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Manchester City logo
EFL Cup | Third Round
Sep 24, 2024 at 7.45pm UK
Etihad Stadium
Watford logo

Man City
2 - 1
Watford

Doku (5'), Nunes (38')
FT(HT: 2-0)
Ince (86')

Man City vs. Watford: Predicted XI for EFL Cup third-round clash

Arsenal hero Stones among 11 changes? How Man City could line up vs. Watford
© Imago
Sports Mole takes an in-depth look at how Manchester City could line up for Tuesday's EFL Cup third-round clash with Watford.

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola could make a full 11 changes for Tuesday's EFL Cup third-round clash with Watford at the Etihad Stadium.

The knockout clash comes a little over 48 hours after their captivating 2-2 Premier League draw with Arsenal, where a 98th-minute John Stones leveller kept the Citizens at the summit.

The Englishman could very well be one of the players drafted into a second-string City XI, which should also feature a handful of Under-21 talents alongside Guardiola's fringe senior players.

Stones could be the most experienced member of a backline also comprising the young Rico Lewis, Jahmai Simpson-Pusey and Josh Wilson-Esbrand, while Stefan Ortega will no doubt replace Ederson in goal.

Matheus Nunes should be awarded a rare chance to make his mark in the engine room, where 19-year-old Jacob Wright could join him in a double pivot, with James McAtee operating just ahead of them.

Wright's fellow Under-21s star Nico O'Reilly - who captains the Citizens' youth team - is a candidate to start on the right-hand side of the attack, while Jack Grealish played 20 minutes on Sunday so ought to be fine to start this one.

As 100-goal striker Erling Haaland is surely due a rest, Phil Foden could very well operate in the false nine role, unless Guardiola promotes Jaden Heskey - son of Emile - to the senior selection.

Kevin De Bruyne (groin), Nathan Ake (thigh) and Oscar Bobb (leg) are all out of contention, while Rodri suffered a severe knee injury in the Arsenal draw, and it has now emerged that the Spaniard could miss the rest of the season with an ACL tear.

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

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Written by
Ben Knapton
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Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne pictured on May 25, 2024
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