Man City Eye Victory Against Huddersfield: Team News, Bold Predictions and Starting XI Revealed

Manchester City's journey to reclaim the Carabao Cup starts with an away fixture against League One side Huddersfield Town this Wednesday evening.

The Citizens come into this cup encounter following their inaugural three-match week of the campaign, which ended with a 1–1 stalemate against Arsenal on Sunday. Pep Guardiola's team had previously secured victories over Manchester United and Napoli.

The tactician's strategic shift at the Emirates highlighted the exhaustion currently affecting his squad at this early stage, making him eager to provide some key players with rest before facing Burnley this weekend.

City were previously dominant in this tournament, claiming the silverware four consecutive times from 2018 to 2021, but haven't secured victory since then.

Their next adversaries, Huddersfield, are currently managed by ex-Man United keeper Lee Grant. His inaugural coaching position has begun encouragingly in Yorkshire, with the Terriers positioned fifth in League One following nine matches. They've also defeated higher-division clubs, including Premier League side Sunderland, to advance to this competition's third round.

Here is Sports Illustrated's preview of Wednesday's Carabao Cup encounter.

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Huddersfield vs. Man City Head-to-Head Record (Last Five Games)

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Huddersfield Team News

Grant's squad has navigated several significant challenges in this tournament so far, and the new boss shouldn't alter much regarding personnel from their triumphs over Leicester City and Sunderland in earlier rounds.

Nevertheless, the home team will be missing injured trio Herbie Kane, Lynden Gooch and Jack Whatmough for Wednesday's fixture.

Two of their Carabao Cup scorers thus far, David Vost and Chelsea loanee Leo Castledine, are certain to feature in Grant's starting eleven.

Huddersfield Predicted Lineup vs. Man City

Huddersfield predicted lineup vs. Man City (4-2-3-1): Nicholls; Sørensen, Feeney, Wallace, Roughan; Vost, Kasumu; Charles, Castledine, Alves; Taylor

Man City Team News

Following their demanding three-match stretch last week, Guardiola will be anxious to give some of his essential players a break midweek. Players like Erling Haaland, Jérémy Doku, Bernardo Silva and Rúben Dias are all expected to be rested on Wednesday evening.

With Omar Marmoush still unavailable, Oscar Bobb or Phil Foden could be deployed as a false nine in Haaland's absence, while Savinho should earn his first start of the campaign. Young prospects Divine Mukasa and Reigan Heskey are also names worth monitoring.

Defenders Abdukodir Khusanov and Nico O'Reilly sustained injuries at the weekend and likely won't be risked, while City remain without Mateo Kovačić, Rayan Cherki and Rayan Aït-Nouri due to injuries.

Man City Predicted Lineup vs. Huddersfield

Man City predicted lineup vs. Huddersfield (4-1-4-1): Trafford; Nunes, Stones, Mfuni, Aké; Nico; Bobb, Lewis, Reijnders, Savinho; Foden.

Huddersfield vs. Man City Score Prediction

City have essentially deprioritized their advancement in this tournament to focus on more ambitious objectives in recent seasons, but Guardiola's team should possess sufficient quality to defeat League One opposition on Wednesday.

Haaland's probable absence suggests the visitors may not overwhelm their hosts completely, however, and the manager's tactical adjustment to an extremely defensive approach in Sunday's second half indicates someone still searching for the optimal formula for this version of the Sky Blues.

This could prove to be a closer cup match than anticipated, but Guardiola's squad will eventually prevent an upset.

Prediction: Huddersfield 1–2 Man City