Haaland and four others rested for Man City's Carabao Cup tie with Brighton

Erling Haaland will sit out Manchester City’s Carabao Cup fixture against Brighton after manager Enzo Maresca granted the Norwegian striker — along with four teammates — a short rest period following Saturday’s Premier League defeat to Aston Villa.

Haaland is joined on the absentee list by Josko Gvardiol, Elliot Anderson, Ruben Dias, and Gigio Donnarumma, all of whom have been given three days away from the club. Maresca confirmed the group have been allowed to travel abroad before returning in time for Saturday’s league meeting with Brighton.

“After the Villa game, we gave five players three days off,” Maresca said. “Erling, Ruben, Elliot, Gigi and Josko. They are all on holiday. Three days off, energy, go, come back full of energy and then go again.”

Haaland did not sustain an injury against Villa, but both the player and his manager have acknowledged the importance of managing his workload. The striker endured a long 2024-25 campaign for club and country, with Norway’s World Cup run only ending at the quarter-final stage. He was already absent for the Carabao Cup win over Norwich last month and was an unused substitute in the Champions League victory over AEK Athens the following week after picking up a knock against Ipswich.

With Donnarumma also rested, Maresca confirmed that Geronimo Rulli will start in goal. The Argentine goalkeeper made his City debut in the previous Carabao Cup round against Norwich and gets another opportunity between the posts in the cup competition.

City are not concerned about the availability of the rested players for the Premier League fixture at the weekend, with the three-day break designed to keep them fresh rather than address any fitness concerns.