Manchester City Begin EFL Cup Campaign Against Watford

Manchester City begin their EFL Cup journey with a third-round tie against Watford at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday, a fixture that brings painful memories for the visiting side.

While Premier League champions Manchester City make their entry at this stage, Watford have already overcome MK Dons and Plymouth Argyle to set up this prestigious encounter.

Match Preview
Under Pep Guardiola’s tenure, Manchester City have turned the EFL Cup into one of their most successful competitions, securing four consecutive titles from 2017 to 2021. However, they have not won the trophy since their 2020-21 triumph and have been knocked out in the quarter-finals the last two seasons.

Guardiola will look to regain the crown this year, and City’s form remains strong despite being held to a 2-2 draw against Arsenal on Sunday. Substitute John Stones scored City's latest-ever Premier League goal to secure the draw, which kept them top of the league standings and ended their 13-match winning streak.

Meanwhile, Watford, under the guidance of Tom Cleverley, have had a mixed September after starting the season in flying form. Following five straight wins, including their EFL Cup victories over MK Dons and Plymouth, they have only managed one point in their last three Championship games. Watford will be seeking to reignite their form but face an uphill battle, especially given their poor record against City, having lost 15 straight encounters since 2017.

Team News
City’s midfield talisman Rodri is out for the season with an ACL injury, while Kevin De Bruyne and Oscar Bobb are also expected to sit out due to respective groin and leg injuries. Guardiola could rotate heavily, potentially bringing in younger players like Nico O’Reilly and James McAtee for the cup tie.

Watford, on the other hand, face several absences. Goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann and defender Francisco Sierralta will miss out after picking up muscle injuries in their recent defeat to Norwich. Jonathan Bond and Ryan Porteous are likely replacements, while Ryan Andrews and Kevin Keben are also unavailable due to hamstring and knee injuries.

Possible Lineups
Man City: Ortega; Lewis, Stones, Simpson-Pusey, Wilson-Esbrand; Nunes, Wright; O'Reilly, McAtee, Grealish; Foden

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