If lifting the Carabao Cup has become an annual habit for Manchester City, regular winners could begin with an unfamiliar cast list on Thursday.
Pep Guardiola can get a unique distinction in the competition’s history by becoming the first manager to win England’s League Cup four years in a row – Bob Paisley recorded a hat-trick for Liverpool before Joe Fagan retained the trophy in 1984 – but, hampered by a crowded fixture list and an assortment of injuries, City will begin below strength.
"We're going to play mostly academy players against Bournemouth and try to keep the energy for the Premier League," said Guardiola. It opens the possibility for a team where perhaps only Nicolas Otamendi and Riyad Mahrez will have reached 20 appearances for the club. Both were unused substitutes in City's 3-1 Premier League opener at Wolves, with the winger lacking a proper pre-season after contracting coronavirus, but are primed to provide the experience in a youthful side.
In particular, the midfield could bear a fresh-faced look. Tommy Doyle, grandson of City’s 1976 League Cup-winning captain Mike, is primed for a second senior start. The 18-year-old and Adrian Bernabe were on the bench at Molineux and could be joined by Felix Nmecha in a trio of teenagers. There could be up to four more, with Taylor Harwood-Bellis expected to feature in a defence that could include Eric Garcia, Cole Palmer potentially playing in attack and a probable debut for a second youngster with a famous footballing heritage: Liam Delap is the son of Rory, Stoke’s long-throw specialist, though unlike his midfielder father, he is a forward and is not known for hurling the ball huge distances from the touchline.
City could bear a new look for other reasons. Ferran Torres debuted in the final few minutes at Wolves and may be afforded a first start. Nathan Ake cut an assured figure on Monday night but might be an exception to the mass rotation: with Oleksandr Zinchenko sidelined and Benjamin Mendy injury-prone, there are reasons to use the Dutchman at left-back against his former club, especially if Aymeric Laporte, another who contracted Covid-19 and who only resumed training last Friday, will soon be available to slot into the strongest side.
Then there is the third arrival who is nevertheless not a new signing. The United States international goalkeeper Zach Steffen was bought from Columbus Crew a year ago but spent last season on loan at Fortuna Dusseldorf.
He has taken over from the departed Claudio Bravo as Ederson’s back-up and this is a competition where City’s goalkeeping understudies have often flourished. Bravo and Aro Muric’s penalty saves helped City progress in 2017/18 while two years earlier, Willy Caballero made three saves in the final shootout against Liverpool.
Steffen could be facing Bournemouth’s most potent forward. Josh King may attract offers before the transfer window closes but the former Manchester United attacker is fit again.
“I’m hoping to have him in the squad,” said new manager Jason Tindall, who has made an unbeaten start to life in charge after Eddie Howe’s long-time assistant replaced his friend.
Tindall made nine changes for the last round, when Bournemouth beat Crystal Palace after a marathon penalty shootout but while Callum Wilson, Ryan Fraser, Aaron Ramsdale and Ake have left since they were relegated, they still possess plenty of talent and it is only two months since they were the first team ever to have more shots than Guardiola’s City at the Etihad Stadium.
A rematch will nevertheless be a new experience for many, but City, who have not been knocked out of the League Cup since a l-0 loss at Old Trafford in 2016, will hope the outcome is further progress.
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Wolves v Manchester City ratings
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WOLVES PLAYER RATINGS: Rui Patricio. 6 - Powerless to prevent Kevin de Bruyne from rocketing a penalty into the bottom corner and had no chance against City’s second either. AFP -
Willy Boly. 5 - Struggled to deal with the sharp movement of Raheem Sterling and was often chasing shadows against the fluid visiting frontline. Getty Images -
Conor Coady. 6 - Guilty of some sloppy moments in possession, and found himself bogged down in a physical battle with Gabriel Jesus. AFP -
Romain Saiss. 5 - Got sucked into a rather naïve challenge on Kevin de Bruyne to give the visitors an early penalty, and the Moroccan never really recovered. Getty Images -
Adama Traore. 5 - Completely starved of service thanks to City tactics that sniffed out any signs of a Wolves counter-attack. Getty Images -
Ruben Neves. 6 - Should have done much better when he scuffed a shot from the edge of the box despite having a clear sight of goal and plenty of time. AP -
Joao Moutinho. 5 - His lack of pace was cruelly exposed by De Bruyne as the Belgian glided past the midfielder with ease to create a string of chances for the visitors. Getty Images -
Marcal. N/A - Forced off with an injury after just seven minutes. AP -
Daniel Podence. 7 - By far Wolves’ most dangerous player, and showed great feet to nutmeg de Bruyne and provide Jimenez with a pinpoint cross for the forward to head home. PA -
Raul Jimenez. 6 - Didn’t have much in the way of genuine goalscoring opportunities but took his 78th minute header brilliantly as he hauled his side back into the game for a tense finish. EPA -
Pedro Neto. 5 - A largely anonymous display in which the 20-year-old never looked like seriously troubling the City defence. Getty Images -
SUBS: Ruben Vinagre (Marcal, 8’). 6 – Penned back as Kyle Walker stamped his authority on the right flank, and with the Wolves midfield malfunctioning, the left wing-back was unable to stretch the game. REUTERS -
Leander Dendoncker (Joao Moutinho, 78’). N/A – Came on to shore up the home midfield, but his side were chasing the game long before his arrival. Getty Images -
Fabio Silva (Pedro Neto, 78’). N/A – Unable to get a sight of goal in the final 12 minutes. EPA -
MANCHESTER CITY RATINGS: Ederson. 6 - A virtual bystander in what was a quiet night for the City stopper but had no chance against Jimenez’s firm header. AFP -
Kyle Walker. 7 - Had real presence out on the right-hand side as he looked to provide a wide outlet and stretch the home backline. Reuters -
John Stones. 6 - Brought the ball out of defence well in the first half but got caught out by two balls over the top that should have been finished off by Daniel Podence. EPA -
Nathan Ake. 7 – A decent debut as he dealt well with Wolves’ physical approach and the Dutchman looks a smart addition to the City backline. Getty Images -
Benjamin Mendy. 6 - Never in any real danger against the ever so dangerous Adama Traore, but he did pick up a first-half booking for holding back the Wolves winger. AP -
Fernandinho. 7 - An easy night in the office for the Brazilian, who helped to effectively stall the Wolves midfield engine. Reuters -
Rodri. 7 - Kept City firmly in control of a congested midfield and wasn’t far away from a rare goal when he fired a volley just wide of the angle between post and bar. EPA -
Phil Foden. 7 - Picked up dangerous pockets of space between the lines and looked a threat even before he dispatched Sterling’s lay off to put City two ahead. AP -
Kevin de Bruyne. 8 - Got the vital touch to a loose ball to draw a foul for his side’s penalty, before dusting himself down to slot home in emphatic fashion. He then played a part in his side’s second with a slide-rule pass for Sterling. AFP -
Raheem Sterling. 7 - Looked sharp on his first league outing of the season, and opened his assist account with a tidy pass for Foden to finish for 2-0. EPA -
Gabriel Jesus. 7 - Had a tough physical battle against the three-man Wolves defence but plugged away and deserved his late goal. Reuters -
SUBS: Ferran Torres (Raheem Sterling, 81’) – A quiet Premier League introduction for the Spaniard. Reuters
