Manchester City’s Carabao Cup campaign continues against Brighton & Hove Albion at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night, with a place in the quarter-finals at stake. This is a single-leg fourth-round tie, not the opening match of a two-game series. Both clubs are looking to respond to weekend Premier League defeats: City lost 2–1 at Aston Villa, while Brighton were beaten 2–0 at Liverpool.
Enzo Maresca has opted to rest several senior players, reshaping City’s selection options. Erling Haaland, Elliot Anderson, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Rúben Dias and Joško Gvardiol have been given three days off and will not feature. Their absence means City must find a different attacking focal point and a revised defensive structure rather than rely on their usual core.
Gerónimo Rulli is set to start in goal, while Rico Lewis and Nico O’Reilly are options at full-back. Abdukodir Khusanov could feature centrally, with Maresca considering his available centre-back combinations. Ayyoub Bouaddi and Mateo Kovačić are contenders in midfield, while Phil Foden, Allan and Ryan McAidoo could receive opportunities further forward. These are selection possibilities rather than a confirmed starting line-up.
Brighton also face fitness concerns and are expected to rotate. Ferdi Kadıoğlu joined the injury list after going off against Liverpool, while Mats Wieffer and Yankuba Minteh remain unavailable rather than returning from their absences. Those setbacks complicate Fabian Hürzeler’s preparations as he balances the cup tie with the demands of the league campaign.
Jason Steele is expected to take over in goal, with Costinha and Jaouen Hadjam among the options at full-back. Olivier Boscagli and Luka Vušković could form the centre-back partnership if Lewis Dunk is rested. Malick Yalcouyé, Pascal Groß and Jack Hinshelwood offer midfield options, while Charalampos Kostoulas could lead the attack, supported by players such as Maxim De Cuyper and Diego Gómez.
The tactical contest will depend partly on how effectively the rotated sides establish cohesion. City will seek control through their midfield and attacking combinations, but Haaland’s absence changes the threat Brighton must manage. For the visitors, maintaining defensive organisation while finding opportunities to break forward could be crucial against a City side likely to push players into advanced positions.
City’s seven wins from eight Premier League matches underline their strong start despite the Villa setback, but league form alone will not decide a knockout tie featuring substantial changes. Brighton’s task is to recover from their Anfield defeat and turn their own squad options into a competitive performance. With quarter-final qualification decided on the night, both managers must balance rotation with the immediate demand for a result.
