Manchester City vs Brighton & Hove Albion in the Carabao Cup fourth round on Wednesday, 28 October 2026. Kick-off is at 19:30 UK time (19:30 UTC) at the Etihad Stadium, with a quarter-final place at stake. City manager Enzo Maresca has confirmed Gerónimo Rulli will start in goal, while Brighton have reported that Mats Wieffer and Yankuba Minteh could return. This Manchester City vs Brighton Carabao Cup meeting will test both clubs’ squad depth in a busy run of fixtures.

The Manchester City vs Brighton match preview centres on confirmed selection news, each side’s path to round four and what recent meetings suggest. City eliminated Norwich City 5–0 in the previous round; Brighton advanced with a 3–2 away win against Manchester United. The visitors have already faced City in league competition this calendar year, making their familiarity another consideration ahead of the cup tie.

The Man City vs Brighton EFL Cup tie is a single knockout fixture. Manchester City’s official match page will publish the confirmed teams around an hour before kick-off.

Maresca has confirmed that goalkeeper Gerónimo Rulli will start. The manager also said Erling Haaland, Elliot Anderson, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Joško Gvardiol and Rúben Dias had been given three days off following the 2–1 defeat at Aston Villa. These are confirmed rest arrangements, not a complete injury list or an official starting XI.

That makes Manchester City vs Brighton team news particularly relevant for interpreting the likely rotation. City’s available attackers and midfielders still give Maresca several options, but naming an entire eleven before the club announcement would turn selection possibilities into unverified claims. For context on the preceding fixture, read our Aston Villa vs Manchester City coverage

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Brighton say Mats Wieffer and Yankuba Minteh are back in contention. Ferdi Kadioglu and Chema Andres picked up hip problems in the 2–0 loss at Liverpool and require assessment ahead of the cup game. The Manchester City vs Brighton injuries picture therefore includes both potential returns and late fitness decisions; it does not confirm who will make the final squad.

For another look at Brighton’s European schedule and squad options, see the Jablonec vs Brighton Conference League preview

Searches for Man City vs Brighton predicted lineups are best answered by distinguishing what the coaches have said from speculation. Rulli is confirmed to start for City. Other selections remain unconfirmed, and Brighton’s late fitness checks could affect Hürzeler’s team. Official lineups should replace predicted combinations once released.

The Manchester City vs Brighton head to head includes a recent 1–1 Premier League draw at the Etihad in January 2026. Haaland scored for City before Kaoru Mitoma equalised. That result offers a more useful comparison than assuming City’s historical advantage will decide the cup tie.

The clubs also met in this competition in 2008. Brighton advanced after a 2–2 draw and a 5–3 penalty-shootout victory. The Manchester City vs Brighton last match in league play, and that older cup upset, show why league position alone does not settle a knockout contest.

City reached this stage by beating Norwich 5–0, but their most recent Premier League outing ended in a 2–1 loss away at Aston Villa. Assessing Manchester City vs Brighton recent form therefore requires separating cup progress from league results. The Norwich scoreline demonstrated City’s attacking output in the competition; the Villa defeat gives Maresca an immediate chance to reassess his setup.

Brighton progressed with a 3–2 win at Old Trafford. Their subsequent 2–0 league defeat at Liverpool creates a different backdrop for this visit, particularly given their fitness concerns. Reaching the quarter-finals would be notable: the club says it has only reached that stage once before.

Hürzeler’s Brighton are associated with high-energy pressing, while City often seek to control possession and territory. The first question is whether Brighton can disrupt City’s buildup without leaving space behind the press. The second is how Maresca’s rotation changes City’s ability to recycle possession and defend transitions.

The Manchester City vs Brighton match stats will be useful after kickoff, especially possession, attempts on goal and chances created. Before a ball is kicked, tactical claims should remain questions grounded in each team’s established approach rather than descriptions of events that have not happened.

For Manchester City vs Brighton where to watch, Manchester City confirms Sky Sports+ coverage in the United Kingdom and provides a link to international broadcast listings. Rights vary by territory, so a single worldwide television channel should not be assumed.

For the Manchester City vs Brighton live score, confirmed starting lineups, match events and the full-time result, check SportPesa Score

Explore more fixtures and related reports through SportPesa Global football coverage

The fourth-round match is scheduled for Wednesday, 28 October 2026.

Kick-off is 19:30 UK time (19:30 UTC) at the Etihad Stadium.

Enzo Maresca manages Manchester City and Fabian Hürzeler manages Brighton.

City confirmed Haaland was among five senior players given three days off after the Aston Villa match. His matchday selection was not confirmed in that update.

Gerónimo Rulli is confirmed to start in goal. The rest of the starting XI should be checked after the official teams are announced.

Check SportPesa Score for match results and statistics. Official club and competition channels are appropriate sources for licensed highlights once published.

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Manchester City vs Brighton puts two Premier League clubs into a single-elimination cup tie with different selection concerns. Rulli’s confirmed start, Brighton’s possible returns and the clubs’ contrasting results immediately before this match provide the clearest preview context. Check SportPesa Score for the confirmed lineups and result, and follow SportPesa Global for further football news.