From record-breaker to damage limitation

Two weeks ago, the Italian was the first manager in Premier League history to win his opening seven fixtures, sealed by a 3-2 victory over Ipswich Town. Liverpool and Manchester United were among the scalps. Eleven wins from 15 matches as City boss reads well on paper.

The paper has since curled at the edges. City have failed to win in regulation time across their last three outings, starting with a damaging defeat at Aston Villa. Back-to-back meetings with Brighton brought a penalty shootout success in the Carabao Cup, then a Premier League loss four days ago.

Maresca, 46, is not reaching for panic. He is reaching for perspective — the kind that arrives when February, March and April are still on the horizon.

"But it's also very important to arrive in February, March and April - when things are going to be more exciting - to have all of them fit."

He has 20 senior players to manage across a congested fixture list. "We have many games in all competitions and 20 senior players, all of them very good," he said. The arithmetic is straightforward enough.

Foden finds his rhythm

Phil Foden scored the opener against Ipswich and then helped himself to a hat-trick in the Champions League against AEK Athens. The Stockport-born attacker is 26 now, and his manager likes what he sees.

"I see Phil day by day better and better for sure, 100%."

Maresca added: "I'm very happy in the way Phil is working every day." There is competition in his position — Rayan Cherki, who lit up the AEK game with a performance not too dissimilar to Foden's, is "more or less in the same position" according to the manager. Elliot Anderson also scored his first City goal that night, a £116 million summer arrival from Nottingham Forest beginning to look settled.

Wednesday brings RB Leipzig, fourth in the German top flight. The last meeting between the clubs came in 2023/24, when Pep Guardiola's side won 3-1 away before a 3-2 victory at the Etihad a week later. Foden scored in both.

A repeat would do nicely. A marathon, after all, is not won in November.

City's recent losses to Aston Villa and Brighton were characterised by poor finishing, defensive errors and a lack of synergy on the pitch. Josko Gvardiol, deployed at left-back, found himself exposed in both.

Gvardiol's struggles on the left

Against Villa, Ibrahim Mbaye was found in space on the right, and his cross led to the winning goal — Gvardiol could not get back to cover. Against Brighton, the same story unfolded: Maxim De Cuyper was not closed down, and his cross produced the winner at the Etihad Stadium.

There is context here. Gvardiol missed a significant chunk of last season due to a serious leg injury, and the rhythm required for the left-back role has not returned. But City's defensive errors are costing them points, and the position demands a sharper edge.

O'Reilly's claim

Nico O'Reilly is now fit after a back injury suffered in the warm-up before City's 1-0 win over Coventry City. The England international was arguably City's player of the season last season, playing at left-back. His form earned him a spot in England's World Cup squad last summer.

The caveat is real. O'Reilly looked tired after a busy 2025-26 season plus the World Cup. Marc Guehi has also suffered from fatigue, which has seen his performances dip — a reminder of the demands on this squad. But O'Reilly's return to fitness offers Maresca a natural left-back option, and a chance to restore balance to a defence that has leaked goals from the flank.

City's past two league matches have exposed a weakness. O'Reilly's availability gives Maresca the chance to address it.

An independent commission has ruled against the club on 114 of 115 Premier League financial charges covering 2009–10 to 2017–18. City deny wrongdoing and have appealed. The threat of a heavy points deduction, or relegation to the Championship, is no longer a hypothetical.

On the field, Enzo Maresca's side have started the season with seven wins from eight, unbeaten in the league and sitting top of the table. They are also competing in the Champions League, with realistic designs on a second title.

Bookmakers, though, have taken note. City's relegation odds have been slashed across football betting sites, with the club now at 6/4 to go down — shorter than Ipswich Town and Fulham. The market is treating the threat seriously even while the table says otherwise.

Holders' route back

There is a quirk in the regulations that offers City a path back to Europe's elite competition regardless of their domestic fate. Win the Champions League this season and they automatically qualify for next year's edition as holders, no matter where they finish in the Premier League or whether they are relegated.

They would still need to satisfy UEFA's entry and licensing rules, but the holder's exemption is written into the competition's framework.

That route is not straightforward. Maresca's league phase includes defending champions Paris Saint-Germain and La Liga winners Barcelona before any thoughts turn to Madrid next June.

No precedent

No Championship side has ever played in the Champions League. English clubs have competed in Europe while outside the top flight — Ipswich, Millwall, Birmingham, Wigan, Sunderland, Southampton and West Ham have all done it, usually by winning the FA Cup — but the Champions League is a different matter.

The EFL is under no obligation to accept City as a new member if they are relegated. If the EFL refused, City could in theory be forced further down the pyramid, potentially into the National League. That is the extreme scenario, but it is no longer entirely fanciful.

There are reportedly no relegation clauses in players' contracts, meaning the club would have to dramatically cut costs and be forced to sell their star men. It is hard to imagine Erling Haaland, Gianluigi Donnarumma or Ruben Dias sticking around for weekly football in the Championship.

Maresca, at least, has the experience: he guided Leicester City to the Championship title and knows what it takes to get out of the second tier.

For now, City can still play in the Champions League this season while their financial case is being dealt with. There is no confirmed decision to take their 2023 trophy away, and the Premier League case does not automatically put that Istanbul triumph at risk. The 1-0 win over Inter Milan and the treble remain on the record.

The appeal will take time. The odds suggest the market is not waiting.

Two defeats, three costly errors at the back, and a growing sense that Manchester City are beating themselves. But the numbers tell a different story: Enzo Maresca's side are creating plenty, and converting precious little.

In the 2-1 loss at Villa Park, City racked up 15 shots and four big chances, with an Expected Goals (XG) of 1.56. Aston Villa, by contrast, had just two shots on target and scored both. It was the same tale against Brighton: 21 shots to 7, five big chances to four, and an XG of 1.64. Yet City lost 1-0 at the Etihad.

Zion Suzuki and Bart Verbruggen were both in inspired form, but the pattern is clear. City's attacking threat is being undermined by a frustrating inability to finish. The three goals conceded against Villa and Brighton came from mistakes by Marc Guehi, Gianluigi Donnarumma and Matheus Nunes, but the bigger issue is at the other end.

With Antoine Semenyo sidelined until December with a knee injury, the burden falls on Rayan Cherki and Phil Foden to provide goal threat alongside Erling Haaland. Neither Iliman Ndiaye nor Jeremy Doku have been prolific scorers in their careers, and Ndiaye was unlucky against Villa, hitting the post on several occasions. Against Brighton, Maresca started Ayoubb Bouaddi, Enzo Fernandez and Elliot Anderson in midfield, but the creativity was there — the finishing was not.

City's dominance in shots and chances is undeniable. Turning that into goals is the challenge, and it is one they must solve quickly.

Manchester City travel to RB Leipzig on Wednesday night with a depleted squad and a point to prove. The Blues are looking to bounce back from their Premier League defeat to Brighton, but Enzo Maresca's options are thinning by the day.

