Manchester City have confirmed a heavily rotated starting lineup for tonight's fourth round Carabao Cup tie against Brighton at the Etihad Stadium.
Enzo Maresca has made wholesale changes from the side that lost 2-1 to Aston Villa, with Erling Haaland, Josko Gvardiol, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Ruben Dias and Elliot Anderson all given time off after that defeat. It is extremely doubtful any of them will feature tonight.
Gerónimo Rulli starts in goal. Vitor Reis partners Marc Guehi at centre-back, with Rico Lewis and Nico O'Reilly occupying the full-back positions. Ayyoub Bouaddi and Mateo Kovacic anchor the midfield, while Rayan Cherki, Phil Foden, Allan and Floyd Samba provide the attacking threat.
Nunes Absent Again
Matheus Nunes is not included in the squad. This will be the third game he has missed since picking up an injury in City's 3-2 win over Ipswich Town.
Iliman Ndiaye is among the substitutes after suffering cramp against Aston Villa, though it remains to be seen whether he will be given a night off. Ndiaye is in doubt for tonight's match.
City are the Carabao Cup holders and face a Brighton side that have begun the 2026-27 season in impressive fashion. With Maresca and Fabian Hurzeler both favouring attacking football, the tie has the potential to be a pulsating affair.
Maresca is expected to name his full-strength squad for Saturday's meeting with Brighton at the Etihad Stadium.
Starting lineup: Gerónimo Rulli, Rico Lewis, Vitor Reis, Marc Guehi, Nico O'Reilly, Ayyoub Bouaddi, Mateo Kovacic, Phil Foden, Rayan Cherki, Allan, Floyd Samba.
Substitutes: Bettinelli, Ndiaye, Doku, Fernández, Aït-Nouri, Khusanov, McAidoo, Braithwaite, Oliver.
Antoine Semenyo is ruled out with a knee injury.