Manchester City reached the League Cup semi-finals for the fourth time in seven seasons by easing past Hull City.
Wilfried Bony steered in the opener, pouncing on a rebound off the post.
Kelechi Iheanacho turned in Raheem Sterling's cross for the first of four goals in the final 10 minutes.
Kevin de Bruyne raced past the Hull defence to poke in and then clipped in a delightful free-kick, before Andrew Robertson dinked the Championship side's consolation after a fine move.
Manchester City, who last won the competition in 2014, will find out their semi-final opponents when the draw is made on Wednesday.
- Relive Tuesday's League Cup action
Manchester City's trophy to lose?
Blues manager Manuel Pellegrini reiterated the importance of the League Cup to his club ahead of kick-off, particularly this season with Premier League rivals Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal already out.
And the competition holds particular significance for the Chilean, who won his first English trophy by leading the Blues to success in his first season.
Manchester City were stunned in the third round by a youthful Newcastle side last season, but they learned from this experience against Championship promotion hopefuls Hull.
The Premier League leaders fielded a strong side, dominating the tie without creating a host of clear-cut chances - at least until the final 10 minutes.
The manner in which the home side picked off a tiring Hull side in the closing stages demonstrated why they are considered the favourites to win the first silverware of the English season.
Toothless Tigers lack bite
Hull, who are fourth in the Championship, were entering uncharted territory in the competition, having never previously progressed into the last eight.
Steve Bruce: Hull boss on defeat by Man City
The Tigers looked to their surprise run to the 2014 FA Cup final - when they were narrowly beaten by Arsenal - for inspiration to beat City.
Several members of that team played at Etihad Stadium, but they were unable to really threaten as manager Steve Bruce's priority appeared to be containing their hosts.
Bruce made seven changes from the team which started Friday's home defeat by Derby - their first loss in 14 matches going back to early September.
But until Robertson's marvellous goal, where the Scotland international started the move inside his own half before finishing following a neat one-two, they rarely troubled home keeper Willy Caballero.
Hull winger Robert Snodgrass came on for his first appearance since August 2014 following a serious knee injury
Silva lining for De Bruyne-inspired City
Spain midfielder David Silva made his first start for Manchester City since 3 October following an ankle injury, returning to captain the home side against Hull.
And the 29-year-old impressed with his usual touch and poise, as well as linking up with Belgium international De Bruyne to great effect.
While Silva pulled the strings, De Bruyne provided the punch.
The Belgium attacking midfielder continues to dazzle since arriving from German side Wolfsburg, taking his tally to nine goals and eight assists in 15 matches for the Blues.
What next?
Back to league action for these two high-flying teams.
Premier League leaders Manchester City go to 12th-placed Stoke City on Saturday, while Championship promotion hopefuls Hull visit Yorkshire rivals Leeds United.
Post-match reaction
Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini:
"The most important thing was to qualify for the semi-final but after that it was important for David Silva to have 80 minutes after a long injury.
"It was important for Bony to have 65 minutes after a muscle injury and for Kelechi, a young player, to score.
"I am very pleased because I think it was a difficult game against a good team that is at the top of the table in the Championship.
"More than that we played the third game in less than one week and we had a very good response from the team with different names."
Hull City manager Steve Bruce:
Steve Bruce: Hull boss on defeat by Man City
"If we needed a reminder how cruel it was to play against the big boys, we just had one.
"After 80 minutes we just had our best spell of the match and after 87 minutes it was 4-0. It was never a 4-1.
"Defensively, apart from the goal, I can't remember them creating a chance in the first half even though they had huge possession."