City have won two of their three Champions League matches this season, the sole defeat coming against back-to-back champions PSG. That record offers some comfort, yet the injury list does not.

Semenyo is out until sometime in December, Ouédraogo will not return from his shoulder injury until the end of the year, and Guiu is not expected back from a muscular issue. Esteve, who missed the weekend's clash with a knock, remains a doubt for the trip to Germany.

Those absences compound a defensive concern: City have conceded 11 goals in their last six games across all competitions. Maresca admitted his disappointment after the Brighton loss, and he will demand a response in Leipzig.

Leipzig's Mixed Form Offers Hope

RB Leipzig sit fourth in the Bundesliga and come into this one off the back of a 2-0 away win over Schalke. Their Champions League form, however, is less impressive. They were well beaten 4-1 by Real Madrid in their last European outing and have picked up just three points from their first three games.

City will need to capitalise on that inconsistency while managing their own makeshift line-up. The trip to Leipzig is a test of squad depth as much as quality.

Enzo Fernandez arrived from Chelsea on deadline day, a signing Maresca had pushed for given the pair's close relationship at Stamford Bridge. The Argentine has made a strong start to his City career. But the midfield balance around him looks off.

Against Brighton, Maresca started Ayyoub Bouaddi, Fernandez and Elliot Anderson. That trio played 55 minutes together. City lost 1-0. Anderson was easily City's man of the match.

Bouaddi was replaced by Rayan Cherki in the 55th minute. Fernandez came off for Nico O'Reilly in the 64th. By then the game had slipped away.

Cherki has often been the one sacrificed when games aren't going City's way this season. On the weekend, it was Bouaddi. The pattern shifts, the result doesn't.

This came after a seven-match winning run in the Premier League. Now consecutive losses to Brighton and Aston Villa have raised questions. Maresca's midfield decisions are at the heart of them.

International breaks have long been circled in red by chairmen looking for a clean moment to swing the axe. With the next one on the horizon, a handful of Premier League bosses are glancing over their shoulders.

David Tully, writing on November 2nd 2026, flagged that the upcoming pause in domestic action is seen as a convenient window for clubs to change manager. In that context, he suggested there is a high probability that one or two coaches have only one more match to save themselves.

Tully’s piece set out to rank the top five managers most likely to be axed by their Premier League employers — a list that will make uncomfortable reading for those involved.

Who’s under the cosh?

The identity of the five isn’t revealed here, but the logic is familiar. A break in club football offers a rare chance to make a change without the immediate glare of a matchday, and boards often prefer to act then rather than in the heat of a defeat.

For the managers concerned, the next fixture takes on added significance. One more match to prove themselves — or one more match to seal their fate.

About the author

David Tully has spent fifteen years as a football reporter. He began as an intern at Snack Media before moving into freelance work across a range of sites. At the start of 2023 he took up his current role as a content writer for the Football News Network.

As we get closer to the next international break, some Premier League managers will be sweating about their jobs.

This site is unofficial and in no way affiliated with or connected to Manchester City Football Club. It is intended for use by people over the age of 18.

Manchester City's Champions League trip to RB Leipzig on Wednesday night will be overseen by Marco Guida, UEFA has confirmed. The 45-year-old from Pompeii takes charge of his ninth match across all competitions this season.

City arrive in Germany with Enzo Maresca's side looking to recover from a run of three matches without a win in 90 minutes. Back-to-back Premier League defeats to Aston Villa and Brighton & Hove Albion have punctured the mood, the latter a 0-1 reverse at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday afternoon. There was a dramatic penalty shoot-out in the Carabao Cup days earlier, from which City progressed into the quarter-finals.

Europe has offered more comfort. City's last Champions League outing was a 5-1 home win over AEK Athens towards the end of last month, Phil Foden scoring a hat-trick, with Rayan Cherki and Elliot Anderson also on the scoresheet.

A First for Guida and City's Senior Side

Wednesday marks the first time Guida has officiated a Manchester City senior men's match. His only previous encounter with the club came in the UEFA Youth League in February 2016, a 3-1 defeat for City's Under-19 side against Real Madrid in the Round of 16.

His record this season is notably restrained. Across eight matches in Serie A, the Champions League and Europa League, their qualification phases, and the UEFA Nations League, Guida has issued 26 yellow cards, no red cards or second yellows, and awarded just one penalty.

He will be joined at the Red Bull Arena by fellow Italians Giorgio Peretti and Giuseppe Perrotti as assistant referees. Daniele Chiffi is the Video Assistant Referee, with Marco Di Bello as Assistant Video Assistant Referee. Matteo Marcenaro is the fourth official, standing between the dugouts of Martin Demichelis and Maresca.

Demichelis, the former City centre-back, has Leipzig 4th in the Bundesliga behind Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and Freiburg. Their league phase campaign has produced two defeats and a win — heavy 4-1 losses away to Real Madrid and Como, plus a 1-0 home victory over PSV in mid-October.

Alf-Inge Haaland has responded to questions about Erling Haaland's future at Manchester City following reported contact from Arsenal.

The former City midfielder was asked directly whether his son could leave the club amid the speculation.

Erling Haaland's situation at the Etihad has been the subject of discussion after Arsenal made an approach.

Alf-Inge's response comes as City fans await clarity on the striker's position.

Further details are expected in the coming days.

Manchester City's club-record signing Enzo Fernández has admitted he intends to return to River Plate before his career is out.

The Argentina international, who joined City from Chelsea at the start of September, has spoken openly about his desire to pull on the River shirt again.

“I want to return to River at some point; I've said it several times,” Fernández said. “I'm going to return; I'm sure of it. It's something I really want.”

He added: “I stand by my words and what's on record. If I say it, it's because I feel it and because I know I need to return to win things and enjoy the River Plate world for many more years than I did.”

Fernández won the league title with River in 2021, a triumph that came around the time of the Covid pandemic.

City contract no barrier to eventual return

Any move back to South America remains a long way off. The 25-year-old is under a long contract at the Etihad and is currently playing in a slightly deeper role for the Blues.

“Today, I'm here with a long contract at Manchester City,” he said. “There's still a long way to go, but it will happen.”

Fernández has scored once and provided one assist in 11 appearances for City. That follows a productive final season at Chelsea, where he managed 15 goals and seven assists.

Supporters will hope to see the best of their club record signing very soon. For now, his focus is on City. But the pull of River Plate is clearly not going away.

The three players will start as City host a Brighton side managed by Fabian Hurzeler. The Seagulls sit third in the Premier League table and have been one of the elite teams to begin the 2026-27 season.

[ratings:f9cf4079-0ae9-486d-8102-b56895e6c506]

The trio previously played the second half of City's 4-2 defeat to PSG as a unit. Maresca has now decided to hand them a start from the off.

Brighton's early form makes them dangerous opposition, but City's midfield selection signals the manager's intent to control the game from the first whistle.

The Italian, appointed exactly four months ago following Pep Guardiola's departure, has had to navigate a significant transition at the Etihad Stadium.

