Manchester City to host Brighton at Etihad in Carabao Cup fourth round

Manchester City will host Brighton & Hove Albion at the Etihad Stadium in the fourth round of the EFL Cup 2026-27 on October 28, 2026. Confirmed starting lineups and pre-match updates have been released ahead of the tie.

Enzo Maresca’s Manchester City arrive having lost 1-2 to Aston Villa in their most recent Premier League outing. The report described City as lacking a finishing touch in attack and warned they must not repeat that in the cup; it also said the side’s defence has not been up to the mark. Playing at home was identified as a major advantage for City, who were noted for controlling the tempo.

Fabian Hürzeler’s Brighton have failed to win in their last two matches, first held to a 0-0 draw in the Conference League and then beaten 0-2 by Liverpool in the Premier League. The Seagulls will be looking to return to winning ways but must cope with the added pressure of an away tie at the Etihad.

Erling Haaland was the sole goalscorer for Manchester City in the 1-2 loss to Aston Villa, and the piece described the Norwegian striker as the main source of goals who will lead City’s attack. The article suggested his positioning gives Manchester City a key focal point in the final third.

Pascal Gross, identified as a 35-year-old, was described as one of Brighton’s most consistent performers this season but produced an underwhelming outing against Liverpool and was responsible for an own goal in that match. The write-up added that Gross can control the midfield and is capable of posing a goal threat when at his best.

The preview stressed areas for improvement for both teams: City need sharper finishing and a better defensive display, while Brighton must end their two-game winless run. The report reiterated that Brighton are capable of producing a top performance despite the challenge of playing away.

This fixture is a fourth-round EFL Cup 2026-27 match at the Etihad Stadium. For further updates, Khel Now advised following their channels on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube and using their Android and iOS apps or community groups on WhatsApp and Telegram.