Guardiola news conference coming up plus Phil McNulty Q&A

Senior players in line for starting chance?

Huddersfield v Man City (Wed, 19:45 BST)

Manchester City

Defenders Nathan Ake and John Stones, utility players Rico Lewis and Matheus Nunes, holding midfielder Nico Gonzalez and forwards Oscar Bobb and Savinho were all on the bench for Saturday's 1-1 draw at Arsenal.

It is likely the majority could be in line for a recall to the starting line-up for Wednesday's third-round Carabao Cup tie in west Yorkshire against a Huddersfield Town side currently fifth in League One.

Is EFL Cup now a ‘waste of energy’ for Guardiola’s City?

Tom McCoy

BBC Sport journalist

Manchester City dominated the League Cup during the early years of Pep Guardiola’s reign, lifting the trophy in four of his first five seasons in charge.

Remarkably, City won 21 consecutive ties in the competition between 2017 and 2021 (with two-legged semi-finals counted as a single ‘tie’). But it has been a different story since then, with Guardiola’s team losing four of their subsequent seven EFL Cup games.

That is partly a result of shifting priorities. The City manager said 12 months ago he didn’t intend to “waste energy” in the competition and would instead field his “second team”, vowing to prioritise the Premier League and Champions League.

The Spaniard still picked a fairly strong side for last season’s fourth-round exit to Tottenham, albeit he didn’t risk star striker Erling Haaland, keeping him on the bench.

With City having taken part in this summer’s Club World Cup and the expanded Champions League format also meaning more matches, Guardiola will be acutely aware of the need to manage the minutes played by his squad and reduce the risk of late-season burnout.

'This win is not for me, it's for Manchester City'

Manchester City

After failing to win a trophy in his first season, it's remarkable to think that Pep Guardiola could have been feeling the pressure when he took Manchester City to the first final of his reign.

In February 2018, just the week before, Guardiola's side was humbled by Wigan in the FA Cup.

That 1-0 defeat at the Latics was a rarity in that season, and City would go on to finish the campaign on a high, adding their first of six Premier League titles under Guardiola.

But there is no doubt that the Spaniard was feeling the pressure to get his City side off the mark.

As it was, he needn't have worried, with goals from Sergio Aguero, Vincent Kompany and David Silva sweeping aside Arsene Wenger's Gunners in a 3-0 win at Wembley.

"It was so important we won this after going out of the FA Cup," said Guardiola after the win.

"Now we have to focus absolutely on the Premier League and trying to win the games we need to win the title.

"This win is not for me, it's for Manchester City."

And with that, Pep Guardiola's reign at the Etihad had lift-off.

Guardiola's Carabao Cup record

Pep Guardiola's record in the Carabao Cup has been outstanding since he took the reins at Manchester City.

He won the competition in 2017-18 during his second full season, the first of four in a row.

That fourth victory in 2021 remains the last time the club lifted the trophy and in fact, the last time they reached the final.

The furthest they have reached in the competition since that medal in 2021 was the 2022-23 season, where they lost 2-0 to Southampton in the quarter-finals.

Most recently, in the last campaign, they reached the fourth round but were defeated 2-1 by Ange Postecoglou's Tottenham Hotspur.

'Interesting to see Pep's approach going forward'

Q&A with Phil

Phil McNulty

BBC Sport chief football writer

Martin: Hi Phil. Did Pep Guardiola show on Sunday he is trying to make his team harder to beat than last season? And why has all the talk been about Arsenal and United even though Manchester City got two good results?

Hello, Martin. It was certainly a more pragmatic approach, although not sure even Pep Guardiola enjoyed it, especially when Arsenal equalised in stoppage time.

The great managers adapt and I think there were times last season when City were a little too easy to get at, especially with Rodri absent, so Guardiola clearly adopted a more solid defensive approach at Arsenal.

This may also have been shaped by two defeats, one at home to Spurs and then away to Brighton. No matter how great managers are, and we are talking an all-time great here, they are not above reacting to results and situations.

Guardiola was only a couple of minutes away from pulling off a big win. Will now be interesting to see his approach going forward.

'Sterling is exiled at Chelsea until January'

Q&A with Phil

Phil McNulty

BBC Sport chief football writer

Gav: Hi Phil, What’s the latest news on Raheem Sterling? Would Chelsea be willing/able to loan him ‘for free’ to another London club such as QPR [he wants to stay with his family in London] so that he can keep match fit and get first team football?

Hello, Gav. I think he is exiled at Chelsea until January at the earliest. It is not an ideal situation for player or club because Enzo Maresca could not have made it clearer he will not be involved any more at Chelsea.

'Dembele was a very worthy winner'

Q&A with Phil

Phil McNulty

BBC Sport chief football writer

Harry: Hi Phil - Ballon d'Or related, I *think* Dembele was the clear winner. However, I see a lot of us PL fans complaining about "Should have been Salah". Do you think we are too dismissive of other leagues even when those teams/players beat four of our best in Europe's hardest competition?

Morning, Harry. We all know how partisan football fans are. They always favour their own players in awards and often do not like it when they go elsewhere.

I believe Dembele was a very worthy winner. He produced outstanding performances in an outstanding PSG team that won the biggest prize in European club football in the most spectacular style.

Not sure too many can mount a serious complaint,

'Spurs forward line will be perfectly fine'

Q&A with Phil

Phil McNulty

BBC Sport chief football writer

Tom: Hi Phil, do you think there's an element of over-reacting to Spurs front line right now? There's been numerous columns written about "Where will Spurs goals come from?" but we've scored the same as Arsenal in the league and lost just once, and no one's worried about their goals.

Hi, Tom. I didn’t even realise this was a debate. I think the Spurs forward line will be perfectly fine when everyone is fit and bedded in.

I think it has been a promising start to the season and goals have been scored, so I would not be too concerned on that score.

'Will take more than a new manager to transform West Ham'

Q&A with Phil McNulty

Phil McNulty

BBC Sport chief football writer

Chris: Hi Phil - it does not matter if West Ham appointed Jurgen Klopp as the manager, the owners would keep on selling the family silver, getting free transfers and injury-prone and sub-standard players. They have sold us down the river with the stadium move - what's your take on this? Thank you.

I do think it would matter a lot if Jurgen Klopp was appointed as West Ham United manager but I take your overall point.

I can see exactly why West Ham United fans are disappointed with the stadium because, in truth, it is an athletics stadium and does not work as a football arena. It is as far away from Upton Park for atmosphere as you can get. I have been to Everton’s new home by the Mersey waterfront twice and that is a magnificent, purpose-built football stadium.

I have noticed many West Ham fans pointing out the difference.

West Ham have also been hit by so many poor football decisions, such as managerial choices and signings.

As someone who went to Upton Park so many times and absolutely loved it, I feel your pain.

Graham Potter is clearly in real peril, but you do feel it will take more than just a change of manager (again) to transform West Ham’s fortunes.

'The Ballon d'Or is such a subjective thing'

Q&A with Phil McNulty

Phil McNulty

BBC Sport chief football writer

Liz: Hi Phil, there seemed to be two different standards at last night’s Ballon d’Or. Bonmati won as she was the outstanding individual. Dembele won as he played for PSG winning the Champions League. Working on that principle Alessia Russo or Lucy Bronze should have won the woman’s award. Your thoughts?

Morning, Liz. I must admit I thought Alessia Russo had a really strong claim to win the Ballon d’Or but it’s such a subjective thing. She would have every right to be disappointed.

As for Dembele, I have no problem at all with that because I happened to see quite a lot of PSG last season and thought he was a fitting winner on both counts, as he gave outstanding individual performances in an outstanding team that won the Champions League.

Emery ally Monchi set to leave Aston Villa

Nick Mashiter

BBC Sport football news reporter

Aston Villa's president of football operations Monchi is poised to leave the club.

The 56-year-old's imminent departure comes with Villa 18th in the Premier League after a winless start to the season.

Monchi joined Villa in 2023 from Spanish side Sevilla, where he had been sporting director, having previously worked with Villa boss Unai Emery at the La Liga club.

The pair took Villa to the Europa Conference League semi-finals in 2024 and secured a Champions League place as they finished fourth in the Premier League that season.

They went on to reach the Champions League quarter-finals last season, being knocked out by eventual winners Paris St-Germain.

Villa have started poorly this season, failing to win any of their opening five league games and scoring just once.

They were also knocked out of the EFL Cup on penalties by Brentford last week.

Sunderland's record signing Diarra has groin surgery

Sunderland midfielder Habib Diarra has been ruled out until December after having an operation to resolve a groin injury.

The 21-year-old Senegal international suffered the problem during training before the 1-1 draw with Aston Villa on Sunday.

Sunderland said Diarra had "successful" surgery on Monday.

Diarra joined the Black Cats from Strasbourg in July in a deal worth a reported club record £30m.

He played in each of Sunderland's four Premier League games prior to the Villa match, while he also made two appearances for Senegal in September.

Newcastle's standout defence

Matthew Hobbs

BBC Sport

Newcastle may be struggling to score goals in the Premier League this season following the departure of Alexander Isak to Liverpool but their defence has been rock solid.

Eddie Howe’s side have kept a league-high four clean sheets in five matches. The Magpies have only conceded three goals in the league so far, all of which came in the loss to Liverpool when the visitors scored twice after Newcastle had gone down to 10 men.

Newcastle also have the lowest expected goals tally against (2.6) of any Premier League team so far this season, have faced the fewest shots (37) and are yet to make an error leading to a goal.

Their almost flawless defence has been particularly useful on the road, earning three points in goalless draws at Aston Villa, Leeds and Bournemouth.

Should Newcastle’s attack start to click in conjunction with their defensive solidity, the Magpies should start to climb the Premier League table.

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