Italy international goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma is not be in goal for Manchester City this evening, with boss Enzo Maresca having decided to start Geronimo Rulli instead.

"He's good. Before I arrive here I had a conversation with him, he knows exactly his role. Day-by-day he is helping a lot," Maresca said.

"When he played some minutes he was good and tomorrow he will play again."

Rulli was signed from Marseille in the summer for £1.7m in a two-year deal. The Argentine was on City's books during the 2016-17 season, but left without making a first-team appearance.

Former Sunderland striker Marco Gabbiadini on Brian Brobbey's return at the weekend:

"At the end of last season and into this season he's started very well. [Wilson] Isidor is the back-up and not many supporters have too many complaints about his quality.

"[Timur] Tutierov is a young player coming through and it's a big job to do when you've not got any experience really at this level.

"To have Brian there, he certainly ruffles feathers and you can see defenders straight away are wary of his presence and try everything they can to stop it.

"He had a few opportunities, he still looked a little bit off the pace but that's understandable. You do need a focal point in your attacks.

"I'm pleased he's back and hope there is no further occurrence of his injury from that performance. He sensibly wasn't left on for the full 90. It's good to see him back."

It also must be great being a Brentford fan at the moment.

The Bees are currently sixth in the Premier League and need a win against bottom of the Premier League Sunderland to reach the last eight of the League Cup for the third year in a row.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

It is certainly an exciting time to be a Bournemouth fan.

Last week they enjoyed a dream result in the Europa League as they beat AC Milan 3-0 and then followed that up with a 3-0 win at Manchester United in the Premier League.

Tonight they host Aston Villa looking to make it five wins on the spin.

"I like the way they play," said Bournemouth boss Marco Rose on Villa.

"They are hard to play against, but so are we. We are going to be able to compete against them."

Manchester City boss Enzo Maresca says that Brighton are very "brave" as he prepares to face the Seagulls twice at home in four days this week, with the two sides also meeting in the Premier League on Saturday.

He praised them for doing "very well" this season and he expects both games to be tough.

"They are very brave in terms of aggression and when they have the ball, they attack with so many players and are creating many chances, scoring many goals," Meresca said.

"So yeah, we need to pay attention defensively and we need to do the right things offensively."

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Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler expects a tough challenge as they travel up north to face the Premier League leaders for this cup tie.

Despite losing their last game 2-0 to Liverpool, they have won three and draw one of their last five games.

"We know that City may be the best team in the league at the moment," Hurzeler said.

"It is another tough challenge for us, but we are ready for that, and we are going there to try and get to the next round."

He praised Enzo Maresca's side for playing with a "clear formation and clear style of play", and acknowledged that they "press very intensely with man rotation" so it's a new challenge for his team.

There's no Joao Pedro for Chelsea tonight, with the striker set for a few weeks out because of a thigh injury.

"We will miss him but we have to be ready to deal with that and win games and be competitive with the players we have available," Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso said.

"This is the situation. We have to be looking for solutions not for excuses. This is why you build a squad. For sure, some players are important but this can happen."

Crystal Palace currently sit one point above the drop zone in the Premier League having won just two games, drawn one and lost five.

They have not won a match since 11 October and pressure is mounting on boss Pierre Sage, who only joined the club in the summer following the departure of Oliver Glasner.

Reports suggest defeat by Tottenham in the league this weekend could see the end of his spell in south London. But can he provide the fans with a much-needed boost with victory tonight?

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Sunderland midfielder Luke O'Nien on the Black Cats' poor start to the season: "Belief is never going to leave this team.

"I think the [Premier League] table reflects fairly where you should be - which is really humbling - but the best of it is we're not going to be there for long if we do the things we did [against Leeds].

"It's in our hands to get back to what we did last year. [The performance against Leeds] was a step in the right direction."

Gary Bennett
Ex-Sunderland defender on BBC Radio Newcastle

I think that’s surprised a lot of people that, Alan Browne.

I think everyone was thinking, was he still at the club, but credit to him. He’s stuck in.

There were rumours that he was going to be moving back to Preston, it didn’t happen but to be fair, he’s got his head down and got on with things.

Bottom of the Premier League Sunderland have made 11 changes to the side who drew 0-0 with Leeds on Sunday as Regis le Bris prioritises league action.

Sunderland XI: Ellborg, Methalie, Alderete, Danso, Browne, Ahoka, Talbi, Fofana, Diarra, Ta Bi, Tutierov.

Subs: Rigg, Meunier, O'Nein, Moore, Whittaker, Samuel-Ogunsuyi, Jones, Scott, Proctor.

Keith Andrews has the luxury of naming a stronger side than tonight's opponents, with three from the draw with Hull keeping their places.

