League Cup,
Round of 16
Manchester City
MCI
28/10/2026
7:30 p.m
Brighton
BRI
-
place
- Etihad Stadium
-
referee
- Andrew Madeley
Where to watch Manchester City-Brighton: TV and online broadcasts
Manchester City versus Brighton kicks off at 19:30 GMT on Wednesday 28 October at the Etihad Stadium.
The match is live on Sky Sports in the UK. You can also stream it on the Sky Go app.
Fans overseas should check theirs holders of local EFL Cup television rights.
Preview of Manchester City-Brighton
Manchester City’s domestic dominance is over and Enzo Maresca responded by sending five of his biggest names on holiday. The EFL Cup champions host Brighton at the Etihad on Wednesday night in the first of back-to-back meetings with the Seagulls, and Maresca will be looking to rest several of his star men.
City’s perfect Premier League record came to an end at Villa Park on Saturday. Aston Villa won 2-1, and Maresca was frustrated that his side didn’t take their chances and was punished for it. It was City’s second defeat in four games in all competitions, following a 4-2 defeat at home to PSG in the Champions League.
Maresca has been open about his approach for this tie. “After Villa, we gave five players three days off. Erling (Haaland), Elliot (Anderson), Gigi (Donnarumma), Ruben (Dias) and Josko (Gvardiol). Go on holiday. Three days off, go, come back,” he said.
The quintet are now back but are unlikely to face Brighton.
City are still expected to take this competition seriously. They beat Norwich 5-0 in the third round, and as a starter, Maresca will be looking to collect silverware at the first opportunity.
Mresca said of Brighton: “They are very brave in terms of aggression and when they have the ball, they attack with so many players and they are creating a lot of chances, scoring a lot of goals. So yes, we have to pay attention defensively and we have to do the right things offensively.”
Brighton have hit a sticky patch. After a bright start to the season, Fabian Hürzeler’s side have gone two games without a win, drawing 0-0 at Jablonec in the Liga Conference and then losing 2-0 at Liverpool on Sunday.
However, they have already shown their quality in this competition. Brighton came from 2-0 down to defeat Manchester United 3-2 in the third round.
Brighton have also had the better of City in recent meetings. City have failed to win any of their last four games against the Seagulls.
Manchester City v Brighton Team News
Gerónimo Rulli will start in goal for City, making his second appearance for the club following his debut against Norwich. Maresca said: “He’s fine. Before I got here I had a conversation with him, he knows exactly his role. Day-to-day he’s helping a lot. When he played a few minutes he was fine and he’ll play again tomorrow.”
Vitor Reis and Abdukodir Khusanov formed an effective centre-back partnership against Norwich and could start together again. Rico Lewis will play at right back, with Nico O’Reilly on the left.
Matheus Nunes has been cleared to return, but Antoine Semenyo remains sidelined with a knee injury.
Phil Foden has been in excellent form and is expected to start in attacking midfield, while young forward Ryan McAidoo could get a chance up front in Haaland’s absence.
For Brighton, Hürzeler is expected to make changes ahead of the Premier League meeting with City at the weekend. Kaoru Mitoma, Evan Ferguson, Stefanos Tzimas and Femi Azeez remain out, while Yankuba Minteh and Mats Wieffer are close to returning.
Expected line-ups for Manchester City-Brighton
Manchester City: Rulli; Lewis, Reis, Khusanov, O’Reilly; Kovačić, Bouaddi; Allan, Foden, Doku; McAidoo
Brighton: Steele; Costinha, Vuskovic, Dunk, Hadjam; Gross, Yalcouye; Gomez, Hinshelwood, Osman; Rutter
Manchester City v Brighton recent form and stats
- Manchester City have conceded nine times in their last four games in all competitions
- City have won the EFL Cup nine times, just one less than Liverpool
- City are winless in four meetings with Brighton (D2 L2)
- City have been knocked out of the EFL Cup before the fifth round in three of the last five seasons
- Brighton’s trip to the Etihad is the third of five away games in a row over a 16-day period.
- The Seagulls have never beaten Man City away from home in 17 previous attempts (D3 D14)
Manchester City-Brighton Prediction
Beating Brighton is never easy, but the depth of City’s squad certainly gives them the edge in this one.
Manchester City
2-0
Brighton
