Donnarumma and Haaland return as Maresca names his hand ahead of Brighton Premier League clash

Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca is preparing to face the press ahead of Saturday’s Premier League fixture against Brighton and Hove Albion at the Etihad Stadium — the second meeting between the two sides in the space of four days.

City edged through a dramatic Carabao Cup fourth-round tie against Brighton on Wednesday, coming from behind twice before winning 4-3 on penalties. Goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli was the standout performer, saving spot kicks from Yasin Ayari and Lewis Dunk to send City into the quarter-finals. The match had been level after 90 minutes, with Mateo Kovacic and Vitor Reis cancelling out goals from Malick Yalcouye and Georginio Rutter.

Maresca had already confirmed before that cup tie that Donnarumma, Haaland, Dias, Gvardiol and Elliot Anderson were all handed a three-day break following the weekend defeat at Aston Villa. City made nine changes for the midweek game, and all five rested players are expected to return to the starting lineup for the Premier League fixture.

Rulli, speaking after Wednesday’s win, revealed he had told midfielder Enzo Fernandez before kick-off that he would save two penalties if the tie reached a shootout — a prediction that proved accurate. The Argentine’s heroics came at a critical moment: Kovacic had seen his own penalty saved by Jason Steele, leaving City on the brink of elimination before Rulli intervened.

On the injury front, winger Antoine Semenyo is ruled out until December, while midfielder Matheus Nunes is listed as a doubt for Saturday’s match. The Premier League fixture represents the clear priority for Maresca, who used the cup tie largely to manage his squad’s workload across a congested schedule.