In his fury at the fixture list handing Manchester City a competitive game just four days after the World Cup final, Pep Guardiola had threatened to play his academy prospects and "some physios" against Liverpool six weeks ago.
He had even suggested that he and Jurgen Klopp could get their boots out for this game, while on Saturday he was still throwing daggers at the "big brains" of football for coming up with this schedule.
But the City boss has never been able to resist the lure of a trophy and his decision to field a strong side against Liverpool in the Carabao Cup fourth round went down well with everyone in attendance at the Etihad. Well, almost everyone.
READ MORE: City player ratings vs Liverpool
For the home fans, the World Cup final was good, but this was something else. After almost six weeks without a game, City and Liverpool served up a Christmas cracker. Another slugfest in a library of classics between Guardiola and Klopp's teams.
Rightfully, it was City who came out on top. They surrendered their grip on this trophy to Liverpool last season, but with the competition probably approaching the point it is put on life support, it would feel fitting if the Blues were to get their hands back on it. They've probably overcome the most difficult hurdle left.
It had been 41 days since City brought the curtain down on the first stage of their season by losing to Brentford at the Etihad. Plenty had happened since then, a new contract for Guardiola and a World Cup winner's medal for Julian Alvarez for starters, but they began as if they wanted to get their last outing on club duty out of their system.
Their start was as electric as the pre-match lights show, which had used high-powered beams to project the names and numbers of the starting XI onto the Etihad pitch. It was ridiculed by the away end, but the illusion was far preferable to the reality unleashed in the early stages.
Before the World Cup Guardiola had joked that Erling Haaland would spend the first few weeks of the tournament in Marbella playing golf. When he was sent clear after 18 seconds his attempted chip from 25 yards over a stranded Caoimhin Kelleher was more nine-iron when it needed the delicacy of a sand wedge.
If that heavy finish suggested some rust to be ironed out, the bionic goalscorer was back to his gleaming best by 10 minutes. Kevin De Bruyne's left-wing cross was good, but Haaland's movement made it. It was a lesson the static Joe Gomez isn't going to forget anytime soon. He was waiting to clear the ball while Haaland was on the move, darting in front of him to finish smartly with his left foot.
By then Liverpool had come close to an opening goal of their own. Darwin Nunez had raced clear inside 65 seconds, catching out City's high line, but he took too long over his shot and produced a weak finish. It was Nunez starting as he meant to go on.
Klopp's side didn't have to wait long for their equaliser, however, although it owed plenty to some slack City defending. Joel Matip carried the ball 20 yards upfield, past a static Haaland, and Ilkay Ilkay Gundogan failed to either close down Matip or go with James Milner, who found space inside the area.
Milner's low cross picked out Fabio Carvalho in acres of space. He had got the wrong side of Rodri and with the defence dropping too deep could sweep home a low finish from 12 yards.
The equaliser summed Liverpool's approach play up. When they could beat City's press and play line-breaking passes they were dangerous, but often they found themselves on the back foot. City certainly dominated the midfield, with the outstanding De Bruyne at the heart of it.
One break down the right saw him square for Gundogan, whose low shot was saved by the feet of Kelleher. From the resulting corner the ball was kept alive by De Bruyne, whose majestic cross saw Nathan Ake's header palmed away this time by Kelleher.
Liverpool weren't without a threat, however, although City were fortunate chances were falling to the wayward Nunez. He broke the offside trap but dragged a low shot wide, then side-footed a free-kick from deep wide from eight yards out on the stroke of half-time, when he really should have scored.
It hadn't taken either side long to rediscover their rhythm after nearly six weeks without a game, but it turned out the first half was merely a warm-up.
City were back in front almost immediately after the restart. A loose touch from Thiago was moved swiftly from Gundogan to Rodri and the Spaniard's crossfield ball was controlled delightfully by Riyad Mahrez, who in one movement brought the ball under his spell and sidled past Nat Phillips. The finish was unerring.
But if the celebrations had brought some supporters back to their seats from the half-time refreshments, they only arrived in time to see Liverpool equalise. Nunez outpaced Laporte down the left and rather than risking another inaccurate effort of his own, he rolled a square pass for Mohamed Salah to tap in.
By the hour mark City were in front for the third time. A short-corner routine ended with De Bruyne serving up another sublime assist. His in-swinging cross found Ake at the back post and this time his header beat Kelleher.
Liverpool threatened an equaliser for the third time but once Nunez had broken the offside trap again the outcome was obvious. He desperately looked for support but realised he had to go on his own. Predictably, he managed to drag his shot from 10 yards out.
That was about the end of Liverpool's threat and City could have won by more. Fabinho blocked De Bruyne's shot and the excellent Kelleher saved from Phil Foden, but City's progress had been secured. After nearly six weeks away, they are back in the groove already.
READ NEXT:
