Manchester City will meet Watford in the EFL Cup third round at the Etihad Stadium.

Man City

Watford

Match Stats

Once a sure bet during Guardiola's early tenure, Manchester City has not added another EFL Cup title since their impressive fourth consecutive win in the disrupted 2020-21 season. Instead, they've shifted their focus to glittering Champions League and Club World Cup trophies, struggling to make an impact in the EFL Cup by only reaching the quarter-finals since the 2021-22 season. Last year's campaign ended at this same stage against Newcastle, and City hasn’t faced back-to-back third-round exits since 1987.

The recent emotional draw against Arsenal saw John Stones score late, maintaining City's top position while halting their 13-match winning streak. Meanwhile, Watford, now under Tom Cleverley, began the season strongly with five consecutive wins but have since faltered, earning just one point from three recent Championship matches, including a heavy 4-1 loss to Norwich. Historically, the Hornets have struggled against City, losing their last 15 encounters and conceding 58 goals in that stretch. At least they may find solace in the possibility of resting Erling Haaland this midweek.