Guardiola left behind a remarkable legacy after a decade in charge, winning 20 major trophies including six Premier League titles, three FA Cups and the Treble in 2023 — the first English club to achieve that feat since Manchester United in 1999.

Maresca, who was Guardiola's assistant during that Treble-winning campaign, has received heavy backing from Hugo Viana and the club's hierarchy in the transfer market.

But the 46-year-old knows the scale of the task. City opened the season with an eight-game winning streak before a defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, and while back-to-back wins followed, a more recent descent has set in.

Last weekend's away defeat to Aston Villa was the latest setback, with Marc Guehi and Gianluigi Donnarumma both enduring games to forget after costly mistakes.

There was some relief in midweek as City beat Brighton on penalties in the Carabao Cup, though the Seagulls looked the better side and should have taken something from the game.

Maresca remains philosophical about the challenges of overhauling a squad and coaching staff in a single summer.

"We're going in the right direction," he said. "After so many years, to change the manager, many players, it always takes time to compete again."

"I think, at the moment, we are competing, and we changed many players and changed manager. But the good thing about the club is that I think we are competing in all competitions, and we know that it takes time, but at this moment we continue in the same way."

The early-season fixture list has been unforgiving, with huge tests against United, Liverpool and PSG already behind them. Even in the defeat to Luis Enrique's side, there were positives to take from a much-improved second-half display.

Donnarumma was dropped for the Carabao Cup win over Brighton but is likely to return to the starting XI this weekend as part of several changes across the pitch. Five players, including Erling Haaland and Elliot Anderson, were granted three days' holiday to ensure they go into the weekend fully fit.

Maresca will hope his side can retain top spot in the Premier League table — a position that would suggest the transition is progressing rather better than the recent run implies.

Wednesday night's fourth-round tie at the Etihad finished 2-2 before Enzo Maresca's side won 4-3 on penalties. Both teams went for the win that night, and they do it all over again this afternoon.

The key difference this time? A plethora of key players return to the starting lineups for both sides. Both managers rested key men for the cup tie, with Maresca and Fabian Hurzeler setting up their teams with one eye on this fixture.

For City, the returning player who matters most is Erling Haaland. The Norwegian is in peak form and should be well rested after being given three days off following the defeat to Aston Villa.

Haaland has scored in his past seven Premier League matches and has 13 goals in 11 games in all competitions. There is no doubt he is the premier striker in the Premier League.

Brighton will not take a backward step at the Etihad today. Hurzeler's side are an attacking force unlike many others in the division, and they will not sit deep in a low block. They press from the front, sometimes employing a six-man press when teams play out from the back.

It is a fixture between first and third on the table, with both sides coming to win. Brighton will arrive looking for all three points, and City will need their returning stars to deliver.

Enzo Maresca confirmed the pair are in contention, while also welcoming back five senior players who were rested for Wednesday’s Carabao Cup tie against the same opposition.

Squad almost at full strength

Erling Haaland, Ruben Dias, Elliot Anderson, Gianluigi Donnarumma and Josko Gvardiol all return after sitting out the midweek cup clash, which City won on penalties following a 2-2 draw.

Maresca made nine changes for that game, and the freshened-up quintet should provide a significant boost as City embark on another three-game week.

“They are all available,” Maresca told the club’s official website. “[Apart from] Antoine Semenyo, the rest are all available.”

Nunes has been working his way back from a muscle problem, while Ndiaye was an unused substitute in midweek.

Semenyo still sidelined

Semenyo remains City’s only absentee as he continues his recovery from the injury sustained against Ipswich earlier this month. Maresca revealed the winger is undergoing treatment but is not yet close to returning.

Brighton return to the Etihad just three days after the cup meeting, and Maresca is expecting another demanding test against a side sitting third in the Premier League.

With the bulk of his squad refreshed and two more options available, the City boss will hope his side can build on Wednesday’s shootout success.

Manchester City host Brighton at the Etihad tomorrow, four days after the sides met in the Carabao Cup. The 3pm kick-off places the game inside the Saturday afternoon television blackout, so it will not be shown live in the UK.

Supporters in Britain can follow updates via Manchester City's official Matchday Centre, with CITY+ providing live audio commentary. A two-minute highlights package will be available from 7pm, and extended highlights plus a full-match replay on CITY+ follow from midnight.

For those in the United States, NBC Sports has confirmed live coverage on Peacock and NBCSN. The game also forms part of Peacock's Premier League Multiview offering during Saturday's five-match 11am ET window.

The Premier League has appointed Craig Pawson as referee, with Lee Betts and Alex James as his assistants.

Rulli the shootout hero as Maresca shuffles

City came through Wednesday's Carabao Cup tie on penalties after a 2-2 draw, with Geronimo Rulli making two saves in the shootout. Enzo Maresca made nine changes for that game, resting several senior players.

Attention now returns to league matters, and a response is needed after last weekend's defeat at Aston Villa. City begin the weekend top of the Premier League. Brighton arrive in third after an impressive start to the season.

Four days between fixtures against the same opponent is unusual, and Maresca's team selection will be worth watching. The nine changes on Wednesday suggest he has one eye on the league, where City sit top despite that Villa setback.

Brighton's early form adds intrigue. Third place is not a fluke at this stage, and they will arrive with confidence after pushing City to penalties in the cup.

The figure comes from The Athletic, which has examined the wider multi-club operation. CFG has grown considerably since its formation in 2013, but the Blues remain its commercial engine.

That reliance is underlined by CFG's latest accounts. They recorded a £292million pre-tax loss, a sharp rise on the previous year.

City's own 2024-25 accounts paint a different picture. Revenue stood at £694.1m, with a pre-tax loss of just £9.9m.

More than £1.9billion has been injected into CFG and converted into shares since 2013, according to The Athletic. Sheikh Mansour's Newton Investment and Development company recently purchased around £100m of new shares.

The financial backdrop is complicated by September's independent commission ruling. City were found guilty of serious breaches of Premier League financial rules. The club have consistently denied wrongdoing and have appealed against the judgment.

For now, the numbers tell their own story. City's revenue stream is the tide that keeps the CFG ship afloat — and the £292m loss is a reminder that even the strongest currents can't mask every leak.

Manchester City, Manchester United and Arsenal are all keeping tabs on Porto right-back Alberto Costa, according to reports in Germany.

Fussball-news.de claims the three clubs have the Portuguese defender on their watchlists, with a battle potentially brewing ahead of the January transfer window. No formal offer has been submitted by any of the interested parties so far.

City's interest stems from a familiar problem: right-back has been a troublesome position for several seasons. Director of Football Hugo Viana is reportedly eyeing a move for a player he knows well from his time as sporting director at Sporting Lisbon.

From Guimaraes to Turin and back

Costa's career has already taken a few turns. He began in FC Tirsense's academy before joining Vitoria Guimaraes' youth ranks. His senior debut for their B team came in April 2022, playing the full 90 minutes in a 1-0 defeat to Torreense.

