Just three days after Sunday's epic WSL derby clash at the Etihad Stadium, both managers shuffled their respective packs for this one.
Gareth Taylor named an unchanged goalkeeper and back four, swapping things around in midfield and up front. For Marc Skinner, it was six changes in total, including the return of Grace Clinton and opportunities for Melvine Malard and Anna Sandberg, among others.
This was a fifth League Cup derby in six seasons, but a first in the knockout stages of the competition, and City wound up exacting some revenge for the weekend result. Lily Murphy's effort on the stroke of half-time proved to be the difference, after the sides had exchanged earlier goals through Laura Coombs and Millie Turner.