Maresca rests Haaland and four City starters for Carabao Cup clash with Brighton

Enzo Maresca has given five Manchester City first-team regulars — including Erling Haaland — a three-day break ahead of the club’s Carabao Cup last-16 tie against Brighton on Wednesday evening, opting to rotate heavily after Saturday’s 2-1 Premier League defeat to Aston Villa.

Haaland, captain Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol, goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and Elliot Anderson have all been told to take time away before returning for the Premier League meeting with Brighton on Saturday. Back-up goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli will start in the cup fixture.

“After Villa, we gave five players three days off — Erling, Elliot, Gigio, Ruben and Josko,” Maresca said at his pre-match press conference on Tuesday. “Go away on holiday. Three days off, go, come back. Full energy. In terms of how we plan, the games are so close so we need to make some changes.”

City remain top of the Premier League on goal difference from Arsenal despite the Villa loss, having won their opening seven league matches. The back-to-back Brighton fixtures represent their toughest stretch of the early season, and Maresca was careful not to underestimate Fabian Hürzeler’s side.

“First of all, they are doing very well so both games will be tough,” Maresca said. “They are very brave, aggressive and when they have the ball they attack with so many players. They create so many chances. We need to do the right things offensively and defensively.”

Brighton arrive at the Etihad in strong form — third in the Premier League, unbeaten in the Conference League without conceding a goal, and fresh from eliminating Manchester United in the previous round of the Carabao Cup.

Maresca also confirmed that Rulli is fully aware of his role as deputy to Donnarumma. “Before I arrived here, I had a conversation with him — he knows his role and that’s important,” the City manager said. “Day by day he is helping a lot. When he has played, he was good and tomorrow he will play again.”

Defender Marc Guehi has faced scrutiny after a difficult run of form, having been at fault for Villa’s opener at the weekend — mis-controlling a ball out from the back to allow Nicolas Jackson to score — as well as conceding a penalty against Ipswich and gifting Spain a goal during the international break with England.