Less than two years later he made his first-team bow against Penafiel in the Portuguese Cup. That progress attracted Juventus, who paid €14m for him in January 2025. His debut came as a late substitute against Empoli in the Coppa Italia quarter-final, and he went on to make 14 appearances for the Serie A side.

By summer 2025 he was back in Portugal, with Porto paying €16m to secure his services. His first season at the Estadio do Dragao went extremely well: 29 league appearances, one goal, nine assists, and a Liga Portugal title.

Squad option rather than starter?

Costa is not yet a fully-fledged Portuguese international, which raises questions about whether he is ready to be a regular starter at a club of City's stature. It may simply be that the Blues are looking to bring in a squad option to help out the likes of Matheus Nunes.

United and Arsenal are considering similar reinforcement on the right side of defence. For now, all three are watching. Whether any turns that into a formal approach before January remains to be seen.

That cup tie saw City overturn a deficit and eventually progress via a penalty shootout. Now the focus shifts to league matters, with both clubs looking to respond after defeats last weekend.

City fell to Aston Villa in their most recent Premier League outing, while Brighton lost to Liverpool. The Seagulls are also contending with a lengthy injury list as they prepare for the trip to the Etihad.

Brighton's injury concerns

Kaoru Mitoma remains unavailable. Manager Fabian Hurzeler confirmed this week that the winger requires patience and is not expected back before the international break, though he should return afterwards.

There is better news on Stefanos Tzimas, who is back in training following his ACL rupture but is still around a month away from full fitness. Azeez will be handled with caution and is not due back for a few weeks.

Femi's situation is less clear. Hurzeler said:

"With Femi, again we have to be patient with him. It's not quite clear how long it will take. It seems to be not a big issue, but therefore we have to be patient..."

Yohanna has returned to training but will not feature until after the break. Ferguson is nearing the end of his long absence with an ankle problem and is a few weeks away from returning.

Defender Pascal Struijk is definitely out of the weekend fixture with a hamstring complaint. Hurzeler confirmed:

"Regarding Pascal Struijk, he won't be an option for the weekend. We are convinced he will be back afterwards."

Kadiogul is set to return from a groin issue, and Chema is in the same position.

City's absentee list

For City, Antoine Semenyo is sidelined until some point in December. Enzo Maresca recently provided an update:

"In the first moment, we expected a worst injury. After yesterday's scan, we will feel better. It will be eight weeks, so when he is back in December, it will be like a new player. Not muscular. To lose Antoine, or any player, is not good."

Matheus Nunes was hoped to return last week, but Maresca struck a cautious note at the time:

"Yeah, we have a session this afternoon. They can be all of them available or not. In terms of still doubt, yesterday, they were all improving, and we see this afternoon."

Nunes did not feature and remains a doubt for this fixture.

Enzo Maresca had made nine changes to his starting line-up, and the unfamiliarity showed early. Brighton went ahead on the half-hour mark when Georginio Rutter's low delivery was turned home by Malick Yalcouyé.

City responded ten minutes later. Phil Foden picked out Mateo Kovačić, whose low strike from outside the area went in off the post to send the sides in level at the break.

The visitors regained the lead almost immediately after half-time. Rutter finished from Jaouen Hadjam's pull-back, and City were chasing the game again.

The introduction of Jérémy Doku gave City greater attacking impetus, and the equaliser arrived in the 72nd minute. Vitor Reis got the decisive touch on Rayan Cherki's low free-kick for his first City goal.

Both sides had chances to win it in normal time. Mats Wieffer hit the woodwork, while Enzo Fernández narrowly missed Foden's cross. Then came the shootout.

Kovačić had City's fourth penalty saved by Jason Steele, but Rulli responded by denying Yasin Ayari. Cherki converted, and Rulli saved from Lewis Dunk to settle it.

Maresca singled out Rulli for praise afterwards — a rare bright spot on a night when City twice came from behind and needed penalties to see off Brighton.

City will now host League One side Bradford City in the last eight, with the tie scheduled for the week beginning 14 December.

Where to watch

In the UK and Ireland, Disney+ carries every Women's Champions League match live. But the BBC has picked this game as the first of the seven Champions League fixtures it will show each season, final included. That means BBC2 or BBC iPlayer for anyone who prefers not to pay.

In the United States, CBS holds the rights and the match is on Paramount+.

Kick-off times

The game starts at 8pm GMT. Because the clocks went back in Europe last weekend but not in the US until next weekend, American viewers get a slightly unusual 4pm ET and 1pm PT start.

City's form

Andrée Jeglertz's side are still unbeaten this season. They won their first six WSL matches of the title defence, though Sunday night's Manchester derby in Leigh ended in frustration — an 89th-minute equaliser denied them victory.

In Europe, City have drawn both of their opening Champions League matches. They came from behind against Bayern Munich and again against Real Madrid to take a point from each.

The draw hands Enzo Maresca's side a third successive home tie in the competition, with the Bantams set to visit Manchester for the first time in more than two decades.

Rulli the hero as City edge Brighton

Wednesday night's fourth-round tie against Brighton had threatened to slip away from City. Twice the Blues fell behind, and twice they responded — Mateo Kovačić and Vitor Reis finding the net in a 2-2 draw that carried the contest to penalties.

Gerónimo Rulli, the back-up goalkeeper, proved the difference in the shootout. City converted their chances and ran out 4-3 winners on spot-kicks to book their place in the last eight.

The reward is a home quarter-final, likely to be played on Tuesday 15 December — squeezed between Premier League fixtures against Chelsea on Saturday 12 December and Hull City a week later on the 19th.

Bradford's cup pedigree

Bradford arrive at the Etihad fourth in EFL League One and chasing a return to the second tier for the first time since 2003/04. Their route to the quarter-finals has been eventful: Rochdale seen off, Burnley beaten on penalties, then Leyton Orient and Peterborough United despatched.

The West Yorkshire club famously reached the 2013 League Cup Final, and they will travel in good spirits. History offers little encouragement, mind. Bradford have won just one of 14 meetings with City since 1926, with the Blues claiming 10 of those. The clubs last faced each other in March 2002, and this will be their first-ever League Cup clash.

For those wanting to watch, all 92 Carabao Cup matches are broadcast in the UK and Ireland by Sky Sports, with ITV showcasing one tie free-to-air per round.

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.

The claim lands as City wait on the outcome of their appeal against findings of serious breaches of the league's financial rules. Expulsion sits among the possible sanctions available, though no decision has been taken.

Money talks, and it talks loudly

One executive described the prospect of expelling City as a commercial disaster the league would have brought on itself. The reasoning is straightforward enough: City's presence in the top flight is worth a fortune to broadcasters and sponsors, and removing them would strip the division of a headline act.

Fewer marquee fixtures would follow. Broadcasters might come knocking for refunds. Commercial deals across the league could be dragged into the fallout too.

That last point is where self-interest starts to bite. One executive argued that City's rivals would end up paying for expulsion as well, which tends to concentrate minds when the sums are counted.

