The expanded UEFA Champions League format and Greater Manchester Police's reluctance to have both clubs under their jurisdiction play on the same night means Manchester City will kickoff against Watford in the Carabao Cup around 49 hours after full-time in their action-packed 2-2 Premier League draw with Arsenal.
Last week Rodri said players could go on strike if the schedule does not relent. The Spain international is now nursing a serious knee injury that could rule him out for the rest of this season.
In all likelihood, Rodri would not have featured in this match, where Pep Guardiola has selected a line-up showing nine changes from the weekend.
Whether or not that creates an opportunity for Watford is a moot point, given the City line-up will still boast plenty of international talent. The Hornets' record in this fixture is also abysmal. City have won each of the past 15, a run going back to 2007 that includes a 6-0 shellacking in the 2019 FA Cup final.
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Man City vs. Watford lineups, expected starting 11, confirmed team news
Kevin De Bruyne missed the Arsenal game with a groin complaint and is set to spend at least another week on the sidelines. Oscar Bobb (broken leg), Nathan Ake (hamstring) and Rodri are out longer term.
Weekend goal hero John Stones and Kyle Walker are the senior men in a defence completed by 16-year-old centre-back Kayden Braithwaite, who makes his senior debut.
Youth team midfielder Nico O'Reilly gets the chance to fill Rodri's shoes in central midfield, where Matheus Nunes will also press his claims for further game time. Jeremy Doku is the other survivor from the Arsenal starting XI alongside Walker and features in a front three where Phil Foden and Jack Grealish could alternate false nine duties.
Man City predicted XI (4-3-3, right to left): Ortega (GK) — Walker, Stones, Braithwaite, Lewis — Nunes, O'Reilly, McAtee — McAtee, Foden, Grealish
Injured: Bobb, De Bruyne, Ake, Rodri
Suspended: None
Early injuries for goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann and defender Francisco Sierralta compromised Watford during their 4-1 weekend defeat to Norwich City. Although neither man's muscular injury is thought to be serious, this game comes too soon.
Ryan Adams (hamstring) scored the Hornets' goal on Saturday but will also miss out along with Kevin Keben (knee). On-loan striker Daniel Jebbison played for Bournemouth in the previous round of the competition and is cup-tied.
Former City youngster Tom Dele-Bashiru, who made his senior debut under Guardiola in this competition back in 2017, is on the bench.
Watford predicted XI (3-4-3, right to left): Bond (GK) — Morris, Ogbonna, Porteous — Larouci, Ince, Louza Sema —Baah, Bayo, Ebosele.
Injured: Bachmann, Sierralta, Adams, Keben
Suspended: None
Cup-tied: Jebbison
Man City vs. Watford live stream, TV channel
Here's how to watch this Carabao Cup third-round match across selected areas of the world's major regions:
| Region | TV | Streaming |
| USA | — | Paramount+ |
| Canada | — | DAZN |
| UK | Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Football | Sky GO, Sky Sports website |
| Australia | beIN Sports 2 | beIN Sports 2 |
| India | — | FanCode |
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