FA Cup

[monks data]

FA Cup | Third Round

Jan 7, 2024 at 2pm UK

Etihad Stadium

Man City
5 - 0
Huddersfield

Foden (33', 65'), Alvarez (37'), Jackson (58' og.), Doku (74')

FT(HT: 2-0)

Matos (13'), Spencer (90+3')

How Manchester City could line up against Huddersfield Town

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 05 January 2024

How Man City could line up against Huddersfield

Sports Mole takes an in-depth look at how Manchester City could line up for Sunday's FA Cup third-round clash with Huddersfield Town.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola could be without as many as eight players when the Citizens begin the defence of their FA Cup title against Huddersfield Town in Sunday's third-round clash at the Etihad.

All of Erling Haaland (foot), Jeremy Doku (muscle) or John Stones (ankle) were absent from the squad for last weekend's 2-0 Premier League win over Sheffield United, and only Doku has a strong chance of featuring against the Terriers this weekend.

Kevin De Bruyne was on the bench for the Premier League champions against the Blades last weekend, but having failed to earn any minutes as a substitute, he should also be kept waiting for his comeback start.

The Citizens coach has also revealed that Rodri will miss the game due to the death of his grandmother, while Scott Carson, Matheus Nunes, Kalvin Phillips and Bernardo Silva are all doubts due to illness.

Despite the raft of fresh concerns, Guardiola ought to tinker with his starting lineup for the visit of the struggling Terriers - who are 21st in the Championship - starting with Stefan Ortega coming in for Ederson in between the sticks.

Rico Lewis and Sergio Gomez are vying for starts in the full-back areas too, but the former could be required in midfield, so Kyle Walker, Ruben Dias and Manuel Akanji may provide a touch of experience as Man City's central partnership.

With Phillips and Nunes potentially sitting out the contest alongside definite absentee Rodri, Mateo Kovacic's spot in the engine room appears to be safe, and Lewis is the most likely candidate to join him.

Both Oscar Bobb and Micah Hamilton will be eyeing valuable minutes in the final third too, where Julian Alvarez and Phil Foden should also be strutting their stuff.

Manchester City possible starting lineup: Ortega; Walker, Dias, Akanji, Gomez; Lewis, Kovacic; Bobb, Foden, Hamilton; Alvarez