FA Cup weekend continues with an interesting fifth round tie as Manchester City welcome Plymouth Argyle to the Etihad Stadium. It may be fourth in the Premier League against third from bottom in the Championship, but this competition is known for serving up a shock result or two.
Already this season, Plymouth have knocked out two Premier League opposition including the best team in the country right now, Liverpool. In fact, the Championship outfit were well worth their 1-0 victory at Home Park in round four and will have to produce a similar performance to claim the scalp of the reigning champions of England.
City put eight past Salford in round three before struggling to overcome League One side Leyton Orient in the previous round. Though, Pep Guardiola’s side have warmed up for this evening’s fifth round clash with a 1-0 win over Tottenham in midweek, and were unfortunate not to have won by a bigger margin. A place in the quarter-final is at stake. Follow the game LIVE below with our dedicated match blog.
Man City vs Plymouth latest news
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Man City lineup announced: No Haaland, Foden up front
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Plymouth XI confirmed
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Kick-off: 5.45pm GMT | Etihad Stadium
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How to watch: ITV4
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Standard Sport Prediction: Hosts to progress
Plymouth boost
17:05 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Huge boost for Plymouth this evening, Julio Pleguezuelo is fit enough to start having been absent since the fourth-round win over Liverpool.
The defender was part of a rock-solid defensive unit against the Reds and will need to produce a similar type of performance.
Man City changes
17:00 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
It’s 11 changes to the Man City side that started the 1-0 win over Tottenham in midweek.
Kevin De Bruyne, Phil Foden, Bernardo Silva, Jack Grealish and Stefan Ortega all recalled.
Plymouth team in full
16:55 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Plymouth XI: Hazard, Mumba, Ogbeta, Pleguezuelo, Wright, Bundu, Gyabi, Boateng, Katic, Sorinola, Talovierov.
Subs: Grimshaw, Houghton, Szucs, Edwards, Puchacz, Al Hajj, Baidoo, Roberts, Palsson.
Man City team in full
16:50 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Man City XI: Ortega Moreno, Lewis, Reis, Ake, O’Reilly, Gundogan, De Bruyne (C), McAtee, Bernardo, Grealish, Foden
Subs: Ederson, Dias, Marmoush, Haaland, Doku, Nico, Gvardiol, Savinho, Nunes
Plymouth confirmed XI
16:47 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
And for the visitors…
Man City lineup announced
16:47 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Lining up for the home side in this evening’s FA Cup fifth round tie…
Lining up for City! 💪🩵
XI | Ortega Moreno, Lewis, Reis, Ake, O’Reilly, Gundogan, De Bruyne (C), McAtee, Bernardo, Grealish, Foden
SUBS | Ederson, Dias, Marmoush, Haaland, Doku, Nico, Gvardiol, Savinho, Nunes#ManCity | @etihad pic.twitter.com/AkyVBvkyXK
— Manchester City (@ManCity) March 1, 2025
Team news imminent
16:40 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
We are expecting the team news to be announced shortly.
Stay tuned…
Pep Guardiola issues blunt response to Javier Tebas accusations
16:35 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Pep Guardiola refused to respond to accusations aimed at Manchester City from La Liga president Javier Tebas.
Tebas said the Spanish league filed a complaint to the EU Commission against City in the summer of 2023, claiming they used related companies in the United Arab Emirates to cover losses and improve the picture on the club’s own balance sheet.
City have not publicly commented, but are believed to strongly deny the allegations and PA report that sources at the club have pointed to the public accounts as evidence of no wrongdoing.
Speaking at his press conference on Friday ahead of City’s FA Cup fifth-round clash at home to Plymouth, Guardiola responded “next’ when Tebas’ name was brought up.
Man City dominance
16:30 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Manchester City have won their last 18 FA Cup games against sides from a lower division by an aggregate score of 69-9.
A run that stretches back to the 2017-18 when they lost 1-0 at Wigan Athletic in the fifth round…
The visitors are in the building
16:25 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Plymouth have arrived at the Etihad Stadium ahead of this evening’s massive task.
Guardiola: Every game is a final
16:20 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Manchester City’s season comes down to success in the FA Cup and qualifying for the Champions League.
With a number of tough fixtures between now and the end of the campaign, including this evening’s FA Cup tie, Pep Guardiola has highlighted the importance of every single remaining game.
“We have two months or so [remaining this season], and every game is a final for us,” he told reporters. “If we lose one or two games, we will be eighth [in the Premier League].
“Everything is so tight. We have big games before internationals – Nottingham Forest are third and Brighton are there, too.
“Then we have long weeks to prepare well and have good training [sessions].
“We have to be focused on what the team needs, the Club needs and [Plymouth] is most important right now.”
