Preview: Manchester City to face Watford - Predictions, team updates, and starting lineups

Sports Mole previews Tuesday's EFL Cup conflict between Manchester City and Watford, together with predictions, team information and doable lineups.

A matchup that can set off many a painful reminiscence for the visiting crowd, Manchester City and Watford cross paths in Tuesday's EFL Cup third-spherical conflict on the Etihad Stadium.

While the reigning Premier League champions enter certainly one of their favorite competitions – at the very least when it comes to success underneath Pep Guardiola – at this stage, the Hornets have already seen off MK Dons and Plymouth Argyle to arrange a glamour tie.

Match preview

A contest that used to be a foregone conclusion through the earlier years of Guardiola's Man City reign, the highest-flight champions are but to add one other EFL Cup crown to their tally since a outstanding fourth on the bounce – and their eighth total – within the COVID-affected 2020-21 season.

The Citizens have swapped EFL Cup medals for shinier Champions League and Club World Cup accolades over the previous couple f years, though they've evidently misplaced their knockout nous on this competitors, solely getting so far as the quarter-finals for the reason that begin of the 2021-22 season.

Guardiola's bid to regain EFL Cup supremacy final yr memorably ended at this actual hurdle to Newcastle United, however not since 1987 have they suffered back-to-back third-spherical eliminations, and the excessive from the weekend's absorbing occasions could not have worn off somewhat over 48 hours later.

For over 45 minutes of Sunday's second half with Arsenal, the Gunners' 10-man low block appeared impenetrable, just for substitute John Stones to bundle house Man City's newest-ever Premier League purpose on report in an engrossing 2-2 draw, one which retains Guardiola's males on the summit whereas concurrently ending their 13-match profitable run within the high flight.

Erling Haaland‘s report-breaking one centesimal Man City purpose preceded Stones's bedlam-inducing leveller – in addition to Riccardo Calafiori and Gabriel Magalhaes‘s efforts in between – however the Scandinavian sensation will certainly have to watch for quantity 101 because the hosts work with only one full day of relaxation.

Now underneath the wing of a person who briefly made his mark on the crimson aspect of Manchester, Watford journey to the Etihad having barely misplaced their means underneath Tom Cleverley, who oversaw an impressive begin earlier than the month of September introduced a month of sorrow.

Indeed, the Hornets received every of their first 5 aggressive matches underneath the ex-Manchester United midfielder, together with a 5-0 dismantling of MK Dons and 2-0 win over Plymouth Argyle within the earlier EFL Cup rounds to attain the third spherical for the primary time for the reason that 2021-22 season.

However, that two-purpose overcome Plymouth on August 27 represents the Hornets' most up-to-date win in any setting, as they've solely taken a paltry one level from three Championship video games this month, shedding to Sheffield United and Norwich City both aspect of a house draw with Coventry City.

Saturday's defeat to Norwich was significantly chastening for Cleverley, whose aspect had been swept apart 4-1 by the Canaries to depart them outdoors of the highest six in eighth place, albeit nonetheless only one level outdoors of the playoffs at this early stage.

Both the September type guide and head-to-head report makes for terribly grim studying for the Watford devoted. Since holding the Citizens to a 1-1 attract 2017, the Hornets have misplaced every of their final 15 video games towards cruel Man City, conceding a staggering 58 targets at a charge of almost 4 per recreation. If nothing else, the Hornets can at the very least count on 100-purpose Haaland to be rested in midweek.

Manchester City type (all competitions):

Watford EFL Cup type:

Watford type (all competitions):

Team News

In what could go down as essentially the most forgettable look of his profession, Rodri went down twice within the weekend's draw, one after a fifth-second conflict with Kai Havertz and then with an obvious severe knee harm, which is reportedly a devastating, season-ending ACL tear.

Despite Guardiola suggesting that Kevin De Bruyne (groin) may have been obtainable for the conflict with Arsenal, the Belgian – as reviews steered – was not within the matchday squad and shouldn't be thrown again into motion towards second-tier opposition both. Oscar Bobb (leg) and Nathan Ake (thigh) are additionally sidelined.

A full 11 adjustments can't be dominated out by the City boss, who may additionally plunder the membership's Under-21s ranks to assist fill his choice for Tuesday's recreation, the place the extremely-rated Nico O'Reilly may play a distinguished position.

Meanwhile, Watford's efforts towards Norwich weren't helped by two early defensive withdrawals, as goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann and centre-again Francisco Sierralta had been each taken off inside only a few minutes of one another within the first quarter of the sport.

Watford have confirmed that neither man's muscle harm is severe, however they won't make the minimize on Tuesday, so backup goalkeeper Jonathan Bond and Ryan Porteous ought to be drafted into the XI as their replacements.

Kevin Keben (knee) and weekend goalscorer Ryan Andrews (hamstring) are additionally out of rivalry for the Hornets, whereas striker Daniel Jebbison is cup-tied, having performed for Bournemouth within the second spherical earlier than his mortgage transfer to Vicarage Road.

Manchester City doable starting lineup:
Ortega; Lewis, Stones, Simpson-Pusey, Wilson-Esbrand; Nunes, Wright; O'Reilly, McAtee, Grealish; Foden

Watford doable starting lineup:
Bond; Morris, Pollock, Porteous; Ebosele, Dele-Bashiru, Sissoko, Sema; Chakvetadze, Baah; Bayo

We say: Manchester City 2-0 Watford

Even with a full complement of adjustments and a number of younger stars handed alternatives to impress, count on Man City's streak of scoring a number of targets in video games towards Watford to proceed because the Citizens progress to spherical 4.

Cleverley's Hornets are low on morale proper now and have been hit by two defensive harm blows on the worst time, so we can not envisage the out-of-kinds guests getting one thing towards a makeshift City unit, albeit one nonetheless brimming with expertise.

For knowledge evaluation of the most certainly outcomes, scorelines and extra for this match please click on right here.