Manchester City Carabao Cup preview against Huddersfield

Manchester City take on Huddersfield in the 3rd round of the Carabao Cup at the Accu Stadium tonight.

After Pep Guardiola named an unchanged side for three successive sides for the first time since 2021, many changes are expected for today's game.

City have won this trophy on eight occasions, only Liverpool have won more with 10, but have not made it past the quarter-final stage since they beat Tottenham in the final in 2021.

Pep's Press Conference

In Guardiola's pre-Huddersfield press conference, he alluded to the fact that although he wants to take this competition seriously, the Premier League and Champions League are the priority.

"It will be a mix of first-team and Academy players to play tomorrow, because the priority is Burnley, Monaco, and Brentford... We will try to compete and go through!"

He also mentioned that due to injuries to players such as Rayan Cherki, Rayan Ait-Nouri and Omar Marmoush that they cannot play as strong of a side as he would like to for this game.

Pep also confirmed that Erling Haaland won't feature in the cup game, which comes as no surprise with Omar Marmoush also not being available and so Haaland is the only fit senior striker at the club at the moment.

There was some bad news about Abdukodir Khusanov though after he was substituted at half time through injury in Sunday's draw with Arsenal.

BREAKING: Abdukodir Khusanov is ruled out for #ManCity's next three games due to injury, confirms Pep Guardiola.

▪️ Huddersfield (A), Carabao Cup
▪️ Burnley (H), Premier League
▪️ AS Monaco (A), Champions League

— City Xtra (@City_Xtra) September 23, 2025

Predicted XI against Huddersfield

Goalkeeper: James Trafford

After losing his place to Gianluigi Donnarumma for the Premier League and Champions League, it comes as no surprise that he will start against Huddersfield and that was even confirmed by Pep in yesterday's press conference.

James Trafford will start for #ManCity against Huddersfield (A) this week, says Pep Guardiola.

— City Xtra (@City_Xtra) September 23, 2025

Defence: Matheus Nunes, John Stones, Nathan Ake, Nico O'Reilly

Three changes expected with Stones coming back in after missing the last few with injury. Ake and Nunes also come into the side after being used off the bench against Arsenal. O'Reilly is set to keep his place with Ait-Nouri still out injured.

Defensive Midfield: Nico Gonzalez

This change seems obvious with Nico coming in for Rodri who started three games in a week. Rodri may not even be involved at all to give him the most rest possible ahead of a busy week next week.

Central Midfield: Rico Lewis, Tijjani Reijnders

Reijnders could keep his place with limited options, but that depends on how fit Kovacic is as he has now returned to training. The versatile Rico Lewis seems set to be deployed in midfield in this cup game.

BREAKING: Mateo Kovacic is back in #ManCity first-team training. 🇭🇷✔️ pic.twitter.com/mj3cEgUQPO

— City Xtra (@City_Xtra) September 23, 2025

Wingers: Oscar Bobb, Savinho

Bobb and Savinho have only featured off the bench in the last three games and so they will likely take the places of Bernardo Silva and Jeremy Doku out wide for City tonight. Savinho will be hoping to use today as a springboard for his season which started slow due to injury.

Striker: Divine Mukasa

The 18-year-old forward looks to be the only academy player to be given a start tonight with Haaland being rested and Marmoush unavailable through injury. Pep may opt to use Foden in a false 9 role but given he's played three successive games that seem unlikely. Mukasa will be hoping to impress the City fans and live up to the high potential he has got and shown at academy level.