The FA Cup Fourth Round brings a cross-town reunion this Saturday, February 14, 2026, as Manchester City hosts Salford City. Kick-off at the Etihad Stadium is set for 15:00 GMT.
This is only the second ever competitive meeting between the two clubs. Manchester City arrived at this stage after a ruthless 10–1 demolition of Exeter City, while the Ammies secured their spot with a hard-fought 3–2 victory over Swindon Town.
Match Information
| Feature | Details |
| Competition | FA Cup (Fourth Round) |
| Date | Saturday, February 14, 2026 |
| Kick-off | 15:00 GMT / 10:00 ET |
| Venue | Etihad Stadium, Manchester |
| Capacity | 53,400 |
| TV Channel | Not televised in the UK (Live Radio: BBC Radio Manchester) |
Manchester City: Rotation and Recovery
Pep Guardiola is expected to ring the changes following a high-intensity period in the Premier League. Having recently secured a vital 2–1 win over Liverpool, the City boss will likely use this fixture to hand minutes to fringe players and returning stars.
Team News and Selection:
Return of the Rock: John Stones is nearing a return from a thigh injury and is highly likely to feature as he builds match fitness.
Injury Ward: Josko Gvardiol (tibial fracture), Mateo Kovacic, and Jeremy Doku remain sidelined. Abdukodir Khusanov is also under concussion protocol following a collision against Liverpool.
Youth to Shine: Expect significant involvement from youngsters like Nico O'Reilly and Rico Lewis, while Rayan Cherki could be given a starting berth to provide creative spark.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Lewis, Stones, Guéhi, O’Reilly; Nunes, Rodri (or Wright), Reijnders; Cherki, Haaland (or Bobb), Semenyo.
Salford City: The Underdog Dream
Under Karl Robinson, Salford City is enjoying a historic cup run, reaching the Fourth Round for the first time in their history. The League Two side has been active in the January window, reshaping their squad to push for automatic promotion, but they will view this trip to the Etihad as the highlight of their season.
Team News and Selection:
New Arrivals: Forward Ryan Graydon has been a revelation since joining from Fleetwood Town, netting three goals in his first five games.
Loan Watch: Young defenders Zach Awe and Alfie Dorrington (on loan from Spurs) provide fresh energy to the backline.
Veteran Experience: Former Liverpool and Sunderland striker Fabio Borini has seen his contract extended and will be the primary focal point for the Ammies' attack.
Predicted XI (3-5-2): Young; Cooper, Awe, Garbutt; Turton, Grant, Austerfield, Cesay, Longelo; Graydon, Borini.
? Head-to-Head (H2H) and Key Stats
The Previous Meeting: The only other competitive meeting occurred in last season’s FA Cup Third Round, where Manchester City walked away with an 8–0 victory.
Scoring Power: Manchester City has scored 18 goals in their last two FA Cup home matches (10 vs. Exeter, 8 vs. Salford).
Defensive Fortress: City has kept clean sheets in 4 of their last 5 matches across all competitions.
Salford's Form: The Ammies are currently on an 8-match unbeaten run in all competitions.
Tactical Preview and Prediction
The tactical setup will be a game of "attack vs. defense." Manchester City will dominate possession, likely seeing upwards of 75% of the ball, using Nunes and Cherki to probe Salford's low block. Salford's best hope lies in the set-piece delivery of Luke Garbutt and the predatory instincts of Fabio Borini on the counter-attack.
While Salford’s spirit is high, the gap in quality between a Premier League title contender and a League Two side—even with heavy rotation—is likely to be too significant to bridge.
Final Score Prediction: Manchester City 5–0 Salford City