City have become one of the competition's biggest global attractions during their period of sustained success, with players including Erling Haaland and Phil Foden adding to that appeal.

Not everyone sees it that way. Some clubs are said to believe that letting serious rule breaches go unpunished would do deeper, longer-lasting damage to the league's reputation. On that view, a short-term hit to the balance sheet is a price worth paying to protect confidence in the competition's integrity.

So the room is split. One camp counts the cost of losing City, the other counts the cost of keeping them.

Where the appeal leaves things

City lodged their appeal earlier this month and maintain their innocence. The club argues the findings against them contain material errors of law, principle and fact.

Everything now hinges on how that appeal is resolved. Until it is, the speculation about sanctions remains exactly that.

Ajax Contract Standoff

Ouazane is under contract at Ajax until 2028, but the Dutch club want to tie him to a longer deal when he turns 18 in January. Those talks have hit trouble. Reports suggest the teenager's representatives are making excessive demands, leaving Ajax sporting director Jordi Cruyff with second thoughts about an extension.

That hesitation has put rival clubs on alert. City are among them, according to 4-4-2.ch, who claim Chelsea, Juventus and Real Madrid are all vying for the teenager.

From Zeeburgia to the First Team

Ouazane joined Ajax from Zeeburgia's academy in the summer of 2016 and has spent the last decade with the Dutch giants. He made his first-team debut against Excelsior in the second round of the Dutch Cup in December of the previous year.

Since then he has made 18 appearances for Ajax, scoring his first three goals in the Conference League. On the international stage, he was handed his first cap for Morocco in September, coming on as a substitute in the African Cup of Nations qualifier against Gabon.

Where Would He Fit at City?

In his appearances for Ajax, Ouazane has generally been deployed on the left wing or as a no.10. Neither role is exactly a position of need for City head coach Enzo Maresca. On the left flank, he can call upon Jeremy Doku and Phil Foden. In central areas, Rayan Cherki, Foden and Enzo Fernandez can all operate as attacking midfielders.

City's interest, then, looks more like long-term planning than an immediate squad fix. Whether it turns into anything firmer may depend on how the standoff in Amsterdam plays out.

Marco Silva addressed the permanent signing question before his side's 2-1 victory against Santa Clara, and his answer was a masterclass in patience. The Argentine is at the Estádio da Luz for the 2026-27 campaign on a loan that contains an option to buy, but Silva made clear that no decision is imminent.

"I'd say we have plenty of time to assess him and integrate him into the team," Silva said. "And I'm not talking about quality. Because he's got plenty of quality. If he didn't, we wouldn't have made that move so close to the end of the window."

The numbers back up the cautious approach. Echeverri has been used mainly from the bench under Silva, making his debut as a substitute against Gil Vicente with an assist, then waiting until mid-October for a first start in a win over Omonia Nicosia. In between, it has been scraps.

That is a familiar pattern for a player who spent last season away from the Etihad. A season-long loan at Bayer Leverkusen brought sporadic minutes, followed by a January switch to Girona, where he managed one goal and one assist in 618 minutes. The 20-year-old, signed from River Plate for £12.5 million in 2024, is still waiting for a run of games.

City's own midfield has changed beyond recognition in the meantime. Elliot Anderson arrived from Nottingham Forest for £116 million, Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille for £86 million, and Enzo Fernandez from Chelsea in a club-record £125 million deal. Hugo Viana and Enzo Maresca reportedly drove the decision to send Echeverri out, having initially planned to keep him after pre-season.

Silva's measured message

Silva, who knew Echeverri from the player's brief spell in England, was keen to stress that the loan is about development, not auditioning for a quick sale.

"We don't usually make decisions based solely on one or two months, or on two or three matches," he said. "There's no need to rush the process or make a hasty decision. The player knows we're pleased with him. He has to keep working - and work hard."

Benfica's due diligence apparently extended to a call to Ruben Dias, the City captain who spent more than 12 years in Lisbon before his 2020 move to Manchester. Portuguese reports claim the Portuguese club asked about Echeverri's professionalism and adaptation to European football before completing the deal.

Echeverri himself has said he would be open to staying beyond the initial loan, comments relayed by Sport Witness on 25 October after an interview with Mais Futebol. City, for their part, are protected by a reported £43.4 million buy-back clause, leaving them free to let him develop elsewhere or sell to Benfica at a profit.

For now, the ball is at Echeverri's feet. Silva's message was clear: the talent is there, the time is not yet.

Where the expulsion talk comes from

The claim originates from an unnamed former commercial executive at a leading Premier League club, who told The Athletic that a mood exists among enough clubs to push for expulsion if an unsuccessful appeal is followed by further resistance to punishment.

"There's a mood among enough clubs to press that button if it's needed," the executive said, describing it as the "nuclear option" available to the league.

That is a hypothetical, not an immediate threat. No suggestion has been made that clubs are preparing an expulsion vote, and several stages would need to pass before such a possibility could even arise.

City's position remains unchanged

City were found guilty on all but one of the 115 charges brought by the Premier League and have appealed. The club strongly denies wrongdoing and is challenging both the findings and any sanction imposed.

Since the commission delivered its verdict, City's stance has not shifted. They insist they are innocent and believe the findings contain material errors.

Uncertainty could stretch into next year

The appeal is not expected to conclude until early 2027, and Premier League executives are reportedly growing concerned about how long the dispute could drag on. The uncertainty surrounding City's position could stretch into next year.

Scott Moore of Brand Finance argued that the bigger risk is not losing City but damaging the perception that the competition is fair. The longer the case remains unresolved, the more harmful that uncertainty becomes.

For now, expulsion remains a possible future course raised by figures within the game rather than a punishment currently facing the club. The appeal process must play out first.

Enzo Maresca has paired Guehi with Ruben Dias at the heart of the defence to start the season. The England international's lapses have given the manager something to think about, even at this early stage.

Abdukodir Khusanov has spent the majority of the campaign at right-back. The Uzbekistan international has been serviceable in the role, but it isn't his natural position. Matheus Nunes' recent injury forced Khusanov into that spot, and he has filled in without complaint.

Nico O'Reilly has been suffering from a back injury, which leaves Maresca with limited options. The temptation to move Khusanov into the centre and restore a more familiar balance is obvious.

Guehi's errors have been costly, and the numbers don't lie. Three of four goals conceded from his mistakes is a trend that needs addressing. Whether Maresca acts now or persists with the Dias-Guehi partnership remains to be seen, but the pressure is building.

Khusanov's versatility has been useful, yet his best position is clearly in the middle. With Nunes injured and O'Reilly struggling, the manager's hand may be forced. A clever selection decision could solve two problems at once: shoring up the defence and getting Khusanov back where he belongs.

A Pair of Draws and a Table That Tells a Story

Andrée Jeglertz's side have drawn both of their league-phase games so far. The first was a fightback from 2-0 down away at Bayern Munich, where Bunny Shaw had a second-half penalty saved before Carlotta Wamser rescued a point at the end in Unterhaching.

