Marc Guehi captains a much-changed Man City lineup vs Brighton tonight, with Floyd Samba leading the line and 17-year-old Dexter Oliver named on the bench for the first time.
Enzo Maresca has given five of his most important players the night off for the Carabao Cup fourth-round tie at the Etihad Stadium, with kick-off at 7.30pm. A place in the quarter-finals is up for grabs, and the competition looks wide open after the Premier League champions were knocked out at Fleetwood on Tuesday.
Man City confirmed lineup vs Brighton
Man City lineup vs Brighton: Rulli; Lewis, Reis, Guehi, O’Reilly; Bouaddi, Kovacic, Foden; Allan, Cherki, Samba.
It is a side that mixes senior experience with a lot of youth, exactly as Maresca promised when he said City supporters would see young players given their chance in this competition.
Marc Guehi: captain after a tough afternoon at Villa Park
Marc Guehi wears the armband tonight, only days after a difficult afternoon at Villa Park where he was replaced at half-time. Leading this young back line against the Premier League’s highest scorers is a chance to respond straight away.
Floyd Samba: leading the line again
With Manchester City without Erling Haaland, Floyd Samba gets the nod up front once more. Haaland has provided the lion’s share of City’s goals this season, so someone has to step up, and Samba has the platform to show he can be that player.
Phil Foden and Rayan Cherki: the creative heartbeat
Phil Foden and Rayan Cherki both start, giving a rotated side real quality between the lines. With Jeremy Doku among the substitutes, they are the obvious candidates to carry the goal threat in Haaland’s absence.
Nico O’Reilly keeps Rayan Ait-Nouri out at left-back
Nico O’Reilly starts at left-back, which means Rayan Ait-Nouri still cannot get a look in. We explained earlier this week why Maresca has changed his mind about a City defender ahead of this tie.
Man City bench vs Brighton
Man City substitutes: Bettinelli, Chabot, Khusanov, Braithwaite, Ait-Nouri, Fernandez, Doku, Ndiaye, McAidoo, Oliver.
Dexter Oliver is the headline name. The 17-year-old has been training with the first team in recent weeks after a red-hot start for the Under-18s, with 12 goals in six games. Ryan McAidoo and Kaden Braithwaite also make the bench.
Why Maresca’s Man City lineup vs Brighton carries a risk
Resting so many first-choice players adds pressure. Brighton are third in the Premier League and have scored 23 goals in their opening eight matches, more than any other side, and they won at Old Trafford in the last round. They have made seven changes from Sunday’s defeat at Liverpool, so they are not going in at full strength either.
City also face Brighton again in the Premier League at the weekend, and after the 2-1 defeat at Villa Park, back-to-back losses are the last thing Maresca wants. Our Man City predicted lineup vs Brighton expected heavy rotation, and that is exactly what we have got.
Verdict: can this Man City lineup beat Brighton?
It is a bold team from Maresca, and a fair one. Foden and Cherki give it enough quality to hurt anyone, Guehi has a point to prove, and the young players have been promised minutes. If Samba can take his chance, City have every chance of reaching the quarter-finals.
Man City lineup vs Brighton: Rulli; Lewis, Reis, Guehi, O’Reilly; Bouaddi, Kovacic, Foden; Allan, Cherki, Samba.
