Manchester City’s FA Cup third-round match against Salford City is shaping up to be an intriguing clash, with a unique connection between the two sides. The match, set for January 11, 2025, at The Etihad, has a special subplot due to the ownership of Salford City. Six members of the legendary Manchester United Class of ’92—David Beckham, Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville, Phil Neville, Paul Scholes, and Nicky Butt—hold a significant stake in the club, owning 20% collectively. This ownership ensures that Salford’s players will be motivated to deliver a strong performance against their more illustrious Manchester counterparts.
Manchester City’s recent dominance in domestic cup competitions is another story. City has won their last 24 encounters against lower-division sides in the domestic cups, a streak stretching back to the 2017-18 season. In these matches, City has outscored their opponents 88-12, a record that underscores their consistent superiority against smaller clubs.
Looking ahead to this FA Cup encounter, Pep Guardiola has provided some updates on the fitness of key players. Goalkeeper Ederson has been recovering from a leg injury and, while Guardiola is optimistic, it seems unlikely that the Brazilian will be risked in such a low-profile match. As for midfielder Rodri, Guardiola confirmed that Rodri is recovering from his injury and should be fit for pre-season training, although he will miss the remainder of the current season.
With no other major fitness concerns, Guardiola is expected to rotate his squad for the match. The predicted starting lineup includes Stefan Ortega in goal, with a back four of Rico Lewis, Jahmai Simpson-Pusey, Manuel Akanji, and Josko Gvardiol. The midfield features Nico O’Reilly, Mateo Kovacic, and Jeremy Doku, while James McAtee and Jack Grealish will provide support in attack alongside striker Erling Haaland.
This lineup reflects Guardiola’s commitment to fielding a competitive team while managing player workloads during the busy January fixture schedule.