Stats you need to know
- Manchester City have lost just one of their last 10 meetings with Hull in all competitions, winning six and drawing three
- The Blues have scored four goals or more in five of their last six League Cup games at Etihad Stadium
- Hull's only victory in any competition at Manchester City came in the FA Cup in 1930. Since then, they are winless in 10 visits having drawn three and lost seven
Lineup, Bookings (2) & Substitutions (6)
Manchester City
- 13 Caballero
- 03 Sagna
- 30 Otamendi
- 20 Mangala Booked
- 22 Clichy
- 25 Fernandinho
- 18 Delph
- 15 Jesús Navas (Sterling - 62' )
- 21 Silva (Demichelis - 83' )
- 17 De Bruyne
- 14 Bony (Iheanacho - 71' )
Substitutes
- 07 Sterling
- 11 Kolarov
- 26 Demichelis
- 29 Wright
- 72 Iheanacho
- 76 Garcia Alonso
- 77 Humphreys-Grant
Hull City
- 16 Jakupovic
- 02 Odubajo
- 12 Maguire Booked
- 04 Bruce
- 27 Elmohamady
- 14 Livermore
- 20 Hayden
- 05 Taylor (Diamé - 58' )
- 26 Robertson
- 24 Aluko (Snodgrass - 73' )
- 19 Akpom (Hernández - 68' )
Substitutes
- 01 McGregor
- 08 Huddlestone
- 09 Hernández
- 10 Snodgrass
- 11 Clucas
- 15 Maloney
- 17 Diamé
Match Stats
Live Text Commentary
Full Time Match ends, Manchester City 4, Hull City 1.
90:00 +3:01 Full timeFull Time Second Half ends, Manchester City 4, Hull City 1.
90:00 +2:13Raheem Sterling (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90:00 +2:13Foul by Mohamed Diamé (Hull City).
90:00 +1:17 Goal scoredGoal! Goal! Manchester City 4, Hull City 1. Andrew Robertson (Hull City) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Abel Hernández.
87:30Attempt saved. Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Fabian Delph.
86:30 Goal scoredGoal! Goal! Manchester City 4, Hull City 0. Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) from a free kick with a right footed shot to the high centre of the goal.
85:22Hand ball by Isaac Hayden (Hull City).
83:29Foul by Raheem Sterling (Manchester City).
83:29Moses Odubajo (Hull City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
82:55 SubstitutionSubstitution Substitution, Manchester City. Martín Demichelis replaces David Silva.
81:42 Goal scoredGoal! Goal! Manchester City 3, Hull City 0. Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal.
81:02Offside, Hull City. Jake Livermore tries a through ball, but Abel Hernández is caught offside.
81:01Attempt missed. Jake Livermore (Hull City) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Isaac Hayden following a corner.
80:29Corner, Hull City. Conceded by Eliaquim Mangala.
79:11 Goal scoredGoal! Goal! Manchester City 2, Hull City 0. Kelechi Iheanacho (Manchester City) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Raheem Sterling with a cross.
78:36Attempt missed. Ahmed Elmohamady (Hull City) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left.
75:33Attempt saved. Fabian Delph (Manchester City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by David Silva.
74:46 BookingBooking Harry Maguire (Hull City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
74:39Kelechi Iheanacho (Manchester City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Harry Maguire (Hull City).
74:07Foul by Fabian Delph (Manchester City).
74:07Jake Livermore (Hull City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
72:49 SubstitutionSubstitution Substitution, Hull City. Robert Snodgrass replaces Sone Aluko.
71:28Raheem Sterling (Manchester City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
71:28Foul by Isaac Hayden (Hull City).
70:37Attempt missed. David Silva (Manchester City) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right following a set piece situation.
70:18 SubstitutionSubstitution Substitution, Manchester City. Kelechi Iheanacho replaces Wilfried Bony.
69:23Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
69:23Foul by Harry Maguire (Hull City).
67:01 SubstitutionSubstitution Substitution, Hull City. Abel Hernández replaces Chuba Akpom.
66:13Foul by Nicolás Otamendi (Manchester City).
66:13Sone Aluko (Hull City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
64:22Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Moses Odubajo.
62:39Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Eldin Jakupovic.
