Key events
Huddersfield boss Lee Grant talks to Sky … “We know the task in front of us … incredibly challenging … incredibly difficult … a highly skilled, technical group of players … we know we are going to be up against it … that doesn’t mean we go into the game without any hope … we will look to impose ourselves at times … we’ll enjoy the fixture and take it for what it is.”
… as does Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola. “It’s a perfect competition for the guys who didn’t play lately … not to improve but to get the rhythm … [I like this competition] otherwise you don’t win four in a row … impossible … I like the Premier League as well, that’s why we won four in a row, six in eight years, that’s why!” He then grins mischievously and sticks his tongue out at the interviewer. Cheeky Pep! Playful Pep! That raised a titter. He’s clearly in a great mood tonight.
Port Vale boss Darren Moore talks to Sky Sports. “It’s definitely a night to embrace … to savour … to enjoy … but also to be committed and ready to perform … it’s about the squad … how the game will ebb and flow … try to start on the front foot … we have experienced boys to bring on … it will be a tough game … can we start well … can we finish it … there’s a generation of Port Vale clubs who haven’t seen a Premier League team at Vale Park … so tonight is an honour … the morale around the football club, and the excitement, is there for all to see.”
Port Vale v Arsenal teams
Port Vale: Gauci, Humphreys, Debrah, Connor Hall, Lawrence-Gabriel, Croasdale, George Hall, Walters, Headley, Curtis, Paton.
Subs: Marosi, Clark, Heneghan, Byers, Garrity, Stockley, Ojo, Faal, Cole.
Arsenal: Arrizabalaga, White, Mosquera, Saliba, Lewis-Skelly, Nwaneri, Norgaard, Eze, Saka, Merino, Martinelli.
Subs: Raya, Gabriel, Timber, Gyokeres, Trossard, Calafiori, Zubimendi, Rice, Dowman.
Port Vale make four changes to their starting XI after their 2-1 victory over Mansfield Town. Devante Cole, with three goals from three appearances so far this season, is on the bench. Arsenal make nine changes after the aforementioned draw with Manchester City. Kepa Arrizabalaga and Christian Norgaard make their first starts for their new club, while Sunday’s second-half heroes Bukayo Saka, Eberechi Eze and Gabriel Martinelli are back, back, back. The 15-year-old Max Dowman is on the bench.
Huddersfield v Man City teams
Huddersfield Town: Nicholls, Sorensen, Feeney, Wallace, Roughan, Wiles, Kasumu, Harness, Redmond, Vost, Charles.
Subs: Goodman, Ledson, Low, Taylor, Castledine, Radulovic, May, Ashia, Smith-Sway.
Manchester City: Trafford, Matheus Luiz, Ake, Stones, O’Reilly, Lewis, Bobb, Foden, Gonzalez, Savio, Mukasa.
Subs: Donnarumma, Dias, Reijnders, Silva, Phillips, Mfuni, Braithwaite, Reigan Heskey, Jaden Heskey.
Huddersfield make seven changes to the side that started the goalless draw with Burton Albion last weekend. The 19-year-old Dutch striker Zépiqueno Redmond, on loan from Aston Villa, makes his first start for the Terriers. Manchester City only retain two starters from the 1-1 draw at Arsenal – Phil Foden and Nico O’Reilly – but keep Tijjani Reijnders and Bernardo Silva in reserve on the bench.
Spurs v Doncaster teams
Tottenham Hotspur: Kinsky, Porro, Danso, Gray, Spence, Bentancur, Joao Palhinha, Simons, Odobert, Tel, Johnson.
Subs: Austin, Richarlison, Udogie, Bergvall, van de Ven, Scarlett, Byfield, Thompson, Williams-Barnet.
Doncaster Rovers: Lawlor, Nixon, Grehan, McGrath, Senior, Bailey, Sbarra, Close, Olusanya, Ajayi, Glenn Middleton.
Subs: Lo-Tutala, Maxwell, Molyneux, Hanlan, Gibson, O’Riordan, Crew, Gotts, Westbrooke.
Spurs go strong. They might only retain four starters from the 2-2 draw at Brighton – Pedro Porro, Rodrigo Bentancur, João Palhinha and Wilson Odobert – but throw Xavi Simons, Mathys Tel and Brennan Johnson into attack. Of the players who started Doncaster’s 2-1 home defeat to Wimbledon, only defender Jay McGrath and captain Owen Bailey keep their spots in the starting line-up.
Newcastle v Bradford teams
Newcastle United: Ramsdale, Thiaw, Botman, Hall, Krafth, Guimaraes, Miley, Elanga, Joelinton, Gordon, Osula.
Subs: Pope, Trippier, Lascelles, Tonali, Barnes, Livramento, Woltemade, Willock, Alex Murphy.
Bradford City: Walker, Pennington, Byrne, Touray, Halliday, Leigh, Power, Kelly, Powell, Pointon, Humphrys.
Subs: Hilton, Joe Wright, Neufville, Cook, Sarcevic, McIntyre, Tyreik Wright, Metcalfe, Lapslie.
The holders Newcastle make seven changes from the side that started the goalless draw at Bournemouth. Sven Botman, Malick Thiaw, Lewis Hall and Lewis Miley are the players who keep their places. League One leaders Bradford switch out five of the team that started their 3-1 win at Cardiff; one of those keeping their shirt is Bobby Pointon, who has five goals already this season.
Preamble
The fourth round of the League Cup has already served up some marvellous entertainment. Diego Gomez’s long-drive-heavy four-goal haul; two fine assists for Federico Chiesa and the daftest of red cards for Hugo Ekitiké; a first win of the season for Wolves; Lincoln forcing Chelsea to dig deep; third-tier Cardiff’s win at Burnley. It’s all been happening, with the promise of more fun to come. Tonight’s card is short but sweet …
Huddersfield Town v Manchester City (7.45pm)
Newcastle United v Bradford City (7.45pm)
Port Vale v Arsenal (8pm)
Tottenham Hotspur v Doncaster Rovers (7.45pm)
… and we’ll have the team news when it lands. It’s on!
