Man City Name Second-String XI to Face Brighton in EFL Cup at Etihad

Rotation by Manchester City coupled with Brighton’s injury absences turns the cup tie into a direct test of each side’s squad depth.

Overview

The EFL Cup Round of 16 between Manchester City and Brighton kicks off at 7:30pm GMT on Wednesday 28 October 2026 at the Etihad Stadium and will be shown live in the UK on Sky Sports and via Sky Go.
Manager Enzo Maresca rested five senior players after the recent defeat to Aston Villa and those players have returned to training but are unlikely to feature in tonight’s match.
Gerónimo Rulli is expected to start in goal for City, which signals a clear rotation strategy that could hand minutes to younger or fringe players across the team.
Brighton arrive with several absences and a short dip in form following a 0-0 draw in the Conference League and a 2-0 league loss at Liverpool, though they remain unbeaten in their last four meetings with City.
Match officials and markets are active before kick-off with Andrew Madley reported as referee and bookmakers and outlets offering bets and bet-builder suggestions that largely back a competitive game with goals at both ends.