Manchester City fielded a heavily rotated team just two days after a feisty Premier League match against Arsenal and still had too much for second-tier Watford in the English League Cup.

Matheus Nunes scored his first Manchester City goal in his 34th appearance as the hosts eased to a 2-1 victory over second-tier Watford to reach the fourth round of the League Cup on Tuesday. Jeremy Doku slotted in City's opener after five minutes and Nunes produced a clinical finish in the 38th minute to put Pep Guardiola's side in control at The Etihad.

Such is the intensity of Manchester City’s fixture schedule, the clock had barely ticked past 48 hours since their match against Arsenal before they were on the pitch again. So soon, in fact, that Rodri’s serious knee injury suffered in the fractious draw had yet to be fully assessed by medics.