Man City vs Brighton: Carabao Cup Clash Preview and Lineups
Manchester City will face Brighton & Hove Albion in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night at the Etihad Stadium. This match marks the first of two meetings between the Premier League's top scorers and leaders, with a league encounter set to follow just days later on Saturday.
Brighton plans to remain in Manchester throughout the week to "recover, adjust, and adapt," according to their manager Fabian Hürzeler. Meanwhile, City’s coach Enzo Maresca hinted at possible rotation and flexibility in his lineup, which could lead to unexpected changes.
Prediction: Could Brighton Upset City Again?
Both teams entered last weekend's Premier League fixtures riding strong momentum. Maresca had achieved seven consecutive top-flight wins, while Brighton boasted four straight league victories with a combined score of 15–0. Despite solid performances, both sides suffered setbacks; City lost narrowly to Aston Villa due to individual errors, and Brighton fell 2–0 to Liverpool in a tightly contested match.
These two well-managed squads are expected to deliver an exciting encounter, though the priority each places on the cup may shape their approach. Hürzeler described this fixture as "do-or-die," whereas Maresca suggested it might be an opportunity for squad rotation. If the visitors stay true to their intent, they could hand City another defeat.
Head-to-Head Insights
- Since the 2024–25 season began, Manchester City have faced 22 different Premier League teams and defeated 21 of them.
- The only team they haven't beaten is Brighton.
Offensive Firepower vs Defensive Gaps
Both clubs rank as the highest scoring sides in the Premier League this season but neither has a particularly strong defense. Maresca’s rotation might weaken City’s typically stingy defense further. They already concede the most high-quality chances in the league, and Brighton shows no reluctance in capitalizing on such opportunities.
Score Prediction: Man City 2–3 Brighton
Expected Lineups
- Goalkeeper: Gerónimo Rulli (starting), Gianluigi Donnarumma (on bench)
- Defenders: Lewis, Khusanov, Rúben Dias, Aït-Nouri
- Midfielders: Bouaddi, Anderson
- Attacking Midfielders: Ndiaye, O’Reilly, Doku
- Forward: Foden
Maresca rested five key players over the weekend, including Erling Haaland and Joško Gvardiol, to ensure freshness. How many will start on Wednesday remains uncertain. Matheus Nunes is doubtful due to injury, and Antoine Semenyo will be out for at least seven more weeks.
- Goalkeeper: Verbruggen
- Defenders: Costinha, Vušković, Dunk, Boscagli
- Midfielders: Groß, Hinshelwood
- Attacking Midfielders: Gómez, Ayari, De Cuyper
- Forward: Kostoulas
Brighton welcomes back Mats Wieffer and Yankuba Minteh, who will travel with the squad, though their starting roles are uncertain. Chema Andrés and Ferdi Kadıoğlu suffered painful knocks against Liverpool but may still feature. Pascal Struijk and Kaoru Mitoma remain unavailable.
Match Details
- Location: Manchester, England
- Stadium: Etihad Stadium
- Date: Wednesday, October 28
- Kickoff Time: 7:30 p.m. GMT / 3:30 p.m. ET / 12:30 p.m. PT
- Referee: Andrew Madley
Broadcast Information
- United States: Paramount+
- Canada: DAZN Canada, fuboTV Canada
- Mexico: Disney+ Premium Mexico
- United Kingdom: Sky Sports+
