Manchester

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Pep Guardiola chose to go in with a strong XI and his decision paid off as Manchester City ruthlessly swept Luton aside to reach the FA Cup quarter-finals.

Erling Haaland will rightly take the headlines after a brilliant five-goal display but the performance of Kevin De Bruyne was every bit as eye-catching.

The Belgium midfielder assisted the first four goals for Haaland as the pair relentlessly tormented Luton.

For all his immense technical qualities on the ball and the remarkable vision he possesses, it was often De Bruyne's sheer athleticism that the home side could not handle.

He surged through the midfield repeatedly before threading the ball through the home side's back line.

Each time he did so, Haaland was there, his run timed to perfection to get himself through on goal.

Once he got there, there was no doubting the outcome.

In scoring five goals in a game for the second time as a City player, Haaland claimed another record and with him and De Bruyne in this form, another treble looks well within reach for Pep Guardiola's side.

Here are the key facts and figures from Tuesday's FA Cup fifth-round game between Luton Town and Manchester City.

• Luton Town have conceded six goals in an FA Cup tie for the first time since a 6-2 loss to Bolton Wanderers in a third round replay in January 1997. It's the first time they've done so at home since losing 6-0 to Derby County in the first leg of the third round in January 1946.

• Erling Haaland is the first player to score at least five goals in an FA Cup tie (first round onwards) since Duane Darby for Hull City against Whitby in a first round replay in November 1996 (six goals).

• Kevin De Bruyne has now assisted 16 of Erling Haaland's 79 Manchester City goals. He's the first Premier League player to provide four assists for a teammate in a game in all competitions since Harry Kane for Son Heung-min for Tottenham against Southampton in the league in September 2020.

• This is just the second time Erling Haaland has scored five goals in a game in his senior career, previously doing so for Manchester City against RB Leipzig in the Champions League in March 2023.

• Kevin De Bruyne has provided nine assists in his past five FA Cup appearances for Manchester City, one more than his first 23 appearances for the Citizens in the competition (eight).

• In six FA Cup starts for Luton, Jordan Clark has been involved in five goals (four goals, one assist), with this his first brace in the competition.

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Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, speaking to ITV: "What can I say? Really, really good. Erling [Haaland] is on fire and Kevin [de Bruyne]... The connection was perfect. It was a really good game and we are in the quarter-finals.

"Kevin needs players like Erling and Erling needs players like Kevin. We are not here without the other guys. A lot of credit for everyone.

"We won our last two games 1-0 and against Chelsea we played good in the second half but couldn't win. One game at a time. The FA Cup is a really nice competition. We are one game away to go to Wembley again."

Guardiola said Jack Grealish's injury looked like a recurrence of a groin injury he suffered recently.

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Manchester City's five-goal forward Erling Haaland, speaking to ITV: "We made a plan and everyone stuck to it perfectly. Well played by everyone.

"Kevin de Bruyne is massive. He is doing what he is best at. It's a pleasure playing with him. We know what we both want from each other. it clicks well. He is a smart player and I like to play with him.

"My fitness? I am getting back to my best. Finally I am feeling good. It's an amazing feeling. It's coming, we're coming. Exciting times ahead. We are ready to attack."

Erling Haaland scored five in a stunning display of finishing as holders Manchester City thrashed Luton to reach the FA Cup quarter-finals.

It was the Norwegian's eighth hat-trick for City and he also became the first player to score five in a game twice for the club.

City opened the scoring in the fourth minute when Kevin de Bruyne, who assisted the first four goals, was allowed time and space to cut the ball back for Haaland to convert.

The pair combined again 15 minutes later, with Haaland running on to a through ball before powering it past Luton goalkeeper Tim Krul and it was a similar move that brought the third, only this time with a delicate dink to finish.

Jordan Clark pulled one back for Luton with a stunning strike, curled beautifully into the top corner from 25 yards on the stroke of half-time and gave Rob Edwards' side hope of a memorable comeback with a thumping finish seven minutes into the second half.

However, Pep Guardiola's team soon dashed those hopes when De Bruyne squared for Haaland to tap into an empty net after a superb pass from Kyle Walker had sent the Belgium midfielder clear.

Haaland got his fifth - matching his effort against RB Leipzig in last season's Champions League last 16 - when the low shot went straight through Krul, who then saw a long-range strike from Mateo Kovacic flash past him for the visitors' sixth.

Luton had opportunities in the second half with Stefan Ortega, starting in place of Ederson for City, forced into action a number of times. City might easily have added to their lead at the other end but once Haaland was replaced with 15 minutes to go, there was not the same ruthlessness and the hosts were spared any further punishment.

Were you at Kenilworth Road or following the match from elsewhere?

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There are three games being played in the fifth round of the FA Cup on Tuesday and we will bring you every moment.

Follow all of the action and reaction here

All times are GMT

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The draw for the quarter finals of the FA Cup will take place on Wednesday at 19:00 GMT, before Chelsea's tie with Leeds United, which kicks off at 19:30.

