Manchester City host Salford City in the FA Cup third round today, with the hosts looking like they’ve put their unprecedented run of bad form behind them.

Pep Guardiola’s team have won their last two matches, having previously suffered a run of just one win in thirteen games which saw them fall to sixth in the league.

And they welcome a Salford City side who are sitting third in League Two and dreaming of a historic upset.

The minnows were in the eighth tier of English football just 10 seasons ago, but the new ownership – partly consisting of members of Manchester United’s ‘Class of ‘92’ – has seen the club gain four promotions while staying in the hunt for another one this season.

Follow all the action from the Etihad Stadium below:

Manchester City vs Salford City LIVE

• Manchester City host Salford City in the FA Cup third round, with kick-off at 5.45pm | Live on BBC One

• City have won their last two matches and are sixth in the Premier League

• Salford are third in League Two and are hunting promotion

• Man City XI: Ederson; Simpson-Pusey, Ake, Nunes, Gundogan, O’Reilly, McAtee, Doku, Grealish, Savinho, Mubama.

• Salford City XI: Young, Shephard, Tilt, Garbutt, Ashley, Mnoga, Berkoe, Lund, Fornah, Kouassi, Adelakun.

Manchester City FC - Salford City FC

Robinson: “The preparations for these games are quite easy"

17:20 , Chris Wilson

Ahead of the match, Salford boss Karl Robinson told the media that “the preparations for these games are quite easy because the quality of the opposition is obvious”.

“You always know that a moment of genius by one of their top players, you can find yourself getting beaten because of that,” Robinson added.

“Their movement patterns are so good that you can almost see them; at our level there’s a degree of unpredictability to get into the final third but there’s a consistency for Manchester City and these other Premier League teams that they allow you to coach a little bit more.

“There’s only one important aspect and that’s the result but when you go against a team that’s so strong and they’ve got so much quality, there is another side of winning, and that’s that we don’t let ourselves down.

“If we do all of the controllables at the weekend then in my mind my players will have won. The result will be a by-product of that, granted, but the result is always taken out of your hands by the quality of the opposition.”

Match facts

17:15 , Chris Wilson

This is Salford City’s first ever appearance in the FA Cup third round. The last team whose first such game came against the reigning English top-flight champions was Scunthorpe in 1951-52 (lost 0-3 to Tottenham).

Since losing 1-0 to Wigan in the FA Cup fifth round in 2017-18, Manchester City have won their last 24 matches against sides from a lower division (across both League Cup and FA Cup) by an aggregate score of 88-12.

Guardiola: “I will be playing against my neighbourhood"

17:10 , Chris Wilson

In his pre-match press conference, Pep Guardiola refused to comment on rumours surrounding potential signings, before adding that he has “lived in Salford for the past eight years so I will be playing against my neighbourhood, my home town”.

“The past six games, six clean sheets and six victories, so I have huge respect for them and what they do - the intensity - and we will take it seriously, like we always have done,” he said.

On Salford’s ownership, he added: “I saw Gary Neville. I don’t know all the other players involved but they are smart people, I’m sure of that, and when people from football run clubs they take smart decisions.”

Match facts

17:07 , Chris Wilson

This is Salford City’s third meeting with Premier League opposition in all competitions, previously losing 3-0 against Everton (September 2020) and 4-0 against Burnley (September 2023).

Manchester City haven’t been eliminated at this stage of the FA Cup since 2011-12, when they lost 3-2 at home to Manchester United. Including replays, they’ve won their last 11 FA Cup third round matches by an aggregate score of 46-4.

Pep Guardiola: I’ll leave punditry and club ownership to likes of Gary Neville

17:03 , Chris Wilson

Pep Guardiola is happy to leave the worlds of punditry and club ownership to the likes of Gary Neville.

The Manchester City boss will welcome Neville to the Etihad Stadium on Saturday as the champions host the former Manchester United star’s Salford team in the FA Cup third round.

Neville, who owns the League Two outfit along with other members of United’s famous ‘Class of 92’, has carved out successful careers in football punditry and business since retiring.

