Manchester City and Watford have confirmed their starting lineups ahead of tonight’s third-round Carabao Cup tie at the Etihad Stadium. For City, the game comes only 49 hours after their 2-all draw with Arsenal on Sunday. Tonight’s game does allow several of City’s fringe players to impress. But Watford will be eager to cause a boilover at the home of the world champions.
Pep Guardiola will be without several key players for tonight’s match. Oscar Bobb and Nathan Ake are out as they recover from long-term injuries. They are joined by Rodri who suffered a serious knee injury on Sunday against Arsenal. Pep Guardiola also informed the media that Kevin De Bruyne is unlikely to play tonight.
Erling Haaland is unavailable for tonight’s match as he has returned to Norway for the funeral of close family friend Ivar Eggja as reported by Simon Bajkowski.
Here are the starting lineups of what could be a fascinating clash at the Etihad.
Manchester City
Pep Guardiola has made 9 changes to the starting lineup that drew 2-all with Arsenal. Kyle Walker and Jeremy Doku are the only two players who start tonight’s match from City’s starting lineup from Sunday.
16 year old defender Kaden Braithwaite will make his first-team debut for Manchester City. The young defender has impressed in City’s academy system and tonight is a special moment for the youngster.
Starting lineup: Stefan Ortega, Walker, Stones, Braithwaite, Lewis, O’Reilly, Matheus Nunes, McAtee, Doku, Grealish, Foden.
Substitutes: Ederson, Dias, Kovacic, Gundogan, Bernardo, Gvardiol, Akanji, Savinho, Wright.
Tonight’s City team! 🩵
XI | Ortega Moreno, Walker (C), Stones, Braithwaite, Lewis, O’Reilly, Nunes, McAtee, Doku, Grealish, Foden
SUBS | Ederson, Dias, Kovacic, Gundogan, Bernardo, Gvardiol, Akanji, Savinho, Wright#ManCity | @etihad pic.twitter.com/eHQcoJHLJr
— Manchester City (@ManCity) September 24, 2024
Watford
A first outing in yellow for Ogbonna. #WatfordFC | @Carabao_Cup pic.twitter.com/FLiZcOLDPE
— Watford Football Club (@WatfordFC) September 24, 2024