Luton 2 Manchester City 6
Erling Haaland scored five and Kevin De Bruyne provided four assists as Manchester City reminded the rest of the footballing world that a repeat of last season's majestic trophy Treble is very much a possibility.
The FA Cup holders barged their way into the last eight of the competition thanks to their giant Norwegian before turning their attention to Sunday's Manchester derby.
Luton's hopes of an upset bloomed either side of half-time, when two Jordan Clark goals suddenly turned 3-0 into 3-2, but Haaland is a difficult man to deny.
Progression did not come without a cost though as Jack Grealish, scorer of the winner in the league meeting here in December, was forced off injured before half-time.
Luton had given the champions a hard time in that 2-1 loss before Christmas but fell behind from City's first attack, in the third minute.
Manuel Akanji began the move with a run out of defence on the left that Matheus Nunes continued. De Bruyne was played into space on the left of the box and his pull-back was despatched mercilessly by Haaland from seven yards.
Luton are used to dealing with setbacks however, no least the loss of skipper Tom Lockyer to the heart trouble that may yet claim his career but not, thankfully, his life, and Ake soon had to prevent Carlton Morris from netting an instant equaliser.
Hatters fans were angry with referee Anthony Taylor for penalising Teden Mengi for hauling Haaland down when a similar tussle between Nathan Ake and Morris had been allowed.
Within seconds Haaland had the ball in the net again, once more from a De Bruyne pass. This time he shrugged off Mengi with ease before blasting past goalkeeper Tim Krul.
Krul delayed the Norseman his hat-trick after John
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