Wednesday 2 December 2015 15:14, UK
Tuesday's Capital One Cup quarter-finals pitted the Premier League against the Championship - and the top-flight sides came out on top.
Manchester City thumped Hull 4-1, Everton won comfortably at Middlesbrough and Stoke won 2-0 against a Sheffield Wednesday team that had knocked Arsenal and Newcastle out of the competition in previous rounds.
But while the results may have been predictable, there were plenty of stories including returning stars, headline-grabbing performances and questionable team selections...
Skipper Silva shines on his return
David Silva started his first game for Manchester City since limping off with an ankle injury against Newcastle United in October - and it was like he'd never been away.
Although City can boast being top of the Premier League, through to the knock-out stages of the Champions League and into the Capital One Cup semi-finals, they have missed their midfield maestro. His ability to take the sting out a game and ease the pressure on his defence by retaining possession was absent in the 4-1 defeat at home to Liverpool while his creative influence in the final third could have made a difference in the 0-0 draw at Aston Villa.
All those attributes were on full show against Hull as he dictated his team's tempo in an impressive 83-minute showing. It was a performance that merited the man of the match award from the match sponsors, and it was hard to argue with their decision.
Should Steve Bruce have picked his best team?
Those who haven't seen Hull's Capital One Cup matches so far this season might have raised an eyebrow upon seeing Steve Bruce's team sheet at Manchester City. The Hull boss made seven changes from Friday night's Championship defeat to Derby with leading scorer Abel Hernandez relegated to the substitutes' bench for a trip to face the Premier League leaders.
But even after a 4-1 humbling, Bruce was adamant he had made the right decision, pointing out he had made drastic changes against Premier League sides Swansea and Leicester in previous rounds and progressed. He also hinted that his first team would have struggled.
"The same squad beat Leicester and beat Swansea so I have got to stay true to them if I am going to back my word up and say you are going to play in the cup if you don't play in the league," he argued. "And we lost on Friday. Is it really going to make any difference when you come to Man City? If we needed a reminder how cruel it was to play against the big boys, we just had one."
Deulofeu steals show on Teesside
Aitor Karanka knew what he was in for - the Middlesbrough boss had earmarked Gerard Deulofeu and Real Madrid's Jese for success after coaching them as teens with the Spanish national youth team.
On Tuesday night at the Riverside Stadium, the Everton man was sensational, scoring one and setting up another as his side progressed to the Capital One Cup semi-finals at Middlesbrough's expense. Deulofeu had Fernando Amorebieta on toast throughout the first half, twisting blood with six stepovers in quick succession before providing the assist for Romelu Lukaku's header.
His set-up play has never been in question - the winger has six Premier League assists in seven starts - but Deulofeu needs to add goals to really kick on and live up to his full potential. His opener was brilliant in its own right too as he beat two Boro defenders before picking out the bottom corner from just outside the box.
After starting the season with a hamstring injury, the 21-year-old has worked his way into the starting line-up over the last six weeks, and on this evidence, he'll stay there.
Baines makes Everton comeback
There was more good news for Everton fans on Tuesday night, as the game also marked Leighton Baines' return to the squad. He came on for the final 17 minutes, his first action of the season following ankle surgery. There was one trademark delivery from a set-piece, but his only meaningful contribution was a yellow card for dissent moments after coming on. Not the best start, but just getting back on the pitch is certainly a step in the right direction.
The England international, 30, went under the knife towards the end of last season, but aggravated the ankle problem in pre-season training, setting back his recovery and seemingly leaving a giant hole in the Everton starting line-up. But in his absence Roberto Martinez has uncovered another gem, and there's talk of a new deal for Brendan Galloway after his impressive start to the Premier League season.
It's a great problem to have, but it certainly poses an an interesting dilemma for the Everton boss now - does he go back to Baines or stick with the teenage Galloway? Either way, Everton have two fantastic options opposite Seamus Coleman.
Peter Crouch is out of luck
It's been a season of frustration for Peter Crouch, who has cut a forlorn figure on the sidelines at the Britannia Stadium. The former England striker featured in all but five of Stoke's Premier League matches last season but has appeared off the bench just three times this campaign.
However, the Capital One Cup has been a source of light relief for the 34-year-old, featuring from the start in both of Stoke's previous matches in the competition and scoring the only goal of the game to inch his side past Fulham.
Handed another opportunity by Mark Hughes to force his way into Stoke's Premier League plans, Crouch's luck deserted him as he was forced off after just 13 minutes with a hamstring injury which could force him out of what is shaping up to be busy Christmas period for the club.
Afellay gets off the mark
Mark Hughes was full of praise for all his players after their comfortable win against Sheffield Wednesday but Ibrahim Afellay was singled out for a special mention from his manager.
"I thought he was outstanding tonight, and in my opinion produced his best display of the season for us," Hughes said. "He is clearly a really talented individual and you could see that given his performance, and the way that he took his goal this evening."
It's been a slow start to life in England for the former Barcelona star but the technique he showed in meeting Joselu's cross on the volley to send Stoke on their way to the last four showed the talent bubbling underneath the surface. Hughes, and the Stoke fans, will be hoping that's just the start for the Dutchman as we come up to a critical stage in the season, including a first League Cup semi-final in 43 years.
Manchester City are the team to beat in the Capital One Cup
Manchester City are now odds-on with Sky Bet to lift the Capital One Cup trophy on February 28 and it's hard to argue with the bookmakers after watching them hit 13 goals in their three games in this competition so far, conceding only three in reply.
Those odds could change following Wednesday's clash between Liverpool and Southampton and depending on who they are paired against in the semi-finals but former England Under-21 coach Gareth Southgate reckons they are the strongest side left.
Speaking in the Sky Sports studio on Tuesday night, he said: "They will be the team to beat, but they've also got other priorities with the Champions League moving forwards. For the other clubs, maybe the League Cup is the No 1 priority so it just depends on the rhythm when the semi-finals come around. Who will be losing form and who will prioritise this competition?"
