Manchester City host League Two Salford City in the third round of the FA Cup, with Pep Guardiola’s side looking to continue their promising recent form and avoid an almighty upset.

The Premier League champions have started the new year strongly, claiming back-to-back victories after a disappointing run that saw them win just one of 13 matches in all competitions.

It would also give Guardiola a rare opportunity to shake up the relatively small squad he currently has and give some of the younger members of his squad a chance.

Salford, meanwhile, are third in the fourth tier of English football. And while the hosts will be firm favorites to progress, the club co-owned by members of Manchester United’s ‘Class of ’92’ will bring an extra layer of spice to the occasion with a short trip to the Etihad.

Read on to see how both teams line up.

Manchester City Team News

Nathan Ake and Savinho are the only two players who have retained their place in the City squad since the Premier League win over West Ham as, perhaps surprisingly, Guardiola makes nine changes.

20-year-old Dwin Mbama, who joined from the Hammers in the summer, makes his senior debut, while Ederson, Jack Grealish and Ilkay Gundogan also start.

In Your City XI #FACup ✊

XI| Ederson, Simpson-Pusey, Ake, Nunes, Gundogan (c), O’Reilly, McAtee, Doku, Grealish, Savinho, Mubama

SUBS | Ortega Moreno, Kovacic, Haaland, De Bruyne, Bernardo, Guardiol, Akanji, Foden, Luiz#mancity | @Etihad pic.twitter.com/l8OY9OSrUU

— Manchester City (@ManCity) January 11, 2025

Salford City team news

The League Two high-flyers make two changes for the short trip to the Etihad, with Matty Lund and Kylian Cousin coming on.

Boss Karl Robinson, aided by former Manchester United player Ryan Giggs in the dugout, names three Under-18 players on the bench as Salford, despite their opponents’ recent poor results, cause what will be one of the competition’s all-time greats. The greatest discomfort.

Yours @EmiratesFACup The Emmys in Man City this afternoon 📋

♦️ 2 changes
♦️ Lund and Cousy enter
♦️ 3 U18s on the bench#MCISAL pic.twitter.com/M94TIgpi0j

– Salford City FC (@SalfordCityFC) January 11, 2025