Manchester City go host Norwich City for Carabao Cup third round on Thursday, as dem begin defense of di trophy wey dem win last season. City win their ninth title for di competition after dem beat Arsenal for March final, and if dem win am again dis season, dem go level with Liverpool as record champions.
For Enzo Maresca, na first chance to win major silverware. Di Italian don make perfect start to di competitive season after disastrous Community Shield performance, with five straight wins for Premier League and Champions League.
Controversy follow their most recent victory though. Erling Haaland strike, wey suppose don rule out for offside, give dem 10-man Manchester derby win.
Norwich no dey same level. Dem dey 14th for EFL Championship after seven matches. Philippe Clement dey guide di Canaries, and dem go need miracle to reach fourth round. Dis contest suppose no contest at all. City get squad depth to rotate and still demolish second-tier visitors. Although not all their performances sharp this season, dem suppose strut their stuff against limited opposition.
Norwich main problem na defense. Dem don concede 13 goals for league so far. Dem allow four for Middlesbrough last time out and never keep clean sheet for any competition. Dat one spell trouble as dem head to Etihad Stadium. City no fit afford complacency as dem look to book fourth round ticket, but Clement men unlikely to show much resistance. Prediction: Man City 4-1 Norwich City.
Man City go cope without Phil Foden on Thursday as he serve first game of three-match ban. Dem show Englishman straight red card for kicking out at Bruno Fernandes for Manchester derby. Jérémy Doku dey very close to City return, but e unlikely dem risk am from start against Norwich.
Maresca don hint say some academy talents go feature for Etihad. Ryan McAidoo and Kaden Braithwaite among those wey suppose earn meaningful minutes from start or bench. Gerónimo Rulli suppose make City debut between posts, while Ayyoub Bouaddi, Rico Lewis, Vitor Reis, Mateo Kovačić, Allan and Rayan Aït-Nouri among others wey fit come into XI.
Man City predicted lineup against Norwich for 4-2-3-1: Rulli; Lewis, Khusanov, Reis, O’Reilly; Bouaddi, Kovačić; Allan, Ndiaye, Aït-Nouri; Semenyo.
Clement get several injuries to contend with midweek, and dat limit him selection pool. Ali Ahmed, Gabriel Forsyth, Mirko Topić and Lucien Mahovo all absent through fitness issues. Norwich suppose name strong lineup for trip to Etihad as dem look to avoid embarrassment, with usual starters from first whistle.
City need keep eye on in-form Australian striker Mohamed Touré. E get six goal involvements in seven appearances dis season and 15 strikes in 19 appearances since e join Norwich in February. Young midfielder Jacob Wright, wey play four times for City, go feature for Etihad for first time since e leave club in Feb. 2025.
Norwich predicted lineup against Man City for 4-2-3-1: Kovačević; Stacey, McConville, Córdoba, Chrisene; McLean, Mattsson; Brooks, Diallo, Schwartau; Touré.
Manchester City fit welcome back Jeremy Doku for tonight Carabao Cup tie against Norwich. Doku don out with calf strain since last month Community Shield loss to Arsenal, but Enzo Maresca reveal for pre-match press conference say winger dey near return. He is very close, di Man City boss tell reporters.
Although City na holders, Maresca go consider dis competition as lowest priority. With that, Maresca, wey make eight changes at dis stage of last season competition when e dey Chelsea, likely give non-regulars game-time for third-round tie. He definitely go miss Phil Foden, whose three-match suspension begin after red card for Sunday derby win over rivals United.
Summer signing Geronimo Rulli, Argentine international wey join from Marseille, likely make debut for goal. For defense, Vitor Reis look set to make first start of season, with Rico Lewis also coming in. Teenage summer recruit Ayyoub Bouaddi suppose get more game-time for midfield, alongside Mateo Kovacic, while dis one na great chance for Brazilian winger Allan to make debut.
Rayan Ait-Nouri dey seen as more as winger than full-back by Maresca and fit start for right-hand side, although Iliman Ndiaye na another option. Di former Everton man eligible despite say e play for previous club for last round. With Erling Haaland due rest, Antoine Semenyo look most likely candidate to fill centre-forward position. Nico O’Reilly, wey play last eight minutes of Sunday derby after e return from injury, also contender for spot for defense or midfield, although dem fit manage him workload, especially as e dey away with England for World Cup for most of summer.
Predicted Man City XI for 4-2-3-1: Rulli; Khusanov, Reis, Guehi, Lewis; Kovacic, Bouaddi; Allan, Ndiaye, Ait-Nouri; Semenyo. Doubt: Doku with calf. Suspended: Foden.
