Manchester City vs Brighton: Predicted Line-up, Team News and Carabao Cup Selection Calls

Manchester City will rotate for the Carabao Cup meeting with Brighton, but this is not a throwaway night. Enzo Maresca has decided to leave out five senior players, Erling Haaland, Josko Gvardiol, Elliot Anderson, Ruben Dias and Gianluigi Donnarumma, all handed three days of rest ahead of a crowded run of fixtures.

That tells you two things. First, City are managing minutes aggressively. Second, they still believe they have enough depth to get through against strong Premier League opposition. That tends to be the reality at the Etihad. Resting star names does not automatically mean lowering the level.

Man City rotation still leaves serious quality

Haaland misses out after recent fitness concerns, despite scoring against Aston Villa. His absence opens the door for others, and there are plenty of options behind him. Phil Foden has form and rhythm, and this sort of tie is exactly where he can push his case harder. Jeremy Doku also looks likely to benefit. He has featured, though probably not as much as he would want, and a start here makes sense.

There is also interest around Allan, who is still adapting to Premier League football. City will want to accelerate that process, and a cup tie against Brighton provides a proper test. It is competitive, technical and fast, which is useful if you are trying to find out how quickly a player is settling.

Brighton test could shape midfield and defence

In midfield, Ayoub Bouaddi is expected to come in alongside Mateo Kovacic. That pairing gives Maresca control and passing range, with Bouaddi offering energy and a chance to prove he can be trusted in sharper games.

At the back, Rico Lewis should start at right-back, while Nico O’Reilly is an option on the left in place of Gvardiol. Vitor Reis and Abdukodir Khusanov did well together in the previous round against Norwich, so there is logic in keeping that partnership intact. It would be a clear sign that Maresca sees both as more than emergency options.

The one genuine decision is in goal. Geronimo Rulli made his City debut in the last round and could retain his place. The alternative would be to restore Donnarumma, but with the Italian specifically rested, that seems unlikely.

Predicted Manchester City XI for Carabao Cup clash

There is enough here for City to field a changed side without losing structure. The likely team looks like this:

Rulli, Lewis, Reis, Khusanov, O’Reilly, Kovacic, Bouaddi, Allan, Foden, Doku, McAidoo.

Ryan McAidoo could get the nod through the middle, which would be another indication that Maresca is prepared to use this competition to push younger players into meaningful minutes. Floyd Samba is another youngster around the squad, but this game may come down to how much risk City are willing to take against capable opposition.

Carabao Cup team news and match details

Kick-off is set for 7.30pm GMT on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, at the Etihad Stadium. Brighton arrive as awkward opponents, organised enough to punish sloppy rotation, so City’s fringe players will need to be sharp from the start. The changes are coming, but the expectation remains the same. Win the tie and move on.