City looking as strong a favourites as ever as tougher tests now await

ALL EYES ON ANFIELD AS BLUES EASE THROUGH

- SIMON BAJKOWSKI

AND so to Anfield.

That always had to be the case after this game, but the teamsheet pretty much confirmed where City heads were at even before it.

Pep Guardiola left Kevin de Bruyne, Phil Foden, Nathan Ake, and Bernardo Silva on the bench in arguably the heaviest rotation he has allowed for a Champions League knockout game.

Not that you could instantly tell. Manu Akanji met a Julian Alvarez corner on the half-volley early doors to turn in the opening goal before goalkeeper Kamil Grabara allowed Alvarez's effort through his hands; nine minutes in and the tie was dead.

Rico Lewis tried to get the rhythm back into his body after barely featuring in 2024, Josko Gvardiol stepped in for his first game back sine injury and young Oscar Bobb was given another opportunity for his sharp brain and twinkling toes to dazzle. If it all felt very much like a warm-up to Sunday's main event, it is probably because it was.

Erling Haaland is not half as interested in the match circumstances though as he is in putting the ball into every opposition net he comes across. Despite the weakened lineup, the Norwegian got his goal on the stroke of half-time to restore the four-goal cushion and celebrated with a leap and kick into the air.

The goal was significant for City because it moved the tie back away from FC Copenhagen after slack defending had allowed Mohamed Elyounoussi to slip into the box and finish a fine team move. It was also goal number 41 for Haaland in the Champions League in just 37 games, equalling Sergio Aguero's tally in the competition in 42 fewer games.