Brentford do have a particularly strong bench, should they need it.

Brentford XI: Valdimarsson, Diouf, Collins, Schuster, Kayode, Janelt, Sangare, Anthony, Damsgaard, Wilson, Thiago.

Subs: Kelleher, Hickey, Van den Berg, Schade, Jensen, Ouattara, Ajer, Lewis-Potter, Nunes.

It's six changes for Fulham from their weekend win over Coventry. Benjamin Lecomte replaces Bernd Leno in goal. While Kenny Tete and Joachim Andersen come into defence. Sander Berge starts in midfield ahead of Shea Charles while Cesar Palacios also comes in for Josh King. Rodrigo Muniz starts up front instead of Gonzalo Garcia.

Fulham XI: Lecomte; Tete, Andersen, Bassey, Robinson; Berge, Larsson; Iwobi, Bobb, Palacios; Muniz.

It’s 10 changes for Crystal Palace following their weekend defeat by Newcastle. The big news is Cheick Doucoure makes his first appearance since January 2025 after his knee injury nightmare. Dean Henderson returns in goal and Ben Chilwell is also back from injury.

Crystal Palace XI: Henderson; Lerma, Richards, Ahanor; Mingueza, Hughes, Doucoure, Chilwell; Osorio, Nketiah, Guessand.

Aadam Patel
Football Reporter at Anfield

Andoni Iraola makes seven changes from Liverpool’s 2-0 win against Brighton on Sunday.

Liverpool: Mamardashvili; Araujo, Gomez, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; McConnell, Nyoni; Ngumoha, Gravenberch, Gakpo; Koumas

Subs: Alisson, Endo, Jacquet, Wirtz, Isak, Mac Alister, Chiesa, Barcola, Chambers.

Xabi Alonso makes four changes to the Chelsea side that lost to Tottenham on Saturday.

Chelsea: Penders; Acheampong, Lacroix, Fofana, Gusto, Caicedo, Lavia, Henderson, Neto, Welbeck, Rogers.

Subs: Sharman-Lowe, Colwill, Subuloye, Palestra, Barco, Nicoll-Jazuli, Estevao, Quenda, Emegha

Aadam Patel
Football Reporter at Anfield

Image source, Getty Images

Jeremy Jacquet could easily have been wearing blue had Liverpool not accelerated their push for him in January,

Chelsea were keen and Jacquet was rated highly internally at Stamford Bridge but he chose the Reds.

At the time, the move raised eyebrows, particularly for a player who had only made 36 appearances in France's Ligue 1.

Liverpool missed out on Marc Guehi last summer and were having a poor season but Richard Hughes, the former sporting director, was prepared to wait until the summer, with Rennes unwilling to sanction a move in January.

On deadline day in January, journalist Julien Laurens told BBC Sport: "It's a lot of money but Jacquet has everything to become one of the best centre-backs in the world in the next few years. He is arguably the best centre-back of his generation."

A few months into the new season, it seems Liverpool have settled on a gem.

The idea of seeing their former player celebrating Chelsea goals against them could be grist to the mill for the Liverpool fans and make them back their side even more tonight.

Chelsea are unbeaten in three games against Liverpool since a 2-1 Premier League defeat at Anfield in October 2024.

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport Chelsea reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso says he will celebrate if the Blues score against his former club Liverpool tonight.

The Spaniard, 44, is returning to Anfield for the first time since becoming Blues manager over the summer.

Asked how he will react if Chelsea score, Alonso said: "Of course, I will celebrate, for sure. With full respect because for sure, my warmth with Liverpool was there as a player.

"But now, I am in a different role, I need to support my team, I need to support my club, I fight for my club and if we score, I will celebrate with whole respect.

"That is the respect for my club and the respect for the opponent as well."

It is the third time Alonso has returned as a visiting manager, having done so in his previous roles at Real Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen across the last two seasons.

Aadam Patel
Football Reporter at Anfield

Image source, Getty Images

Xabi Alonso's record as a manager against Liverpool is played two and lost two.

The former Liverpool midfielder, who managed with Bayer Leverkusen in 2024 and Real Madrid in 2025, returns to Anfield tonight, but this time as the Chelsea manager in the Carabao Cup.

And he will come up against a Liverpool side that has won their last four games in all competitions and are settling in well under Andoni Iraola.

Iraola described Alonso as a "close friend" on Tuesday. The pair grew up together in the Basque region of Spain, playing in the same team and against each other.

In their debut campaigns at Liverpool, Jurgen Klopp and Arne Slot both reached the final of the Carabao Cup.

Both of the previous two Liverpool managers lost in the final but Iraola is aware that silverware is ultimately an aim when you are the Liverpool boss.