Manchester City host League Two’s Salford City in the third round of the FA Cup, with Pep Guardiola’s side looking to continue their promising recent form and avoid an almighty upset.
The Premier League champions have made a strong start to the new year, making it back-to-back wins after a poor run in which they have won just one of 13 games in all competitions.
It will also give Guardiola a rare chance to shuffle the relatively small squad he currently has at his disposal and give some of the younger members of his squad a chance.
Salford, meanwhile, is third in the fourth division of English football. And while the hosts will be overwhelming favorites to progress, the club co-owned by members of Manchester United’s ‘Class of ’92’ making the short trip to the Etihad will bring an extra level of spice to the occasion.
Read on to see how both teams line up.
Manchester City squad news
Nathan Ake and Savinho are the only two players to retain their place in City’s squad following the Premier League win against West Ham as, perhaps unsurprisingly, Guardiola makes nine changes.
Twenty-year-old Divin Mubama, who joined in the summer from the Hammers, makes his senior debut, while Ederson, Jack Grealish and Ilkay Gundogan also start.
Your City XI u #FACup ✊
XI | Ederson, Simpson-Pusey, Ake, Nunes, Gundogan (C), O’Reilly, McAtee, Doku, Grealish, Savinho, Mubama
SUBS | Ortega Moreno, Kovacic, Haaland, De Bruyne, Bernardo, Guardiol, Akanji, Foden, Lewis#ManCity | @etihad pic.twitter.com/l8OY9OSrUU
— Manchester City (@ManCity) January 11, 2025
Salford City squad news
The League Two high-flyers make two changes for the short trip to the Etihad, with Matty Lund and Kylian Kouassi coming on.
Coach Karl Robinson, aided by ex-Manchester United player Ryan Giggs, names three under-18s on the bench as Salford, despite their opponents’ recent poor run of results, look to challenge for what would be one of the all-time competitions. the greatest upset.
Your @EmiratesFACup Ammies at Man City this afternoon 📋
♦️ 2 changes
♦️ Enter Lund and Kouassi
♦️ 3 U18 on the bench#MCISAL pic.twitter.com/M94TIgpi0j— Salford City FC (@SalfordCityFC) January 11, 2025
