It took Erling Haaland a little less than 10 minutes to score his first goal since the return of club football after the end of the FIFA World Cup when he scored the opener in Manchester City’s 3-2 victory over Liverpool on Thursday.

Haaland is currently the top scorer in the Premier League with 18 goals and 3 assists in thirteen Premier League games and was on the list as Pep Guardiola started a good mix of first-team players and youths.

Some of City players who played at the World Cup made it into the starting lineup, especially players whose national teams didn’t go beyond the quarterfinal.

Switzerland’s Manuel Akanji, Dutch defender Nathan Ake, Spain’s Aymeric Laporte, and Rodri started. Kevin De Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan, whose national teams missed out on the round of 16 at the World Cup, also featured from the start.

England’s Jack Grealish, Phil Foden, John Stones, and Bernardo Silva all made substitute appearances.

Liverpool had Darwin Nunez as the only World Cup player in their starting line up although Fabinho and Jordan Henderson also made appearances as substitutes.

Meanwhile, Haaland’s goal in the tenth minute set up a goal fest as Fabio Carvalho equalised ten minutes later, as both sides ended the first half levelled.

The second half started on fire as Riyad Mahrez had his 47th-minute goal cancelled out by Mohammed Salah a minute later.

Nathan Ake’s goal before the hour mark settled everything as Manchester City moved to the quarterfinal, where they will face Southampton.

Manchester United will play Charlton while Nottingham Forest will play Wolves, while Newcastle will welcome Leicester.

Full Carabao Cup quarter-final draw:

Manchester United v Charlton Athletic

Southampton v Manchester City

Nottingham Forest v Wolves

Newcastle United v Leicester City

Written by: Daniel Ademiju Idowu