Whenever the Carabao Cup draws around, the question is always the same: how strong will/should Manchester City go for it?
It’s a competition that gets little interest early on, but it only takes two games to reach the quarter-finals and is one of the easier trophies to win.
Pep Guardiola made it his first trophy in English football last season, but he did not play full-strength teams all the way through and used two debutants to get past Leicester at the same stage 12 months ago.
This time, injuries may have decided the manager’s team for him. City are low on numbers and so may not be able to make wholesale changes, according to the boss. And with Sergio Aguero and Kevin De Bruyne returning from injury, there’s a good chance the XI at the King Power will be strong.
More of today’s top City stories
Leicester gamble?
City were weaker than expected for their quarter-final with Leicester last year, but so were the hosts.
Getting ready for those Foxes! ? #mancity pic.twitter.com/OGvmwO94hs
— Manchester City (@ManCity) December 17, 2018
When Claude Puel thinks back to his regrets from the season, you feel that game probably ranked pretty high as Demarai Gray, Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez were among the players that started on the bench.
The Foxes are in a similar position to last year – too good to be embroiled in a relegation fight but facing a fight for European qualification via the league – and so will Puel be bolder this time and go strong?