Man City 6-1 Wycombe: Player ratings as Foden & Mahrez inspire cup comeback
Manchester City avoided a potential scare against Wycombe Wanderers in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night, coming from behind to beat the League One club 6-1 at the Etihad Stadium.
Pep Guardiola had named a mixed City XI to start the game, resting most of his usual starters and handing vital minutes to the likes of Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden after recent injury absences. But the back four was completely unrecognisable, featuring four 18-year-olds.
An utterly dominant City have won this competition in each of the last four seasons, although Brandon Hanlan gave Wycombe a surprise early lead just 22 minutes into the contest.
The holders and reigning Premier League champions managed to get back onto level terms not long after when Foden fed De Bruyne, with City’s quality eventually shining through.
Riyad Mahrez put City ahead in the closing stages of the first half, before turning provider for Foden to extend the lead to 3-1. The England international later got his second assist of the match when he teed up Ferran Torres, while Mahrez added a fifth goal in the closing stages.
19-year-old Cole Palmer rounded off the scoring with his first senior goal for City.
1. Goalkeeper & defenders
Zack Steffen (GK) - 6/10 - Will be disappointed not to have got a clean sheet.
Conrad Egan-Riley (RB) 7/10: Rarely gave the ball away.
Finley Burns (CB) - 6/10 - Coped well in potentially difficult circumstances.
Luke Mbete (CB) - 6/10 - Came away with an assist right at the end.
Joshua Wilson-Esbrand (LB) - 6/10 - Fared well in his 72 minutes.
2. Midfielders
Kevin De Bruyne (CM) - 7/10 - Got important minutes under his belt and led well. Scored the first goal that got City into their stride.
Romeo Lavia (CM) - 6/10 - Booked in the first half.
Phil Foden (CM) - 8/10 - Two assists and a goal was a fine way to mark his first start of the season.
3. Forwards
Riyad Mahrez (RW) - 8/10 - Scored in the closing stages of each half and bagged an assist.
Ferran Torres (ST) - 7/10 - Got his third goal of the season and was substituted almost immediately afterwards with the job done.
Raheem Sterling (LW) - 7/10 - Provided an assist and had chances of his own, but didn’t score.
4. Substitutes
Cole Palmer (ST) - 7/10 - A first senior goal made this a night to remember for the teenager.
James Mcatee (LB) - 6/10 - Slotted in at the back for the final 20 minutes.
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