Manchester City have the chance of making history this season in the Carabao Cup, and you are all going to love this.
We have the chance of equalling a record set by the Liverpool team of the 1980s by winning four consecutive League Cups, which surely places Pep Guardiola’s side as one of the greatest teams in English football history.
That being said, we still have a job to do by doing it. Our first game of this season’s competition is against recently relegated Bournemouth at the Etihad tonight.
While we have been exceptional in this competition over the last three years, the third round tends to be the stage where some of our brightest stars from the academy will make their mark. Tonight will be no different.
The Cherries are going through a transitional period and their first season without Eddie Howe, under the new direction of Jason Tindall.
Bournemouth are undefeated this season and got to this stage of the Carabao Cup by knocking out Crystal Palace on penalties.
Here’s who I think will step up for us on our hallowed turf tonight.
I don’t suspect us playing any other system than the deep-lying 4-3-3 formation we have become used to, with several players playing out of position to accommodate others.
We can expect a number of changes, including the first-team debut for the young goalkeeper Zach Steffen, having impressed on loan at Fortuna Dusseldorf last season.
In front of him should be the centre-back pairing of Aymeric Laporte and Taylor Harwood-Bellis. Laporte needs all of the minutes he can to get back up to speed. While we got past Wolves on Monday, we were far from comfortable. Nathan Ake and Eric Garcia will take their places in the fullback roles as they are both experienced in that position.
Tommy Doyle and Adrian Bernabe should fill in for Kevin De Bruyne and Rodri who need a rest, with 20-year-old Phil Foden retaining his place in the team after a solid showing in our last game.
Upfront, Liam Delap should be in for a treat with the supply from the wings he should have. Riyad Mahrez we all know is deadly when he wants to be. But more importantly, the first-team debut of our new signing Ferran Torres.
He may well be facing lower-league opposition, but tonight will be his opportunity to shine. If this eleven is selected, I’m sure that he will and I am excited to see what he can do in the months to come.