Pep Guardiola: I’ll leave punditry and club ownership to likes of Gary Neville

Team news

16:59 , Chris Wilson

Salford have made two changes to the side that beat MK Dons 1-0 last week. In midfield, Ryan Watson is replaced by Matty Lund, while in attack, Cole Stockton comes out for Kylian Kouassi.

Team news

16:57 , Chris Wilson

Pep Guardiola unsurprisingly makes nine changes to the side that beat West Ham last week.

In goal, Ederson comes in for Ortega, while Jahmai Simson-Pusey and Matheus Nunes come into defence in place of Josko Gvardiol and Manuel Akanji.

In midfield, Ilkay Gundogan plays alongside Nico O’Reilly, while James McAtee, Jack Grealish and Jeremy Doku return to the side in place of Phil Foden, Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva.

The biggest news is that youngster Divin Mubama starts upfront in place of Erling Haaland.

Line-ups

16:49 , Chris Wilson

Man City XI: Ederson; Simpson-Pusey, Ake, Nunes, Gundogan (C), O’Reilly, McAtee, Doku, Grealish, Savinho, Mubama.

Subs: Ortega, Kovacic, Haaland, De Bruyne, Bernardo, Gvardiol, Akanji, Foden, Lewis

Salford City XI: Young, Shephard, Tilt, Garbutt, Ashley, Mnoga, Berkoe, Lund, Fornah, Kouassi, Adelakun.

Subs: Jones, Watson, Stockton, Taylor, Chester, McAleny, Malcolm, Heys, Wright.

Early team news

16:40 , Chris Wilson

The line-ups will be announced in five minutes, so here’s a reminder of the early team news.

There are no new injury concerns for City after the win over West Ham, and Guardiola may even be welcoming back Ederson and Ruben Dias after their respective injury lay-offs.

Nevertheless, neither player would be expected to start here, with Ortega likely to deputise in goal, while Jahmai Simpson-Pusey should feature at centre-back. Whether guardiola opts to use Josko Gvardiol, Nathan Ake, Manuel Akanji or a young player – such as Max Alleyne – remains to be seen.

In midfield, expect to see Mateo Kovacic and Ilkay Gundogan rested, with Nico O’Reilly potentially featuring as he did in the Community Shield.

Guardiola will also likely make changes to the forward line, with James McAtee and Jack Grealish likely to feature, while Erling Haaland could be rested in favour of 20-year-old striker Divin Mubama.

Salford City’s ownership

16:35 , Chris Wilson

Salford have existed in several iterations since the 1940s, and became professional in 2017. They were taken over by the members of Manchester United’s ‘Class of ‘92’ – including Gary Neville, David Beckham and Ryan Giggs – in 2014, and since then have won several promotions to take them into the Football League. They now sit in third in League Two, and firmly in contention for promotion.

The side have won four promotions since the group took over in 2014, and they enter the weekend in third place, level on points with second-placed Crewe Alexandra (but 10 points behind Walsall in first).

Salford’s Curtis Tilt goes from driving excavators to facing Erling Haaland

16:25 , Chris Wilson

Salford captain Curtis Tilt once thought he would spend his working life operating heavy equipment – now his next job is to stop Manchester Citygoal machine Erling Haaland.

The 33-year-old defender will lead his team out for one of the biggest games of his career as the League Two outfit head to the nearby Etihad Stadium in the FA Cup third round on Saturday.

It is a far cry from his early working days at a quarry in the midlands, controlling 50-tonne excavators and eating pies every day.

Salford’s Curtis Tilt goes from driving excavators to facing Erling Haaland

16:15 , Chris Wilson

Unsurprisingly, this is the first ever meeting between Manchester City and Salford City. It is also the League Two side’s first every appearance in the FA Cup third round.

City have won their past 17 matches when facing an opponent for the first time in all competitions since a 2-1 loss to Lyon in September 2018.

Man City in talks to sign 20-year-old Uzbekistan international defender

16:05 , Chris Wilson

Manchester City are in talks with Lens about a deal for the Uzbekistan centre-back Abdukodir Khusanov.

The French club’s manager, Will Still, confirmed Khusanov could leave this month as City look to make him their first January signing. He left Lens’ training ground due to illness and the 20-year-old, who joined Lens in 2023, may have played his last game for the club.

