FA Cup | Third Round

Jan 11, 2025 at 5.45pm UK

Etihad Stadium

Man City vs Salford City

Match preview

After ending 2024 on a much-needed high with a 2-0 win at Leicester City, Man City kicked off 2025 with a 4-1 home win over West Ham United last weekend, thanks to two goals from Erling Haaland, one from Phil Foden and a man-of-the-match display from Savinho, who had a hand in three of the hosts' four goals.

Man City's performance was far from perfect, however, and Pep Guardiola has insisted that the reigning champions - who sit sixth in the Premier League table, two points outside the top four - are "absolutely not" back to their best.

Before turning their attention to the Premier League and Champions League later this month, the Citizens will begin their quest for an eighth FA Cup and third in the last seven years under Guardiola this weekend.

Last season's finalists against rivals Manchester United have reached at least the semi-finals of the FA Cup in each of the last six years, while they have not been knocked out in the third round since losing 3-2 to the Red Devils in 2012. Including replays, Man City have won their last 11 third-round ties by an impressive aggregate score of 46-4.

The Citizens have also enjoyed plenty of success against lower-division sides in domestic cup competitions, winning their last 24 such matches (in both the FA Cup and EFL Cup) by a combined score of 88-12 since losing 2-1 at home to Wigan Athletic in the sixth round of the FA Cup in 2018.

Salford City made history by reaching the third round of the FA Cup for the first time after beating League Two Cheltenham Town 2-0 in the second round at the end of November.

That victory was one of eight clean sheets Karl Robinson's men have recorded in their last nine games in all competitions, and a superb six-game winning run in the fourth tier has put them in the promotion hunt.

The Ammies continued their good form with a narrow 1-0 win at Robinson's former club MK Dons last weekend, courtesy of a first-half goal from Hakeeb Adelakun, to move up to third in League Two, just two points clear of second-placed Crewe Alexandra, with Doncaster Rovers in seventh.

Salford are now preparing for only their third meeting with Premier League opposition, having previously lost 3-0 away to Everton in 2020 and 4-0 at home to Burnley in the EFL Cup in 2023.

And while Robinson admits it will be "very difficult" for his in-form Salford side to keep a clean sheet against Man City, he insists his side will "continue to play the same way" against a Citizens side who have won each of their last 17 games against them.

Recent Performance

Manchester City form (all competitions):LLLDWW

Salford City FA Cup form:WW

Salford City form (all competitions):WWWWWW

Team News

Man City trio Rodri (ACL), Ruben Dias (muscle) and John Stones (ankle) remain sidelined, as does Oscar Bobb, although he returned to partial training this week after five months out with a broken leg, while Ederson is "fine" after missing the last four games with a knock and could feature this weekend.

Guardiola is expected to make a number of changes, with academy starlets Jahmai Simpson-Pusey, Josh Wilson-Esbrand, James McAtee, Nico O'Rielly and Jacob Wright all in contention. Meanwhile, Divin Mubama - a summer signing from West Ham - could make his City debut up front, with Haaland expected to be one of several senior stars to be rested.

Out-of-form Jack Grealish, eager to prove his worth under Guardiola, will be pushing for a start on the left, while Ilkay Gundogan, Matheus Nunes and Jeremy Doku could also be recalled.

Salford will be without James Chester, Dan Chesters, Kelly Nmai, Francis Okoronkwo and Josh Austerfield as they continue to recover from injury, while Ben Woodburn will be assessed before kick-off.

Robinson is expected to name a strong starting line-up that includes top scorer Cole Stockton, who has scored six of his nine goals this season in his last nine appearances.

The back three of captain Curtis Tilt, Liam Shephard and Luke Garbutt - who was nominated for the League Two Player of the Month award in December - is likely to remain intact, while the key partnership of Tyrese Fornah and Ossama Ashley could be joined in midfield by Ryan Watson.

Possible starting lineup

Manchester City possible starting lineup:

Ortega; Walker, Simpson-Pusey, Akanji, Wilson-Esbrand; O'Reilly, Gundogan; Doku, McAtee, Grealish; Mubama

Salford City possible starting lineup:

Young; Shephard, Tilt, Garbutt; Taylor, Watson, Ashley, Fornah, Berkoe; Adelakun, Stockton