Manchester City host second-tier Salford City in the FA Cup third round, as Pep Guardiola's side look to continue their recent promising form and avoid a major upset.
The Premier League champions started the new year strongly, recording back-to-back wins after a dismal run that saw them win just one of 13 matches in all competitions.
It will also give Guardiola a rare opportunity to shake up the relatively small squad he currently has at his disposal, and give some of the younger members of his squad a chance.
Meanwhile, Salford are third in the fourth tier of English football. While the hosts will be favorites to qualify, the club owned by members of Manchester United's 'Class of 92' who make the short trip to the Etihad will bring an extra level of excitement to the occasion.
Read on to see how the two teams line up.
Manchester City team news
Nathan Ake and Savinho are the only players to keep their places in City's squad after the Premier League win over West Ham, and it is perhaps not surprising that Guardiola made nine changes.
Twenty-year-old Devin Mbama, who joined in the summer from the Hammers, is making his first-team debut, while Ederson, Jack Grealish and Ilkay Gundogan will also start.
Your city 11th in #FACup ✊
eleventh | Ederson, Simpson-Bossey, Ake, Nunes, Gundogan (centre), O'Reilly, Makati, Doku, Grealish, Savinho, Mbama.
Submarines | Ortega Moreno, Kovacic, Haaland, De Bruyne, Bernardo, Gvardiol, Akanji, Foden, Lewis.#ManCity | @etihad pic.twitter.com/l8OY9OSrUU
– Manchester City (@ManCity) January 11, 2025
Salford City team news
The League Two players make two changes for the short trip to the Etihad, with the arrivals of Matty Lund and Kylian Kouassi.
Chairman Karl Robinson, assisted by former Manchester United player Ryan Giggs in the dugout, has named three under-18 players on the bench as Salford, despite their rivals' poor recent results, look to pull off what could be one of the best games on the planet. Launch in the competition. The biggest disturbances.
for you @EmiratesFACup Friends at Man City this afternoon 📋
♦️2 changes
♦️Lund and Kwasi entry
♦️3 players under 18 years old on the bench#MCISAL pic.twitter.com/M94TIgpi0j– Salford City FC (@SalfordCityFC) January 11, 2025
