Manchester City vs. Brighton & Hove Albion
Venue: Etihad Stadium
Local Kick-off Time: Oct 28, 2026 7.30pm
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Click here to watch the match LIVE now! 🔴 ▶
Form & Tactical Outlook:
EFL Cup holders Manchester City host Brighton & Hove Albion at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday in the first clash of a quickfire double-header between the clubs. Enzo Maresca's side saw their seven-match winning start to the Premier League season snapped with a 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa on Saturday, allowing Arsenal to pull level at the top of the table. Man City have conceded nine goals across their last four matches without keeping a single clean sheet. Nine-time winners of the competition, City beat Norwich City 5-0 in round three, but are winless in their last four meetings with Brighton (D2 L2) and have exited before the quarter-finals in three of the last five seasons. Fabian Hurzeler's Brighton side are the third-highest scorers in Europe with 34 goals, but enter having drawn blanks in their last two outings—a 0-0 Conference League draw against FK Baumit Jablonec and a 2-0 Premier League defeat at Liverpool. Brighton remain third in the league table, yet they have never won away at Man City in 17 attempts (D3 L14) and have been eliminated in the fourth round in five of the last six years, though they overcame a two-goal half-time deficit to eliminate Manchester United 3-2 at Old Trafford in round three.
Team News:
Man City remain without Antoine Semenyo (knee), while Matheus Nunes is doubtful with a minor muscle complaint. Maresca revealed Erling Haaland, Elliot Anderson, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Josko Gvardiol, and Ruben Dias will all be rested. Geronimo Rulli is confirmed to start in goal, with Phil Foden, Ayyoub Bouaddi, Mateo Kovacic, Allan, and Ryan McAiddo pushing for recalls, while 17-year-old Floyd Samba is set to lead the line. For Brighton, full-back Ferdi Kadioglu and midfielder Chema Andres are fitness concerns after sustaining hip issues at Anfield. Kaoru Mitoma, Femi Azeez, Pascal Struijk (all thigh), Evan Ferguson (ankle), and Stefanos Tzimas (knee) remain sidelined, but Mats Wieffer and Yankuba Minteh could return. Costinha, Jaouen Hadjam, Jack Hinshelwood, Malick Yalcouye, and Matt O'Riley could start, while team top-scorer Charalampos Kostoulas could be replaced up front by Georginio Rutter.
Bournemouth vs. Aston Villa
Venue: Vitality Stadium
Local Kick-off Time: Oct 28, 2026 7.45pm
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Click here to watch the match LIVE now! 🔴 ▶
Form & Tactical Outlook:
Fresh from toppling both Manchester clubs at the weekend, 13th-placed Bournemouth host ninth-placed Aston Villa at the Vitality Stadium in the EFL Cup fourth round. After suffering a 5-1 defeat at Chelsea following the international break, Marco Rose's Cherries have responded with four consecutive wins in all competitions, beating Sturm Graz and AC Milan in the Europa League, Sunderland in the league, and dismantling Manchester United 3-0 at Old Trafford on Sunday. Aside from losses to Liverpool and Chelsea, Bournemouth are unbeaten in their other nine fixtures this season (W6 D3). Unai Emery's Villa travel south boasting six wins and one draw from their last seven games—scoring 20 goals in that span with two clean sheets—culminating in a 2-1 victory over Manchester City on Saturday. Villa are unbeaten in their last seven meetings with Bournemouth, including a three-game unbeaten run (W2 D1) at the Vitality Stadium where they conceded just once.
Team News:
Marco Rose is set to rotate the Bournemouth lineup, with Michele Di Gregorio, Bafode Diakite, Julio Soler, Ryan Christie, Ben Gannon-Doak, David Brooks, Amine Adli, and Alvaro Rodriguez all in line to start. Junior Kroupi returned from injury on Sunday and is likely to start on the bench, while Adam Smith, James Hill, and Lewis Cook could retain their starting berths. Emery will also make widespread changes for Villa: Pau Torres could retain his place to rest Matty Cash and Victor Lindelof, with Ian Maatsen expected on the bench. Lamare Bogarde could start at right-back, Leon Goretzka is in line for his first Villa start, Brian Madjo may start at centre-forward, and Alejandro Garnacho and Tammy Abraham are expected among the substitutes.
Sunderland vs. Brentford
Venue: Stadium of Light
Local Kick-off Time: Oct 28, 2026 7.45pm
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Click here to watch the match LIVE now! 🔴 ▶
Form & Tactical Outlook:
Bottom-of-the-table Sunderland, on five points after eight Premier League matches, face sixth-placed Brentford at the Stadium of Light. Regis Le Bris's side ended a four-match losing streak with a 0-0 home draw against Leeds on Sunday, securing their first top-flight clean sheet since August, though their tally is nine points fewer than at this stage last term. The two-time finalists edged past Hull City 1-0 in round three as they target their first quarter-final appearance since 2021-22. Keith Andrews's Brentford drew 1-1 with Hull City on Sunday—their fifth draw in eight league games—and remain unbeaten away from home this season. The Bees have progressed past round four in four of the last six years, having overcome Birmingham City (6-1) and Reading (2-1) in earlier rounds. Brentford have lost only one of their last eight meetings with Sunderland in all competitions (W4 D3).
