Newcastle host Man City in Tuesday night's Carabao Cup semi-final first leg at St James' Park
Antoine Semenyo of Manchester City during the Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Manchester City and Exeter City
Antoine Semenyo scored on his debut for Man City against Exeter (Image: )
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Manchester City have thrown down the gauntlet to Newcastle United and their rivals for silverware this season, with coach Pep Lijnders insisting they are determined to fight all the way on all four fronts this season.
Eddie Howe's men must face City over two-legs for the chance to reach this year's Carabao Cup final, with the first leg of their semi-final at St James' Park on Tuesday night.
Like United, City are competing for Premier League honours as well as Champions League success, while they booked their place in the fourth round of the FA Cup with an emphatic 10-1 win over Exeter City.
They continue to push Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table, but while Newcastle had the drama of a penalty shoot-out win over Bournemouth - and the added effort of extra-time - Man City had an afternoon in cruise control.
Debutant Antoine Semenyo scored and created a goal as efforts from youngster Max Alleyne, Rodri, two own goals. Rico Lewis (2), Tijjani Reijnders, Nico O'Reilly and 17-year-old debutant Ryan McAidoo completed the rout.
Dutchman Lijnders. who took charge with Pep Guardiola serving a one-match touchline ban, said: "We want to reach finals this year and we are on our way. We play now the semi-final for the League Cup.
"We go further here in the FA Cup and we are in the Champions League in a good position. We want to build on that.
"But for us the most important thing, Pep says it all the time, we want to grow, we want to build, we want to make the next step as a team.
"For that we need to keep working hard and take nothing for granted. With this we will grow and we will make the next step."
Semenyo is eligible to play against Newcastle, following his £65m move on Thursday.
He is already making a big impression, and Lijnders added: "I think there were a lot of good performances today. When the team plays like that it becomes easier for the individual but Antoine is settling well.
"He is a humble guy. He brings something to the front line that we really want and we need.
"He can attack quick, he wants to chase, he is a guy who doesn't stop. He can adapt quite quickly to our style."
It was a tough afternoon for Exeter, although George Birch did score a superb late consolation.
Exeter manager, former Newcastle youngster Gary Caldwell, joked things might have been worse had Liam Oakes taken an early chance.
He said: "If that early chance had gone in it might have annoyed them and they might have scored more!
"It's a lesson that when one of the best managers of all time needs to win a game he picks a team to win it.
"The respect they showed was outstanding - they did what Man City should have done to us.
"It was a really humbling experience but our season will not be defined by this. It will be defined by the remaining league games."
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