Manchester City vs Plymouth FA Cup Preview, Prediction, Team News and Confirmed Lineups

Premier League giants Manchester City host Championship strugglers Plymouth in the FA Cup fifth round on Saturday, and we’ve included the latest team news and predicted lineups in our preview ahead of the action.

Manchester City vs Plymouth Preview

Looking to build on their narrow win over Tottenham Hotspur at the weekend, Manchester City welcome Championship relegation battlers Plymouth Argyle to the Etihad in the FA Cup fifth round on Saturday evening.

The Cityzens claimed a vital 1-0 victory over Spurs in North London on Tuesday, ending a two-game losing run, in which Erling Haaland made his return from injury and netted his 28th goal of the campaign.

Prior to that, they suffered a 2-0 defeat to Premier League leaders Liverpool and were eliminated from the Champions League after a 6-3 aggregate defeat to Real Madrid in their knockout play-off tie.

Pep Guardiola’s side are currently in fourth place in the English top-flight table, 20 points behind the table-topping Reds.

Team 🩵👊 pic.twitter.com/5Mk4idzPSL

— Manchester City (@ManCity) February 27, 2025

Thus far in the cup, they defeated Salford City 8-0 in the third round and came from behind to beat Leyton Orient 2-1 in the fourth round, while Plymouth have beaten Brentford and Liverpool on their way to this stage of the competition.

The Pilgrims, who occupy 22nd place in the second tier – three points from safety – come into this one off the back of a three-game winless run, having drawn 1-1 against Cardiff and Luton in their last two league outings.

Their last meeting with Manchester City came during the 1988/89 season. They actually faced off on four occasions throughout that campaign, twice in the league and twice in the League Cup. All four matches ended in favour of the Cityzens, and they went on to secure promotion to the First Division as runners-up to Chelsea.

Manchester City Team News

Of course, City remain without long-term absentee Rodri (knee), but he has now been joined by central defensive duo John Stones (thigh) and Manuel Akanji (groin) on the sidelines.

Oscar Bobb, who has been out of action since the beginning of the campaign after suffering a broken leg in pre-season training, could make his return but remains doubtful for Plymouth’s visit.

Plymouth Team News

As for the visitors, they have been dealt a fresh blow following confirmation of a hamstring injury to Muhamed Tijani. The Nigerian is expected to be sidelined for ‘a couple of weeks’.

Fourth-round goalscorer Ryan Hardie is also unavailable due to a back issue, as well as club captain Joe Edwards (hamstring) and Zimbabwe international centre-back Brendan Galloway (leg).

Manchester City vs Plymouth Confirmed Lineups

Manchester City Confirmed Lineup:

Ortega Moreno, Lewis, Reis, Ake, O’Reilly, Gundogan, De Bruyne (C), McAtee, Bernardo, Grealish, Foden

Plymouth Confirmed Lineup:

Hazard; Mumba, Ogbeta, Pleguezuelo; Bundu, Gyabi, Boateng, Katic (C); Wright, Maxi; Sorinola

Manchester City vs Plymouth Prediction

Plymouth have already defeated two Premier League sides in the cup this term, but despite this, the UK’s best football betting sites see them as massive 28/1 outsiders to beat Manchester City in regular time on Saturday.

A victory for the hosts is rated at around 1/16, while a draw is priced at around 10/1.

Even though the Pilgrims have caused a couple of upsets this season, as well as City looking rather light at the back following injuries to Akanji and Stones, we at SportsCasting expect Guardiola’s men to get the job done in comfortable fashion.

The likes of Omar Marmoush, Jack Grealish, James McAtee and Phil Foden should cause plenty of problems for the visiting defenders, and we expect them to combine to put a few past Plymouth stopper Conor Hazard.

Prediction: Manchester City 3-0 Plymouth