The second was at Joie Stadium against Real Madrid. City fell behind again, only for Shaw to lash home an equaliser shortly after half time. Two points from two games leaves them 11th in the table.

That position is a reflection of the format rather than any crisis. The schedule does not get easier: after PSG comes a trip to Inter Milan and then BK Häcken, before the league phase concludes against competition debutants Austria Wien.

Domestic Form Hit a Speed Bump

The WSL champions had won six out of six to start the league season before Sunday. That perfect record came to an end at Leigh Sports Village, where Manchester United held them to a 1-1 draw — City conceding an 89th-minute equaliser.

Jeglertz remains without Beth Mead, Vivianne Miedema, Risa Shimizu and Sam Coffey, all injured. Kerstin Casparij and Grace Clinton both came off the bench in Leigh on Sunday night, offering some welcome depth.

PSG's Threat Starts With the Captain

PSG arrive with a 1-1 draw against Real Madrid on their record, Sakina Karchaoui converting a second-half spot-kick at Estadio Alfredo Di Stéfano. Paulo César's side then demolished Oud-Heverlee Leuven 5-0 in the French capital, Naomie Feller bagging a brace and Rasheedat Ajibade, Karchaoui and Vitória Yaya also scoring.

In the Première Ligue, PSG have won five out of six this season. The exception was a 4-0 hammering at the hands of champions OL Lyonnes.

Karchaoui is the one to watch. The PSG captain has scored in three successive Champions League matches, netting four times across those games. City's previous record against French opposition offers some encouragement: three wins from six, including home and away victories over Paris FC two years ago.

PSG are likely to be without first-choice goalkeeper Katarzyna Kiedrzynek, who got injured against Lyon. Oliwia Szperkowska is expected to don the gloves in her place.

Kick-off at Joie Stadium is on Thursday.

The reality of Enzo Maresca's squad is that Erling Haaland remains the only senior out-and-out striker. Antoine Semenyo and Phil Foden can fill in, in their own ways, and Floyd Samba has led the line twice this season. But that is cover by improvisation, not design.

According to Graeme Bailey of TeamTalk, City had representatives watching Tresoldi in action for Club Brugge. Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United were also represented at the same fixture. The report describes City's interest as a case of due diligence, with the club keeping an eye on promising young players as part of their recruitment strategy.

What the scouts saw was a hat-trick. Tresoldi scored three as Brugge beat Sint-Truidense 3-2, taking his tally for the season to 12 goals in 14 matches across all competitions.

At 22, he fits the profile of a player whose best years are ahead of him. He is a two-footed finisher, strong in the air and capable of receiving the ball and holding up possession — attributes that would make him a different option to Haaland rather than a straight clone.

Whether City's interest develops beyond watching is another matter. For now, the shortlist of names being monitored is growing, and the lack of a specialist alternative to Haaland is a gap that will need addressing at some stage.

Erling Haaland will not be involved in Wednesday's Carabao Cup tie. Nor will Rúben Dias, Joško Gvardiol, Elliot Anderson or Gianluigi Donnarumma. Enzo Maresca has confirmed that all five have been given time off in the wake of the defeat at Aston Villa.

The decision to grant them three days away from the club is a clear signal that the manager views the cup competition as an opportunity to rotate. With Matheus Nunes still sidelined through injury, City's squad depth will be tested.

Gerónimo Rulli has been confirmed as the starting goalkeeper for the tie. It is a chance for the Argentine to stake a claim, though Maresca has moved to ease any concerns about his first-choice keeper.

Maresca backs Donnarumma

Donnarumma has faced criticism in recent weeks, including for his role in Nicolas Jackson's second goal at Villa Park. But Maresca has publicly backed the Italian, insisting he has performed well since arriving at the club and that mistakes are inevitable over a demanding season.

Maresca said Donnarumma has performed well since arriving at City and stressed that mistakes are inevitable during a demanding season.

That is a sensible stance. Goalkeepers at big clubs live under a microscope, and a three-day break may do as much for the head as for the legs.

Scouts cast eye over Tresoldi

City's recruitment team, meanwhile, have been busy. Representatives were reportedly in Belgium to watch Club Brugge striker Nicolò Tresoldi. The 22-year-old responded with a hat-trick.

Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham and Newcastle also had eyes on the match. There is no suggestion City have opened talks over a move for Tresoldi, but the interest is noted.

Echeverri's future on hold

Elsewhere, Claudio Echeverri's future has been discussed. Benfica boss Marco Silva has responded to the possibility of making the midfielder's loan move permanent. Benfica have an option to buy the 20-year-old, but Silva says there is no need for an early decision as Echeverri continues to settle in Portugal.

Sheikh Mansour invests again

Off the pitch, Sheikh Mansour has invested another £100m into City's parent company, City Football Group. Companies House filings show more than 11 million new shares were allotted earlier this month.

It is a familiar show of financial backing. City's history against Brighton in this competition includes a memorable League Cup penalty shootout victory for the Seagulls in 2008, while the Blues enjoyed a 1-0 FA Cup semi-final win at Wembley in 2019.

Jeremy Doku's return to fitness has come at the right moment for Manchester City. The 24-year-old winger, who joined from Rennes in August 2023 on a five-year contract for a reported £55.5 million, is back in action after a calf injury that kept him out of six club games, including the first four Premier League matches.

Doku's setback, his third since December 2025, occurred in the Community Shield defeat to Arsenal on August 16, when he came off at the start of the second half. He made his comeback as a 75th-minute substitute for Iliman Ndiaye in City's 5-3 win over Sunderland on September 19.

Since the international break, Doku has contributed two goal contributions. He scored in the 68th minute of City's 3-0 win over Liverpool on October 11 and provided an assist in the 3-2 victory over Ipswich Town the following week. He also played the full 90 minutes in the 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa.

Doku's time at City has coincided with a period of transition. He arrived during Pep Guardiola's seventh year in charge and played three seasons under the Catalan, registering 22 goals and 34 assists in 131 appearances. With Enzo Maresca taking over this summer, Doku, now wearing the number 11 shirt, will be looking to build on last season's eight goals and 14 assists in 47 matches.

City face Brighton and Hove Albion twice in a week, starting with the Carabao Cup fourth round tie on Wednesday night before the league clash on Saturday. Doku's availability gives Maresca another option as he navigates a busy schedule.

Meanwhile, Doku's former Anderlecht head coach Hein Vanhaezebrouck, now a pundit for Play Sports, recently visited him in Manchester. Vanhaezebrouck handed Doku his senior debut in November 2018 before parting ways with the Belgian club the following month.

The half-time pattern

Four times this season, Cherki has been substituted at the break. Four. That's a third of his appearances.

Some of those changes made sense. In the 1-0 win at Old Trafford, Phil Foden's red card forced Enzo Maresca to shuffle his pack, and Cherki was the one replaced by Iliman Ndiaye. Against PSG, City were 3-0 down at the break and Maresca rang the changes; Cherki came off. The game ended 4-2 to the French side.

