Navas and De Bruyne out wide?
Manuel Pellegrini has made five changes from the team that beat Norwich on Saturday.
Kevin De Bruyne and Jesus Navas look to have got the vote as the wide men with Raheem Sterling likely to play just off Sergio Aguero - though De Bruyne could take up the central role if the Blues play 4-2-3-1 rather than 4-4-2.
Few would argue that Navas deserves to start after impressive performances against Everton and Norwich, but Silva’s absence could mean the Spaniard is not 100% fit, though he will surely feature at some point.
Fernando gets the nod over Fabian Delph in the midfield engine room with Fernandinho injured.
Fabian Delph and Fernando will work the engine room as a partnership for the first time as the Blues look to progress to the fourth round against Norwich.
Today’s starting XI plus subs looks like this:
Hart, Sagna, Demichelis, Otamendi, Clichy, Fernando, Toure, Navas, Sterling, De Bruyne, Aguero
Subs: Caballero, Zabaleta, Silva, Delph, Iheanacho, Humphreys, Kolarov
Defence: Hart, Clichy and Sagna return
Joe Hart will make his 250th Premier League start for the Blues this evening while Gael Clichy and Bacary Sagna replace Pablo Zabaleta and Aleks Kolarov. If Zaba comes on, he’ll reach his own personal landmark of 200 Premier League appearances for City.
Attack: Kun and Kelechi
Kelechi Iheanacho returns to the bench despite an impressive display at Carrow Road but as with Silva, expect the talented teenager to make an appearance at some point.
Bench:
Cameron Humphreys retains his spot as a sub with the Blues’ central defensive cover down to the bare bones. The rest of the bench is made up from players - Silva apart - who started against the Canaries.
Opposition: Everton line-up...
Seamus Coleman misses this game through injury and Arouna Kone is on the bench as the Toffees make two changes from the team that beat City 2-1 a week ago.
Leon Osman and Phil Jagielka start and Romelu Lukaku has passed a late fitness test and will be the lone striker this evening.
John Stones is expected to slot in at right-back in an expected 4-3-2-1 formation.
