Manchester City host League Two side 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, claiming back-to-back wins after a dismal run that saw them win just one of 13 games in all competitions.
It will also give Guardiola a rare opportunity to shuffle the relatively small squad he currently has at his disposal and give some younger members of his squad a chance.
Salford, meanwhile, sit third in the fourth tier of English football. And while the hosts will be firm favorites to progress, a club 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 the two teams line up.
Manchester City team news
Nathan Ake and Savinho are the only two players to retain their place in City’s squad from 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 at #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 team news
The League Two fliers make two changes for the short trip to the Etihad, with Matty Lund and Kylian Kouassi coming on.
Boss Karl Robinson, aided by ex-Manchester United player Ryan Giggs on the bench, names three Under-18s on the bench as Salford, despite their recent poor run of results, look to challenge what would have been one of the tournament’s all-time games. bigger twists.
Your @EmiratesFACup Ammies at Man City this afternoon 📋
♦️ 2 changes
♦️ Lund and Quasi enter
♦️ 3 U18 on the bench#MCISAL pic.twitter.com/M94TIgpi0j— Salford City FC (@SalfordCityFC) January 11, 2025