It will be live on ITV4 and you can also follow the draw on the BBC Sport website and app.

Former England goalkeeper David Seaman, a four-time FA Cup winner with Arsenal, will conduct the draw.

The ball numbers will be:

1. Blackburn Rovers or Newcastle United

2. Chelsea or Leeds United

3. Bournemouth or Leicester City

4. Liverpool or Southampton

5. Nottingham Forest or Manchester United

6. Wolverhampton Wanderers or Brighton & Hove Albion

7. Coventry City

8. Luton Town or Manchester City

Here are the key facts and figures before Wednesday's FA Cup fifth-round tie between Nottingham Forest and Manchester United:

• Nottingham Forest have progressed from four of their five previous FA Cup ties against Manchester United, although the only exception was the most recent, losing 1-0 in the third round in 1989-90.

• United have already lost at the City Ground this season, losing their Premier League visit in December (2-1). The Red Devils most recently lost back-to-back away games against Nottingham Forest in all competitions in December 1984.

• Forest are aiming to reach the FA Cup quarter-final for the second time in the past three seasons (also 2021-22), after having only reached the last eight in two of their previous 30 campaigns prior.

• United are looking to reach the FA Cup quarter-final for what would be a record 48th time. They are currently tied with Everton on 47 quarter-final appearances in the competition.

• Forest have drawn three of their FA Cup matches this season (W1), with both their third and fourth-round ties going to a replay. The last Premier League club to draw four or more games in a single FA Cup campaign were Middlesbrough under Gareth Southgate in 2006-07 (six).

• Bruno Fernandes has scored five goals in his past five FA Cup appearances, netting in each of his past three in a row. The last Manchester United player to score in four consecutive FA Cup games was Romelu Lukaku in 2018.

BBC Sport's football expert Chris Sutton has made his predictions for this week's FA Cup fifth-round ties. For all eight games he is up against Kaiser Chiefs bassist and Leeds fan Simon Rix.

Sutton's prediction: 1-2

I didn't expect Manchester City to start reminding me of George Graham's Arsenal side of the 1990s, but they are winning ugly at the moment, with back-to-back 1-0 victories.

Luton gave City a good game at Kenilworth Road before Christmas - when they led 1-0 at half-time before losing 2-1 - and I think Hatters boss Rob Edwards will go for it again here, despite having Premier League survival to think about.

I am expecting City to edge it again this time, although I am not quite sure what team their manager Pep Guardiola will put out.

He killed my fantasy team at the weekend because I had picked Kyle Walker, Julian Alvarez and Jeremy Doku, and all three started the game on the bench.

One of City's strengths is the way they can rotate and still be so strong. Luton have got a goal in them, but it won't be enough.

Simon's prediction: 1-3

Luton have been doing well recently but how does Guardiola feel about the FA Cup? He probably wants to win it again, so he is going to pick a strong side. Luton might get a goal because it's a cup tie, but City will win.

See the full list of predictions

In terms of goals conceded, Manchester United have one of the better defensive records in the Premier League. In fact, only five teams have let in fewer goals.

Indeed, United's total of seven clean sheets is bettered only by Arsenal (10), Everton, Liverpool and Manchester City (all eight).

However, when the layers are peeled back, Erik ten Hag's side have a worrying ineptitude to how they defend - and it really could cost them this season.

Take the Fulham game last Saturday. The Whites had 17 attempts in their victory and that was only the fourth-most by an opposing side at Old Trafford this season.

Sure, United kept clean sheets against Wolves (23 shots) and West Ham (22) - and beat them but were thumped by neighbours City (21) in October.

What's more, bottom side Sheffield United (447), relegation-threatened Luton Town (428) and West Ham (420) are the only three Premier League clubs to have faced more shots on goal than Manchester United's tally of 417 in 2023-24.

Image source, Opta

On 14 occasions, United have faced 16 or more shots. Again that is the worst in the division alongside Sheffield United and Luton, and hardly the statistics of a side aspiring to be title chasers.

As the old adage goes, if you don't shoot, you don't score and it appears that plenty of opponents are getting more than their fair share of opportunities to score against this United defence.

Speaking on Sky Sports, former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher said Ten Hag seems caught between two styles and therefore "defends like a side I have never seen before" in that they both press high and adopt a low block.

Ex-United captain Gary Neville agreed, suggesting that new investors in the club will want evidence of a team "going in the right direction".

A deserved victory for Fulham on United's patch at the weekend will have done little to convince Sir Jim Ratcliffe and company that Ten Hag's team are actually managing that.

Statistics courtesy of Opta and correct before West Ham v Brentford match on 26 February

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has hit back at Jamie Carragher's "subjective" criticism of his tactics in the 2-1 defeat by Fulham.

Carragher questioned the way United were set up when he appeared on Sky Sports' Monday Night Football.

Ten Hag conceded the ex-Liverpool defender "had a point" but said he has been critical "from the first moment".