Against Aston Villa, Cherki was on a yellow card and replaced by Foden at the interval. City lost 2-1 — their first Premier League defeat at Villa Park. A booking and a cautious referee can make a manager's mind up.

Then there's Norwich City in the Carabao Cup. Cherki played a half, scored, and was taken off in a 5-0 win. That one feels less like a tactical masterstroke and more like a pre-planned substitution.

The counter-example

And then there's Crystal Palace. At Selhurst Park, Cherki was almost taken off at half-time. Maresca left him on. He scored a brace in a 4-1 win.

That's the crux of it. The 45-minute hook isn't a hard rule — it's a choice. And when the choice goes the other way, Cherki tends to repay it.

Six goals and two assists in twelve appearances is not the record of a player who needs protecting. It's the record of a player who needs minutes.

Ahead of Wednesday's Carabao Cup fourth-round tie with Brighton, the City manager was asked about the reception his side might face on the road in the wake of the independent commission's guilty verdict on 114 of 115 charges against the club. His answer leaned on evidence rather than rhetoric.

I think we played Liverpool away, we played Aston Villa away - and the players showed they don't care about the noise in terms of they play the game, they focus on the game and they're doing the right things.

The Liverpool reference holds up. City won 3-0 there after the September international break, with Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku and Rayan Cherki finding the net. Villa Park was a different story last week: a 2-1 defeat, Nicolas Jackson scoring twice, Haaland's header not enough.

That result made it two losses in four games. The other was a 4-2 home reverse to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League earlier this month. For a side that opened the campaign with seven straight league wins under Maresca, it has been a jarring month.

City still lead the Premier League after eight matches. Arsenal, 2-0 winners over Everton on Saturday, are level on points and sit second on goal difference. The table offers no room for another slip.

Rotation and Recovery

Maresca gave Haaland, Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol, Marc Guehi and Gianluigi Donnarumma three days off after Villa to recover their energy. Whether that rest extends to Wednesday is another matter.

Matheus Nunes missed the Villa match entirely. Nico O'Reilly and Mateo Kovacic were named among the unused substitutes. Geronimo Rulli is expected to start in goal against Brighton in the cup, while 19-year-old Morocco international Ayyoub Bouaddi is expected to start.

At Villa Park, Guehi's loose touch led to Jackson's opener, and Donnarumma allowed the striker's second effort to slip beneath him. Small margins, but the kind that decide games.

The Wider Picture

The club declared their innocence and lodged a comprehensive appeal at 7pm on 1 October. The sanctions phase has yet to begin, and sources suggest full resolution may not arrive until 2028 or 2029. Tottenham and Manchester United are among the clubs reported to be preparing civil claims worth around £800 million.

For now, the football continues. Brighton arrive at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night for the Carabao Cup, then again on Saturday in the Premier League. Fabian Hürzeler's side will have their own ideas about disrupting the quiet Maresca insists his players have found.

The City manager confirmed that Erling Haaland, Ruben Dias, Elliot Anderson, Gianluigi Donnarumma and Josko Gvardiol were given time to refresh after the 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa.

“After Villa, we gave five players three days off. Erling, Elliot, Gigio, Ruben and Josko. Go away on holiday. Three days off, go, come back. Full energy.”

City are the Carabao Cup holders and face Brighton at the Etihad Stadium tomorrow night. The game comes amid a heavy schedule, with matches arriving every three or four days and no let-up until the next international break.

That relentless run makes Maresca's decision to rest key men a sensible one. The five players are unlikely to be involved against Brighton in the cup, but they should be ready to return for the Premier League meeting with the same opponents on Saturday.

For a squad chasing more silverware, managing minutes now looks like a calculated move. The cavalry will be back for the weekend.

Marco Silva has moved to cool talk of an imminent permanent transfer, insisting the club can afford to wait before deciding whether to trigger their option to buy.

Silva: Benfica have no doubts over quality

Speaking about the 20-year-old's start to life at the Estádio da Luz, Silva made clear that the Argentine's ability is not in question. According to Portuguese outlet A Bola, the Benfica boss said the club are pleased with Echeverri and have no doubts about his quality.

What he did stress, though, is the need for patience. Echeverri has only made a handful of appearances, and Silva believes there is plenty of time to assess him properly.

That measured tone is understandable. The midfielder arrived on a season-long loan from City in September, with Benfica confirming at the time that the deal includes an option to buy. A Bola has reported the figure at €21million.

Echeverri keen to stay

Echeverri himself has already signalled his happiness in Lisbon. He recently admitted it would be "wonderful" to remain at Benfica beyond his loan spell.

Such sentiment is unlikely to fade if his form continues. The former River Plate man, who moved to Europe from the Argentine giants, remains a highly-rated young player and an Argentina international.

City, for their part, have not left themselves without a safety net. The Blues retain a mechanism which could allow them to bring Echeverri back in the future, ensuring they keep a degree of control over a player they clearly rate.

For now, though, the focus is on his development in Portugal. Silva's calm approach suggests Benfica will take their time — and that City can afford to watch with interest rather than urgency.

Another £100m has landed in Manchester City's parent company. Sheikh Mansour has bought 11,327,163 new shares in City Football Group, according to Companies House records, with the allotment dated 14 October.

The purchase was made through Newton Investment and Development, the vehicle that carries Mansour's majority stake. The move nudges his holding up to around 81% of CFG, with US investment firm Silver Lake holding most of what remains.

At the price paid for the shares, the deal values the wider group at roughly £5.9 billion.

CFG framed the cash as equity from its largest shareholder. The proceeds, they say, will go towards normal corporate purposes and planned investment across a network that stretches from Europe to North and South America, Asia and Australia.

For City fans, the timing is hard to ignore. The club are appealing the verdict in their Premier League financial case and continue to dispute the findings against them. This is not a club in retreat.

The share issue is a quiet piece of housekeeping, filed away in the Companies House ledger. But it is also a reminder of who is holding the purse strings. Mansour's commitment has never been in doubt, and another nine-figure sum landing in the group's accounts suggests little has changed.

Silver Lake's presence on the register adds another layer. The US firm owns most of the remainder of CFG, and the valuation implied by this transaction puts the whole operation in rare air. Not bad for a club that was, not so long ago, the punchline to a different joke.

The appeal rumbles on. The money keeps moving. Mansour, as ever, is not standing still.

Ayyoub Bouaddi has been on the pitch for 332 minutes this season. That's seven appearances. For a 19-year-old who arrived from Lille in a big-money move, it's not nothing — but it's also not a lot. And yet those minutes have started to feel like a quiet case for more.

The PSG defeat almost a fortnight ago is the obvious reference point. City lost 4-2 at the Etihad, but the game shifted when Bouaddi came on at half-time. From 3-0 down, City almost turned it around. That second-half response didn't come from nowhere.

