Man Cityvs.Plymouth

Erling Haaland returned from injury to start and score the only goal in City's 1-0 Premier League win at Tottenham Hotspur in midweek, but the striker drops down to the substitutes' bench for the clash with the Pilgrims.

Ederson, Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol, Matheus Nunes, Nico Gonzalez, Jeremy Doku, Savinho and Omar Marmoush will also take their place on the bench after starting against Spurs, while Abdukodir Khusanov and Mateo Kovacic are not involved in thee matchday squad.

While Stefan Ortega is recalled to start in goal, January signing Vitor Reis is handed his home debut in the back four alongside Rico Lewis, Nathan Ake and midfielder Nico O'Reilly, who is set to operate at left-back as he did in the 2-1 win at Leyton Orient in the fourth round.

Kevin De Bruyne will captain the Citizens and is set to link up with Ilkay Gundogan in midfield, while Phil Foden could be tasted with playing as a false nine as James McAtee, Bernardo Silva and Jack Grealish join him in the final third.

Meanwhile, Claudio Echeverri has not been included in Man City's matchday squad. The 19-year-old attacking midfielder arrived in Manchester earlier this week following his move from River Plate, but Guardiola has decided against throwing the Argentine straight into his side this evening. Oscar Bobb also remains out despite making progress in his recovery from a long-term injury.

Plymouth boss Muslic make six changes for Man City clash

As for Plymouth, Miron Muslic has made a total of six changes to the side that drew 1-1 with Cardiff City in the Championship last weekend.

Julio Pleguezuelo is called to the back three to play alongside captain Nikola Katic and Maksym Talovierov, while Bali Mumba and Nathanael Ogbeta will operate as wing-back at the expense of Kornel Szucs and Tymoteusz Puchacz.

Former Man City youngster Darko Gyabi will link arms with Malachi Boateng in centre-midfield, while Matthew Sorinola and Callum Wright are set to provide support in attack for Mustapha Bundu up front.

Bundu leads the line once again due to the absences of injured duo Muhamed Tijani and Ryan Hardie, the latter of whom scored a match-winning penalty in Plymouth's 1-0 triumph over Liverpool in the fourth round.

Manchester City starting lineup: Ortega; Lewis, Reis, Ake, O'Reilly; Gundogan, De Bruyne; McAtee, Bernardo, Grealish; Foden

Subs: Ederson, Dias, Marmoush, Haaland, Doku, Nico, Gvardiol, Savinho, Nunes

Plymouth Argyle starting lineup: Hazard; Talovierov, Katic, Pleguezuelo; Mumba, Gyabi, Boateng, Ogbeta; Sorinola, Wright; Bundu

Subs: Grimshaw, Houghton, Szucs, Edwards, Puchacz, Al Hajj, Baidoo, Roberts, Palsson

Written by

Oliver Thomas