Team News:
Sunderland are without Daniel Ballard (hamstring), Romaine Mundle (knee), and the suspended Kevin Danso, while Thomas Meunier (hamstring) and Wilson Isidor are doubtful. Nordi Mukiele is fit to feature in defence after avoiding injury against Leeds, while Brian Brobbey's minutes may be managed, potentially opening a starting spot for Timur Tutierov. For Brentford, Rico Henry (hip/quad) faces weeks out, while Antoni Milambo, Joshua Dasilva, and Kaye Furo remain unready. Yehor Yarmoluyk serves the second of a three-game ban, but Vitaly Janelt is back from suspension to potentially allow Aaron Hickey to return to right-back. Fabio Carvalho, Callum Wilson, Mikkel Damsgaard, El Hadji Malick Diouf, and Nathan Collins could all be handed starts.
Fulham vs. Crystal Palace
Venue: Craven Cottage
Local Kick-off Time: Oct 28, 2026 7.45pm
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Click here to watch the match LIVE now! 🔴 ▶
Form & Tactical Outlook:
Fulham host Crystal Palace at Craven Cottage having stabilized under Alvaro Arbeloa, recording only one defeat in their last six matches across all competitions (W3 D2) and back-to-back 1-0 league wins over Hull City and Coventry City to sit 15th in the Premier League. The Cottagers edged West Ham United 3-2 in the EFL Cup third round thanks to an Oscar Bobb decider, aiming to reach the quarter-finals for the third time in four seasons. However, Fulham have lost four of their last five meetings against Palace (D1), including a 3-2 home league defeat seven weeks ago. Under Pierre Sage, Palace sit 17th following five defeats in eight Premier League games, coming off a 2-0 home loss to Newcastle and a 5-0 hammering at Brighton; Palace have shipped 24 goals this term (a league-high 19 in the Premier League) and 50 goals across 2026. However, Palace are unbeaten in their last nine visits to Craven Cottage (W6 D3), winning the last four by an aggregate score of 10-3.
Team News:
Fulham left-back Ryan Sessegnon serves the second of a three-game domestic suspension, while Emile Smith Rowe is a doubt due to unspecified issues. Summer signing Hugo Larsson's midfield spot could be taken by Sander Berge, while Benjamin Lecomte, Kenny Tete, Joachim Andersen, Tom Cairney, Kevin, and Rodrigo Muniz push to start. For Crystal Palace, Chadi Riad (knee), Takehiro Tomiyasu (calf), and Quinten Timber (thigh) are sidelined. Jorgen Strand Larsen and Ismaila Sarr will be assessed, but goalkeeper Dean Henderson is confirmed to return from an ankle injury. Ben Chilwell could replace Tyrick Mitchell at left wing-back, while Oscar Mingueza, Honest Ahanor, Jefferson Lerma, Will Hughes, and Eddie Nketiah could all feature from the start.
Everton vs. Newcastle United
Venue: Hill Dickinson Stadium
Local Kick-off Time: Oct 29, 2026 7.45pm
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Click here to watch the match LIVE now! 🔴 ▶
Form & Tactical Outlook:
After opening the campaign on an eight-game unbeaten run, Everton have dropped back-to-back Premier League matches 2-0 against Chelsea and Arsenal, with the latter marking David Moyes's 400th managerial defeat across all clubs. The Toffees have scored just eight league goals this season—more only than the relegation zone sides—and sit in the bottom half. Everton reached this stage with EFL Cup wins over Preston (4-0) and Wolves (1-0), aiming for only their second quarter-final in six years; Moyes has progressed from the fourth round in two of his last three attempts against top-flight opposition. For Newcastle, a 2-0 away win over Crystal Palace on Sunday relieved pressure on new boss Mattias Jaissle, moving the Magpies up to eighth. Newcastle are looking to win the competition for the second time in three seasons after edging West Brom (3-2) and Millwall (1-0). Since 2022-23, no club has won more EFL Cup ties than Newcastle (18), and the Magpies have prevailed in each of their last seven fourth-round ties, aiming for a fifth consecutive quarter-final appearance.
Team News:
Everton are set to miss defender Jarrad Branthwaite due to concussion, while Jack Grealish is doubtful through illness. With limited squad depth, Moyes is unlikely to make wholesale changes, though Michael Keane, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Hayden Hackney, Christian Norgaard, Carlos Alcaraz, and round-three standout Tyler Dibling are candidates to start. Newcastle boss Jaissle confirmed Matias Fernandez-Pardo (illness) and Lewis Miley (knock) are doubtful, while Tino Livramento (knee) and Ewen Jaouen (thigh) remain out. Weekend goalscorers Harvey Barnes and William Osula could retain their attacking roles in a strong lineup, while Yoane Wissa, Malick Thiaw, Sven Botman, Anthony Elanga, and Jacob Ramsey are all pushing to return to the starting XI.