Enzo Maresca has leaned on Elliot Anderson, Enzo Fernandez and Rayan Cherki in midfield across the early part of the season. Each brings something. Anderson's energy is relentless — sometimes too relentless, drifting from his position. Fernandez's strengths lie elsewhere than work out of possession or duels. Cherki is a creative force as a number ten, but he isn't known for his work without the ball.

Bouaddi, by contrast, started his first Premier League game against Ipswich Town — a 3-2 win — and has since been an unused substitute in the past two matches against AEK Athens and Aston Villa. The AEK win was comfortable. The Villa defeat at Villa Park wasn't down to the midfield, but the balance still felt off.

Maresca has a decision to make. The current trio has had its moments, but consistency has been elusive. Bouaddi's 332 minutes have shown enough to suggest he deserves a longer look — not as a project, but as a starter.

Manchester City's defence of the Carabao Cup continues on Wednesday night with a home tie against Brighton, and Enzo Maresca's side will expect a far stiffer test than the one they passed with ease in the previous round.

That 5-0 win over Norwich was a night for the academy graduates, with Floyd Samba helping himself to a brace and Rayan Cherki, Allan and Ryan McAidoo also finding the net. A youthful City side made light work of it. Brighton, you suspect, will not be quite so accommodating.

The Seagulls arrive at the Etihad having already claimed a notable scalp in this competition, fighting back from 2-0 down to win at Old Trafford in round three. That result earned Fabian Hürzeler's team another trip to Manchester, and it is their second visit to the Etihad in four days.

Brighton's weekend outing ended in defeat at Anfield, their first of the season, so they will be keen to respond. City, for their part, have failed to win any of their last four meetings with Brighton — a statistic that adds a little edge to what might otherwise look a routine cup tie.

The match kicks off at 7:30pm GMT. In the UK, it is available via Sky Sports+, SkyGo and NOW TV. In the United States, CBS hold the EFL Cup rights and fans can watch on Paramount+. Because the clocks have changed in Europe but not yet in the United States, the kick-off is 3:30pm Eastern Time and 12:30pm Pacific Time.

For those keeping an eye on the rest of the evening's action, Everton vs Newcastle United kicks off at 7:45pm and is available on Sky Sports+ and Paramount+.

City, of course, are the holders. Maresca will be hoping his mix of youth and experience can navigate a tricky-looking tie and keep the defence of their trophy on track.

The France international was on City's radar last summer, but the £70m valuation put them off. TEAMtalk now claim that figure has fallen, opening the door to a possible switch to the Etihad.

Why the interest makes sense

Enzo Maresca has a glaring hole at right-back. With Rico Lewis the only natural option in the first-team squad, the position has been a problem since Kyle Walker's departure. Maresca knows Gusto well from their time together at Chelsea, and that connection already paid off when Enzo Fernandez arrived on Deadline Day last month.

Chelsea's willingness to sell stems from Gusto's poor form. He has slipped behind Pedro Neto and Marco Palestra for starts on the right flank, even with captain Reece James out injured.

Other names in the frame

City have also been linked with Brentford's Michael Kayode and Barcelona's Jules Kounde. Kounde, who missed El Clasico with an ankle injury, had started the previous two league games. Unlike Gusto, the Frenchman may prefer to stay at the Camp Nou. Kayode, by contrast, would likely jump at the chance to join City, which could make him a simpler proposition.

Any move still hinges on the outcome of City's appeal after being found guilty of multiple breaches of Premier League FFP rules. A final verdict is expected to take a long time.

Nicolas Jackson's brace either side of an Erling Haaland equaliser gave Aston Villa the win at Villa Park on Saturday afternoon. It was a result that leaves City still top of the Premier League, edging Arsenal on goal difference.

Dias: 'We Fought a Lot'

Speaking to City's official channels after the match, Dias gave a measured assessment of a difficult afternoon.

"Frustrating. Felt like we fought a lot," said Dias.

The centre-back admitted City took their time to settle, with the opening 10 to 15 minutes spent getting into the game. Villa changed their setup, and Dias felt the home side's efficiency in transition proved decisive.

"But we fought, had chances, they ended up scoring two in two transitions — very efficient."

Jackson had opened the scoring inside six minutes, punishing an error from Marc Guehi and a heavy touch at the back. Gianluigi Donnarumma was beaten high by the Senegalese striker's finish.

Donnarumma Error and a Cruel Second

Haaland's equaliser early in the second half gave City a route back into the contest, but Donnarumma then made an error on the hour mark, failing to keep out Jackson's strike from an Ibrahim Mbaye cross.

Dias said the timing of that second goal was especially tough to take.

"The second was tough because it was very close to our equaliser."

Despite the setback, Dias praised the reaction of his teammates and their persistence in trying to create chances.

"We kept going and tried to create. Not our day but we keep moving forward."

He added: "I felt we were dangerous on many occasions, even if the finish wasn't there, we arrived in dangerous places but not able to play."

The defender also offered a word of appreciation to his teammates for their effort.

"A word of appreciation to the boys because we kept fighting to the end."

Brighton Double Header Offers Quick Chance to Respond

Dias was clear that the response must come quickly.

"Room to improve, we need to do better. Whatever happens we need to react."

City do not have long to wait. Enzo Maresca's side take on Brighton & Hove Albion in the Carabao Cup fourth round on Wednesday night at the Etihad Stadium, before hosting the Seagulls once more at the weekend in a Premier League clash.

Fabian Hurzeler's team arrive having already overcome Manchester United at Old Trafford in round three of the Carabao Cup. Their recent form is mixed — a 2-0 loss to Liverpool at Anfield in their last top-flight outing, but also a 4-0 home win over Aston Villa, a 0-5 away win against Coventry City, a 3-0 win over Arsenal and a 5-0 victory over Crystal Palace.

Maresca faces the media in his pre-match press conference on Tuesday, when he is likely to be asked about the response required from his eight-time Premier League champions.

Jackson punishes Guehi's early gift

Aston Villa made the faster start and were rewarded inside six minutes. Marc Guehi's poor first touch in a dangerous area handed possession to Nicolas Jackson, who needed no second invitation to open the scoring.

It was the kind of error that has become a worrying theme. Guehi was at fault for both of Ipswich Town's goals in a previous match, and this lapse followed the same pattern — a defender whose difficult start to life at City shows no sign of easing.

City responded. Iliman Ndiaye fired a shot onto the post, and Villa keeper Zion Suzuki denied the visitors on several occasions before the break.

Haaland levels, then Donnarumma's moment

The equaliser arrived in the 52nd minute. Erling Haaland headed home an Iliman Ndiaye cross to pull City level and seemingly restore order.

It lasted eight minutes. Villa broke down their right in the 60th minute, Ibrahim Mbaye found space and picked out Jackson on the edge of City's penalty area. Jackson's powerful low shot should have been routine for Gianluigi Donnarumma, whose specialty is shot-stopping. Instead, the keeper made a mess of his attempted save and the ball squirmed under him to restore Villa's lead.

City's seven-game winning run in the Premier League was over. A first defeat of the campaign, and two individual errors that Maresca will know can be rectified.