the discourse surrounding Manchester City, it is not Matheus Nunes. While they await bulletins on the state of Rodri’s knee, the Portuguese’s first City goal ranks as a subplot of their week. Rodri has an ubiquity but Nunes has become the £53m forgotten man, the sort of figure who may only be glimpsed in the starting 11 on Carabao Cup nights.
As he belatedly opened his City account, however, his goal proved decisive when a second-string side were given a late fright by Watford.
His reward may be a return to the relative obscurity of the bench. Nunes has only played 20 minutes in the Premier and Champions League so far this season. Ilkay Gundogan’s return has relegated him further down the pecking order, making him more of an afterthought.
Click here for Richard Jolly’s report from the Etihad.
Manchester City vs Watford
Match ends, Manchester City 2, Watford 1.
Manchester City vs Watford
Second Half ends, Manchester City 2, Watford 1.
Manchester City vs Watford
Rico Lewis (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Manchester City vs Watford
Fourth official has announced 4 minutes of added time.
Manchester City vs Watford
Rico Lewis (Manchester City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Manchester City vs Watford
Attempt blocked. Savinho (Manchester City) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Phil Foden.
Manchester City vs Watford
Goal! Manchester City 2, Watford 1. Tom Ince (Watford) left footed shot from outside the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Giorgi Chakvetadze.
Manchester City vs Watford
Foul by Josko Gvardiol (Manchester City).
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