Raheem Sterling strikes give Manchester City win over Oxford

Manchester City will continue to fight on four fronts after victory against Oxford United earned Pep Guardiola’s side a mouthwatering match-up against Manchester United in the Carabao Cup semi-finals.

City had to battle for the win and are digging their heels in over Mikel Arteta, whose presence here dominated the discourse before and after this entertaining contest.

Arsenal expect to appoint Arteta as their next manager but Guardiola was prickly when asked about his assistant’s future, with City furious at the club’s conduct, insisting they have not made a formal approach for the Spaniard.

City, who have won this competition the past two years, dominated the first half but Oxford made an experimental visiting side sweat in the second half.

Oxford had 18 shots – the most City have faced under Guardiola – but could not wrestle their way back into the game after a second-half Raheem Sterling

double earned the visitors some breathing space. Sterling, who wore the captain’s armband and operated as a striker here as Guardiola rested eight players, displayed a poacher’s instinct, twice applying the finishing touches inside the six-yard box after Matty Taylor cancelled out João Cancelo’s opener immediately after the restart.

Oxford asked questions but City, who have not lost in this competition since defeat to Manchester United in October 2016, held on to maintain their hopes of defending the trophy.

The cover of the match-day programme was dedicated to Jim Smith, the former Oxford manager, who last week died at the age of 79. Before kick