Pep Guardiola has made four changes to the side that beat Rotherham on Saturday for tonight’s Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Burton Albion.

Aro Muric, who has played in every round of the competition so far, starts in goal, with Ederson moving to the bench.

Birthday boy Eric Garcia starts after his impressive display in the last round at Leicester. Nicolas Otamendi partners him at centre-back, with Kyle Walker and Oleksandr Zinchenko making up the rest of the back four.

Ilkay Gundogan continues in the holding role, with David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne adding guile ahead of him.

Riyad Mahrez, Leroy Sane and Gabriel Jesus start up front for the Blues.

Fernandinho and Aymeric Laporte are rested after their recent exertions, while Sergio Aguero and Vincent Kompany aren’t fully fit.

Benjamin Mendy and Claudio Bravo remain long-term absentees, although Guardiola confirmed yesterday that Mendy is improving and is now back in light training.

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City

Starting XI: Muric, Walker, Garcia, Otamendi, Zinchenko, Gundogan, Silva, De Bruyne, Mahrez, Sane, Jesus

Subs: Ederson, Danilo, Stones, Sterling, Delph, Bernardo, Foden

Burton Albion

City tactics

Guardiola rarely deviates from his 4-3-3 formation and tonight is no exception.

City will look to dominate possession, with Burton likely to put plenty of men behind the ball in a bid to stifle our attacking play. Patience could be key for City tonight. 

Gundogan will sit and protect the back four, with Silva and De Bruyne charged with unpicking the Burton backline. Their eye for a pass will be vital.

And the pace and width provided by Sane and Mahrez will hopefully stretch the Burton backline and allow Jesus space through the centre. 

Match stats

This is the first competitive meeting between Manchester City and Burton Albion.

We are participating in our 11th League Cup semi-final, qualifying for the final on six occasions (1969-70, 1973-74, 1975-76, 2013-14, 2015-16 and 2017-18).

This is Burton’s first League Cup semi-final.

City have progressed from their last 10 League Cup ties against sides from a lower division, including a 3-0 win at League One side Oxford United in this season’s third round.

City midfielder Kevin de Bruyne has scored eight goals and assisted four in 12 League Cup appearances for the club.

City’s last home League Cup match against a League One side was in September 2004, a 7-1 hammering of Barnsley.