Man City v Brighton twice in four days: Carabao Cup tonight, Premier League on Saturday, and the one team City can't beat
Manchester City host Brighton in the Carabao Cup fourth round tonight and again in the Premier League on Saturday. Brighton are the only top-flight club City have faced since 2024-25 without beating them, and Fabian Hürzeler's squad are staying in Manchester all week.
Enzo Maresca and Fabian Hürzeler will see a lot of each other this week. Manchester City host Brighton twice in four days at the Etihad: first in the Carabao Cup fourth round on Wednesday 28 October (19:30 UK / 03:30 Thursday Beijing), then in the Premier League on Saturday 31 October.
Two games, two different priorities
| Wednesday | Saturday | |
|---|---|---|
| Competition | Carabao Cup, fourth round | Premier League, matchweek 9 |
| Venue | Etihad Stadium | Etihad Stadium |
| UK TV | Sky Sports+ | — |
| City approach | Heavy rotation expected | Strongest XI |
Hürzeler has called the cup tie "do-or-die", and Brighton will stay in Manchester for the week, "recovering, adjusting, adapting" between the two games. Maresca has treated the cup as a chance to rotate.
The record City can't break
Since the start of the 2024-25 season, City have beaten 21 of the 22 top-flight clubs they have played. The only exception is Brighton. This week gives them two chances to change that.
Where both teams are
City started the season with seven straight league wins, a record for Maresca, before losing at Aston Villa on Saturday. Maresca blamed two individual errors — see why City lost at Villa. They are level on 21 points with Arsenal at the top.
Brighton had won four league games in a row, scoring 15 goals, before a 2-0 defeat at Anfield on Sunday — Liverpool 2-0 Brighton. Hürzeler argued that his side's numbers were much better than Liverpool's in that game. They are third on 16 points.
The two clubs are among the highest-scoring teams in the Premier League this season, and both have conceded more than they would like.
City team news
- Gerónimo Rulli starts in goal in the cup, with Gianluigi Donnarumma on the bench.
- Five regular starters were given three days off after the Villa game. Maresca said it was so they would "come back full energy and we go again".
- It is unclear whether Erling Haaland, Rúben Dias, Joško Gvardiol or Marc Guéhi will start tonight. Maresca has defended Guéhi after a difficult few weeks.
- Matheus Nunes is a doubt. Antoine Semenyo is out for at least another seven weeks.
Brighton team news
- Mats Wieffer and Yankuba Minteh are back and have travelled. It is Minteh's first involvement of the season.
- Chema Andrés and Ferdi Kadıoğlu are doubts after the Liverpool game, but still in contention.
- Pascal Struijk and Kaoru Mitoma are unavailable.
What to watch
Rotation versus rhythm. If City rotate and Brighton play close to their best side, the cup tie could tell us a lot about City's depth. If Brighton win, City lose a trophy chance and the psychological edge before Saturday.
Brighton's two attempts. Hürzeler can pick his team for Wednesday knowing he gets a second go on Saturday. How many first-choice players he risks tonight is one of the key decisions of the week.
The other ties tonight include Liverpool v Chelsea — see our Liverpool v Chelsea preview — and Arsenal are already out after their shock defeat at Fleetwood.
FAQ
What time is Man City v Brighton in the Carabao Cup? Wednesday 28 October at 19:30 UK time, which is 03:30 on Thursday in Beijing.
When do Man City and Brighton play in the Premier League? On Saturday 31 October, also at the Etihad Stadium.
Will Haaland play against Brighton? It is not confirmed for the cup tie. Maresca is expected to rotate, and Haaland was among the players given days off after the Villa game.
Have City beaten Brighton recently? No. Since 2024-25, Brighton are the only one of the 22 top-flight clubs City have played that they have not beaten.
