This marked Manchester City’s fifth match in a demanding December, with two more Premier League games on the horizon as the year draws to a close.
A win against Brentford under challenging conditions helped preserve their perfect record this month. Pep Guardiola’s squad appears increasingly formidable with six consecutive victories in all competitions.
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This tournament may rank fourth on City’s list of trophy priorities as they currently trail Arsenal by two points in the league and are in the top eight of the Champions League group stage.
However, after experiencing their first season without major silverware in eight years, the Carabao Cup could present an opportunity to start rectifying that record if they advance to the next round.
Former Lyon player Rayan Cherki is starting to find his footing in a City jersey, showcasing his skill with some impressive touches and scoring his fourth goal of the season.
With the top scorer Erling Haaland resting on the bench, teenager Divine Mukasa led the attack and almost netted his first senior goal for City, but his shot was directed straight at Brentford’s goalkeeper, Hakon Valdimarsson.
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One concern for City is the potential addition of another player to their injury list.
Omar Marmoush and Rayan Ait-Nouri are both absent due to the Africa Cup of Nations, while Jeremy Doku, John Stones, and Rodri are sidelined with injuries.
Guardiola will be hoping that Oscar Bobb is not added to the list after he limped off during the first half.
His exit saw the in-form Phil Foden come off the bench, and he nearly scored again, but his quick shot was saved by Valdimarsson.