Manchester City vs Watford (Carabao Cup Third Round): Match Preview, Team News, Head to Head, How To Watch | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola and his Manchester City players return to action just 49 hours after concluding their 2-2 battle with Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Despite the frustration of being held to a draw by their title rivals and their nine-man defence on the weekend, Manchester City’s unbeaten start to the season remains in tact after four wins and a draw in the top-flight this season.

The drama of Sunday afternoon’s clash with Mikel Arteta’s side followed a 0-0 draw against Inter last week, and Manchester City will be hoping to get back to winning ways by progressing into the fourth round of the League Cup.

One man who won’t be continuing his own form is Erling Haaland, who has been granted a period of time off away from the club due to personal reasons and as such will be absent from the third round Carabao Cup tie against Watford.

Tom Cleverley’s Hornets have played six matches in the Championship so far this season, recording three wins, one draw, and two defeats, finding themselves in eighth position in the division as they go in search of a Premier League promotion place.

As Manchester City look to maintain their hopes of a clean sweep of trophies this season, here is everything you need to know ahead of the encounter at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday night!

Match Details

Manchester City take on Watford at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday 24 September, with kick-off at the home of the Premier League champions scheduled for 19:45 (UK).

Match Officials

David Webb has been appointed as the on-field match referee for the meeting between Manchester City and Watford on Tuesday night.

You can find the full team of match officials below!

Team News

Pep Guardiola has a growing injury list to contend with, alongside one further confirmed and authorised absence from the first-team squad, when Watford travel to the Etihad Stadium this week.

In the longer-standing absentees from the squad, both Nathan Ake and Oscar Bobb remain ruled out for this one through muscular and a fractured leg bone injury respectively, with returns not expected for several more weeks.

Kevin De Bruyne is also ruled out for the midweek affair, having not recovered from a groin problem sustained in the UEFA Champions League tie with Inter last week. Pep Guardiola told a recent press conference, “I don’t think it will be long. He was not able today (against Arsenal). I will not say Watford, I don’t know for Newcastle. But I think it will not be long.”

However, the latest blow concerns arguably Manchester City’s most important player, with Rodri expected to be ruled out for the best part of the remaining months of the season through a ‘serious’ knee injury sustained against Arsenal on Sunday.

The Spaniard is in Barcelona at present for further examination on the problem, with initial testing conducted by Manchester City’s medical professionals pointing towards anterior cruciate ligament damage.

As for Manchester City’s opponents Watford, Daniel Bachmann and Francisco Sierralta are both undergoing scans to assess the extent of muscular injuries that forced them off early in their weekend defeat to Norwich City.

Ryan Andrews will not travel for the Carabao Cup third round tie at Manchester City due to a hamstring issue, while Daniel Jebbison will also be unavailable as he is cup-tied.

Head To Head

Manchester City have a hugely successful history of form when taking on Watford, having met the Hornets on 33 previous occasions across all competitions, winning 22 matches, drawing five times, and falling to defeat in six matches.

City are also currently on a 20-game unbeaten run against Watford, winning all of the last 15 meetings and the last outing seeing the club record a 5-1 win in 2022 during a Premier League clash at the Etihad Stadium.

Gabriel Jesus scored four goals that afternoon, with a further strike added to the scoresheet by Rodri en route to another Premier League crown and moving four points clear at the top of the English top-flight table.

How To Watch

For viewers in the United Kingdom, Manchester City against Watford will be available live on Sky Sports+.

As for those residing in the United States, the game will be available on Paramount+.

You can find full global TV listings for the third round encounter in the Carabao Cup HERE!

City Xtra will have full live coverage available on our X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram channels throughout matchday, with content also provided on cityxtra.co.uk and YouTube!