Phil Foden pulls strings as Manchester City outclass Huddersfield in Carabao Cup

While Huddersfield Town could not mark the centenary season of their third consecutive English championship (1925-26) with Manchester City’s notable scalp they can puff their chest at keeping a garlanded foe within sight until the end.

Phil Foden was the class act whose first-half opener was complimented by a slide-rule assist for Savinho’s 74th-minute strike, the Brazilian pinballing his shot off a post and in.

Pep Guardiola had cited again how serious the EFL Cup is taken – pointing to City’s four-peat triumph (2017-21) – and after going trophyless last term, will be sure to continue to do so.

What will please the manager is how many of his frontline players’ energy was conserved as the XI who did the job showed nine changes, meaning Guardiola can send a far stronger and rested one out when Burnley visit on Saturday.

Only Foden and Nico O’Reilly were retained from City’s 1-1 draw at Arsenal, with James Trafford given a first start between the sticks since Gianluigi Donnarumma’s signing on transfer deadline day, and Divine Mukasa his debut. The 18-year-old, listed as a midfielder and operating as the No 9, saw a shot blocked, then his header from Foden’s corner gathered by Lee Nicholls, Town’s keeper.

Lee Grant’s team had defeated Leicester and Sunderland, both on penalties, in previous rounds, so this tie was the reward in the 13th game of his nascent managerial career. The former Manchester United goalkeeper told his men to press, from Dion Charles at the front to the backline, but the ball moved as quick as the opponent’s collective brain.

As for Foden’s opener. The No 47 drifted into a right-hand pocket, received Matheus Nunes’s pass and turned and fed Mukasa, who returned the ball. At long range, Foden executed an expert low finish.

City’s possession was north of 80% and Foden seemed to enjoy most of it, as he orchestrated his team and the contest. When a 25-yard free-kick he ballooned over was met with ironic jeers, it underscored the playmaker’s dominance. Stones was Guardiola’s nominated captain and Foden the spiritual leader, who sprayed balls left to Savinho, popped up along the right to feed Oscar Bobb, wandered over to deliver a corner, then rushed back when Town broke.

Manchester City’s Savinho scores their second goal in the win at Huddersfield. Photograph: Ed Sykes/Action Images/Reuters

City’s stranglehold raised the premium of any glimmer of a chance for Grant’s team so Zépiqueno Redmond’s blast over from inside the visitors’ area felt a significant miss.

Foden showed far more composure when he took over in midfield, glanced ahead and curved a ball into Rico Lewis; the No 82’s pass into Town’s area was the correct option, the lack of a colleague there to stab at goal a travesty.

Now, though, Redmond did far better. He swooped along the left and fed Ben Wiles, whose attempt gave City their first scare, careering past Trafford’s goal.

Guardiola’s men handed Town one more when a Foden-Savinho-O’Reilly combination maneuvered the ball into the area where Lewis was inches away from doubling their lead.

Next up, Savinho dribbled infield from the left and unloaded: the ball went wide of Nicholls’ right post and City seemed right to claim a corner for a deflection that the referee, Michael Salisbury, was not interested in.

Instantly City had their hands on Town’s throats again but O’Reilly was unable to escape Nicholls’ clutches. Moments later Redmond was again unable to keep his attempt down from near Trafford’s goal.

Kalvin Phillips, whose last City appearance was on 19 December 2023 at the Club World Cup, was spotted in a group of substitutes warming up.

The midfielder watched on when Sean Roughan lifted a rare Town free-kick into the area - Murray Wallace headed over but City knew the game was not over yet.

Phillips entered on 83 minutes to home boos due to his Leeds United connection; then Cameron Ashia hit Trafford’s left post to, at last, give Town’s fans a highlight to recall.