Still said: “We’re not going to lie to each other. We know that there are negotiations in progress, things are moving. We’re not fooled. For the moment, he’s still here and if things were to move, you’ll probably know before me. He went home because he’s really sick. If he’s still available, he’ll be in the squad.”

Man City in talks to sign 20-year-old Uzbekistan international defender

Man City target €40m Brazil defender to step up rebuild plans

15:55 , Chris Wilson

Manchester City are interested in Brazilian centre-back Vitor Reis as they start to plan for the future of their defence.

The Premier League champions hope to bring the 18-year-old to the Etihad Stadium while Palmeiras want €40m for the prospect.

City want Reis to add to their first team immediately and have no plans to send the teenager out on loan if they sign him this month.

Man City target €40m Brazil defender to step up rebuild plans

Pep Guardiola keeps Salford guessing over Erling Haaland ahead of FA Cup clash

15:45 , Mike Jones

Pep Guardiola will keep Salford guessing over whether Manchester Citystriker Erling Haaland will line up against the League Two side in the FA Cup.

City’s formidable Norwegian forward has played more minutes than any of his team-mates so far this season.

Guardiola will consider making changes for Saturday’s third-round tie against their fourth-tier neighbours but he has not decided if Haaland – who has netted 21 times this season in 2,386 minutes on the field – should have a rest.

Pep Guardiola keeps Salford guessing over Erling Haaland ahead of FA Cup clash

Predicted line-ups

15:35 , Chris Wilson

Man City XI: Ortega; Lewis, Simpson-Pusey, Alleyne, Gvardiol; O’Reilly; Savinho, Grealish, McAtee, Doku; Mubama.

Salford City XI: Young; Shephard, Tilt, Garbutt; Ashley; Mnoga, Berkoe, Watson, Fornah; Adelakun, Stockton.

Early team news

15:30 , Chris Wilson

There are no new injury concerns for City after the win over West Ham, and Guardiola may even be welcoming back Ederson and Ruben Dias after their respective injury lay-offs.

Nevertheless, neither player would be expected to start here, with Ortega likely to deputise in goal, while Jahmai Simpson-Pusey should feature at centre-back. Whether guardiola opts to use Josko Gvardiol, Nathan Ake, Manuel Akanji or a young player – such as Max Alleyne – remains to be seen.

In midfield, expect to see Mateo Kovacic and Ilkay Gundogan rested, with Nico O’Reilly potentially featuring as he did in the Community Shield.

Guardiola will also likely make changes to the forward line, with James McAtee and Jack Grealish likely to feature, while Erling Haaland could be rested in favour of 20-year-old striker Divin Mubama.

Is Man City vs Salford City on TV?

15:20 , Chris Wilson

When is Man City vs Salford City?

Man City vs Salford City will kick off at 5.45pm GMT on Saturday, 11 January at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England.

How can I watch it?

Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the match live on BBC One, with coverage starting at 5.30pm. Subscribers will also be able to stream the match online on BBC iPlayer.

If you want to stream major sporting events while you are travelling or watching from abroad you’ll need a VPN. Get the best VPN deals in the UK. Viewers using a VPN need to make sure that they comply with any local regulations where they are, and also with the terms of their service provider.

Manchester City vs Salford City LIVE

15:10 , Chris Wilson

Manchester City host Salford City in the third round of the FA Cup this evening, with the visitors dreaming of pulling off one of the biggest upsets in the history of the competition.

Pep Guardiola’s side have two wins on the bounce in the league after a period in which they struggled and fell to sixth, and this weekend provides a chance to rest players as they face the fourth-tier side, who are owned by several of Manchester United’s so-called ‘Class of ‘92’ including Gary Neville and David Beckham.

Salford are flying high in League Two, sitting in third and firmly in the hunt for promotion despite having been in the eighth tier of English football just 10 seasons ago.

Manchester City vs Salford City LIVE

15:00 , Chris Wilson

Good afternoon and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of today’s FA Cup tie between Manchester City and Salford City.

The League Two side cross Greater Manchester to face City in the third round, with kick-off at 5.45pm.

We’ll have all the latest build-up and team news right here.