62:36Attempt missed. Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Bacary Sagna.
61:43 SubstitutionSubstitution Substitution, Manchester City. Raheem Sterling replaces Jesús Navas.
61:09Wilfried Bony (Manchester City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
61:09Foul by Ahmed Elmohamady (Hull City).
60:10Attempt missed. Mohamed Diamé (Hull City) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Jake Livermore.
59:29Jesús Navas (Manchester City) hits the left post with a left footed shot from the centre of the box. Assisted by Wilfried Bony with a headed pass.
57:31 SubstitutionSubstitution Substitution, Hull City. Mohamed Diamé replaces Ryan Taylor.
57:00Foul by Fernandinho (Manchester City).
57:00Harry Maguire (Hull City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
56:30Attempt blocked. Fernandinho (Manchester City) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by David Silva.
55:48Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Andrew Robertson.
55:04Attempt saved. Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Fernandinho.
54:57Fabian Delph (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
54:57Foul by Chuba Akpom (Hull City).
52:58Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Harry Maguire.
52:30Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Ryan Taylor.
49:06Delay over. They are ready to continue.
48:16Delay in match Jesús Navas (Manchester City) because of an injury.
47:51Foul by Fernandinho (Manchester City).
47:51Sone Aluko (Hull City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
46:47David Silva (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
46:47Foul by Jake Livermore (Hull City).
45:54Foul by Eliaquim Mangala (Manchester City).
45:54Chuba Akpom (Hull City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
45:00Second Half begins Manchester City 1, Hull City 0.
45:00 +1:01 Half timeHalf Time First Half ends, Manchester City 1, Hull City 0.
45:00 +0:22Offside, Manchester City. Wilfried Bony tries a through ball, but David Silva is caught offside.
43:56Attempt saved. Sone Aluko (Hull City) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Jake Livermore.
43:14Offside, Manchester City. Fernandinho tries a through ball, but Jesús Navas is caught offside.
43:03Attempt saved. Chuba Akpom (Hull City) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Isaac Hayden.
41:56 BookingBooking Eliaquim Mangala (Manchester City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
41:52Foul by Eliaquim Mangala (Manchester City).
41:52Moses Odubajo (Hull City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
39:04Jesús Navas (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
39:04Foul by Isaac Hayden (Hull City).
36:42Gaël Clichy (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
36:42Foul by Ahmed Elmohamady (Hull City).
35:00Foul by Fernandinho (Manchester City).
35:00Ryan Taylor (Hull City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
33:17Nicolás Otamendi (Manchester City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
33:17Foul by Sone Aluko (Hull City).
30:24Attempt saved. Wilfried Bony (Manchester City) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Fernandinho.
29:57Foul by Wilfried Bony (Manchester City).
29:57Harry Maguire (Hull City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
27:29Jesús Navas (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
27:29Foul by Andrew Robertson (Hull City).
21:52Attempt blocked. David Silva (Manchester City) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jesús Navas.
20:09Foul by Bacary Sagna (Manchester City).
20:09Andrew Robertson (Hull City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
19:09Attempt missed. Fabian Delph (Manchester City) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by David Silva.
18:08Attempt saved. Isaac Hayden (Hull City) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Ryan Taylor.
13:15Foul by Fabian Delph (Manchester City).
13:15Moses Odubajo (Hull City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
13:01Foul by Fernandinho (Manchester City).
13:01Chuba Akpom (Hull City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
11:24 Goal scoredGoal! Goal! Manchester City 1, Hull City 0. Wilfried Bony (Manchester City) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner.
11:22Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) hits the right post with a left footed shot from outside the box. Assisted by Fernandinho.
9:24Wilfried Bony (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
9:24Foul by Ryan Taylor (Hull City).
2:45Foul by Wilfried Bony (Manchester City).
2:45Alex Bruce (Hull City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
0:00First Half begins.
0:00Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
Live data and text provided by our data suppliers
