Manchester City travel to south Wales to face Swansea City in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup.
The Blues haven’t won the tournament since 2021, after going four consecutive seasons winning the trophy. They come into this game off the back of a 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa on Sunday.
Swansea, meanwhile, are sitting comfortably in midtable in the EFL Championship. They haven’t been in the Premier League for over seven years but have faced City numerous times in the cups since then, most recently in the FA Cup in 2021, where goals from Kyle Walker, Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus gave City a 3-1 win.
Here are five things to look out for as Pep Guardiola’s side face the Swans:
False nine Mukasa
HUDDERSFIELD, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 24: Divine Mukasa of Manchester City during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Huddersfield Town and Manchester City at Accu Stadium on September 24, 2025 in Huddersfield, England. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
HUDDERSFIELD, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 24: Divine Mukasa of Manchester City during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Huddersfield Town and Manchester City at Accu Stadium on September 24, 2025 in Huddersfield, England. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
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Divine Mukasa had a decent game against Huddersfield Town in the third round, and looks to be the next starlet to emerge from City’s academy.
He’s strong, quick footed, skillful and has an eye for goal. Whilst there’s plenty of competition for places in attacking positions, he should certainly be given the opportunity to start against Swansea.
And I expect him to start as the false nine. He’s been trusted there before by Guardiola as it’s a role that suits his skill set, and it’ll also allow the more senior players to operate in their preferred positions, which will be the priority.
Most players on the bench against Villa starting
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 20: Rayan Ait-Nouri and Nathan Ake of Manchester City smile in a training session at Manchester City Football Academy on October 20, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 20: Rayan Ait-Nouri and Nathan Ake of Manchester City smile in a training session at Manchester City Football Academy on October 20, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
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These midweek games are ideal at the moment for City, as it allows players who’ve been out injured or playing less frequently to come in and play.
Omar Marmoush, Rayan Ait-Nouri, Abdukodir Khusanov, Mateo Kovacic and Rayan Cherki have all spent at least a month out with injury recently. I expect all to start, or at least play a big role off the bench, against Swansea.
The likes of Rico Lewis and Nathan Ake, meanwhile, are squad players now and will surely start, whilst Jeremy Doku and Nico O’Reilly might also get the nod after being benched in the loss to Villa on Sunday.
And James Trafford will likely come into goal for the Blues, who are set to change things up and allow most of the players to have been benched a lot recently to build up match sharpness.
A similar game to Huddersfield
HUDDERSFIELD, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 24: Savinho of Manchester City celebrates scoring his team’s second goal with teammates during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Huddersfield Town and Manchester City at Accu Stadium on September 24, 2025 in Huddersfield, England. (Photo by Matt McNulty/Getty Images)
HUDDERSFIELD, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 24: Savinho of Manchester City celebrates scoring his team’s second goal with teammates during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Huddersfield Town and Manchester City at Accu Stadium on September 24, 2025 in Huddersfield, England. (Photo by Matt McNulty/Getty Images)
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In the third round, League One side Huddersfield Town sat deep, allowing City to have possession.
It was both a comforting watch, but also frustrating, as the Terriers put all their efforts into sitting deep and not letting City create any chances.
As it was, a moment of magic from Phil Foden and an excellent finish from Savinho got it over the line for City.
Swansea will have more about them going forwards, and will also have better individual defenders.
But they’ll be frightened of what City have to offer, and I expect them to sit deep and look to counter for damage limitation purposes, with the slight hope that they can nick a goal on the break.
Forwards looking for a goal
VILLARREAL, SPAIN - OCTOBER 21: Omar Marmoush of Manchester City looks on during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD3 match between Villarreal CF and Manchester City at Estadio de la Ceramica on October 21, 2025 in Villarreal, Spain. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
VILLARREAL, SPAIN - OCTOBER 21: Omar Marmoush of Manchester City looks on during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD3 match between Villarreal CF and Manchester City at Estadio de la Ceramica on October 21, 2025 in Villarreal, Spain. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
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The build up to the game has been surrounded by the criticism of City’s forwards for not contributing enough goals to the team - bar of course Erling Haaland.
The 25-year-old blanked for the first time in 13 games for club and country on Sunday, and no-one stepped up to score when he didn’t.
Savinho, Jeremy Doku and Oscar Bobb have received the brunt of the negativity, and I expect them all to feature at some point against the Swans.
Marmoush started fairly strongly last season and players tend to blossom in their second season under Guardiola, so he’ll be itching to get going after his injury setback.
If Marmoush, the wingers, Cherki and some of the other midfielders can start getting on the scoresheet regularly, it’ll ease the burden on Haaland and make City a more dangerous team.
A rest for Haaland
Erling Haaland centre-forward of Manchester City and Norway sitting on the bench during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 round of 16 match between Manchester City and Al-Hilal at Camping World Stadium on June 30, 2025 in Orlando, United States. (Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Erling Haaland centre-forward of Manchester City and Norway sitting on the bench during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 round of 16 match between Manchester City and Al-Hilal at Camping World Stadium on June 30, 2025 in Orlando, United States. (Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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Speaking of the Norwegian forward, I’d be very surprised if he starts, or even features at all, against Swansea.
Haaland‘s minutes must be managed carefully, especially considering he’s the only recognised striker at the club and with no-one else contributing goals regularly at the moment.
I’d let him sit out of the matchday squad entirely and give the opportunity to a young player to potentially get first team minutes, and leave the big man rested for the weekend.