Man City predicted XI
16:15 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
This week has seen Man City finally unveil Argentinian wonderkid Claudio Echeverri.
The 19-year-old signed for City last January but was loaned back to River Plate to help continue his development. And after starring for his nation at the recent Under-20 South American Championship, he has officially joined up with the squad.
Though, it seems Guardiola will hold off on handing Echeverri a debut.
Stefan Ortega is likely to get the nod in between the posts as Ederson makes way. Nico O’Reilly has started both FA Cup ties for City so far this season and could be handed another opportunity at left-back.
Man City predicted XI: Ortega; Lewis, Khusanov, Reis, O’Reilly; Nico, Gundogan; Foden, McAtee, Doku; Marmoush
Plymouth’s big day
16:10 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Plymouth beat the Premier League leaders, Liverpool, last month to set up a fifth-round clash against Manchester City.
They broke the deadlock early in the second half when Ryan Hardie, who missed a penalty that would have seen Argyle take Chelsea to penalties at Stamford Bridge in the fourth round four years ago, stepped up and sent Caoimhin Kelleher the wrong way as Home Park erupted.
Oscar Bobb latest
16:05 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Pep Guardiola says he is hopeful Oscar Bobb can play a part during the second half of the season after suffering a setback in his recovery from a broken leg.
“He is getting better, training yesterday and today as well,” the Man City boss told reporters yesterday.
“It has been longer than we expected, but hopefully he can finish and help us in the last part of the season.
“We want to help him desperately. It’s been a tough period for him but always there is light at the end of the tunnel, this is life and especially in sport.”
Muslic on Guardiola test
16:00 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Plymouth Argyle head coach Miron Muslic says facing Pep Guardiola will be “the biggest honour of my life” after revealing the Man City boss is someone he looks up to.
“I think he’s a giant in our sport, a giant as a coach,” Muslic told BBC Radio Devon. “I think he’s one of the most successful coaches in sports history, one of the most successful coaches in football history.
“It’s the biggest honour in my life, in my career as a coach, so I’m very much looking forward to shaking his hand and telling him that he’s a giant of our sport and a huge, huge role model for every single coach in the world.”
Rodri update
15:55 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Rodri has taken a big step towards a return to action.
The midfielder suffered a serious knee injury back in September, and is not expected to feature again this season.
Though, City have shared footage of Rodri back on the training pitch, working with the ball for the first time since his injury.
Early start for Plymouth fans
15:50 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
This is what the FA Cup is all about.
7,800 Plymouth fans set off this morning for the 566-mile round trip to the Etihad Stadium.
Man City vs Plymouth match odds
15:45 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Man City win: 1/20
Plymouth win: 30/1
Odds via Betfair (subject to change).
Man City vs Plymouth: Head to head (h2h) history and results
15:40 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Man City wins: 11
Draws: 4
Plymouth wins: 5
This is the first meeting between the two sides since February 25, 1989.
Man City vs Plymouth prediction
15:35 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Big wins at home against lower league opposition has been a feature of Man City cup runs over the years and they’ve already dispatched of Salford in the competition this season.
Now, Miron Muslic has overseen a massive defensive improvement at Plymouth since his appointment and the game against Liverpool showed how resolute they can be.
That said, the expectation is that Man City will comfortably progress.
Man City to win 3-0
Plymouth team news
15:30 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Julio Pleguezuelo could return to the Plymouth starting lineup having not featured since limping off against Liverpool in round four. The defender was on the bench in Argyle’s last outing – a 1-1 draw against Coventry.
Man City team news
15:25 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Pep Guardiola reported no fresh Man City injuries following the win over Tottenham, so therefore should be able to select from the same pool of players.
Kevin De Bruyne is pushing for a start after he was an unused substitute in north London, whilst Jack Grealish, Phil Foden, Ilkay Gundogan and Nathan Ake could all be recalled in a rotated City side.
New signing Claudio Echeverri has finally arrived at City but faces a wait to make his debut.
How to watch Man City vs Plymouth
15:20 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
TV channel: The game will be broadcast on ITV4 which is free to air for UK viewers. Coverage starts at 5pm GMT ahead of an 5.45pm kick-off.
Live stream: ITVX will offer a live stream service.
LIVE coverage: Follow all the action with Standard Sport’s dedicated match blog!
Welcome
15:15 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Hello and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of the FA Cup fifth round tie between Manchester City and Plymouth Argyle!
Man City are heavy favourites to progress but they will be wary of an Argyle side that have already knocked out TWO Premier League sides so far, including Liverpool!
We’ll have all the latest updates, build-up and team news ahead of kick-off, which comes at 5.45pm GMT from the Etihad Stadium.
