Manchester City vs Salford City predictions and betting tips – Guardiola’s side seek big win

Manchester City are right back in the Premier League title race, but they will put their championship challenge on hold this weekend as the FA Cup takes centre stage.

Salford City are the visitors to the Etihad Stadium on Saturday. Will this be a difficult afternoon for the League Two side, or might we be in store for a shock?

• Manchester City -3 handicap – 4/6 with BoyleSports
• Manchester City to be ahead after 20 minutes – 4/5 with Betfred
• Tijjani Reijnders to score any time – 7/4 with Tote

Manchester City vs Salford City odds

Find the latest Manchester City vs Salford City betting odds here. All odds are provided by our recommended football bookmakers and are subject to change.

Manchester City vs Salford City predictions

This has been a good week for Manchester City.

With 83 minutes on the clock at Anfield last Sunday, things looked bleak for Pep Guardiola’s team. One-nil down to Liverpool with time running out, City were facing the prospect of ending the weekend nine points behind Arsenal in the Premier League title race.

Fast forward a few days and that gap has been trimmed to three. City scored twice late on to turn the Liverpool game around, before a more comfortable 90 minutes saw them run out 3-0 winners against Fulham on Wednesday.

At the time of writing, Arsenal have not yet played Brentford. A win there would restore their six-point cushion at the summit of the standings. Another triumph over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Wednesday would put Mikel Arteta’s men nine clear of their closest challengers.

Right now, though, it feels like City have breathed new life into a season which was in danger of fizzling out.

“The only thing we can do is breathe down Arsenal’s neck… Be right there,” Guardiola said after the defeat of Fulham. “And see if they fall asleep, do something and catch them.”

True, this team does not look as complete as many of its forerunners. City do not play with the same sort of control they used to. That has cost them on several occasions this term.

But you do not necessarily have to be perfect to win trophies, and City are still in the mix for four of them.

Even if they ultimately come up short in the title race, few would relish facing Guardiola’s team in the knockout phase of the Champions League.

Meanwhile, City are already through to the final of the EFL Cup and the bookies have them down as favourites to win the FA Cup.

That is in part because the fourth-round draw was kind to them. Having demolished Exeter City 10-1 in the previous round, City are poised to take on a team ranked 17 places below them in the pyramid.

Salford City do not have fond recent memories of the Etihad Stadium. In January 2025 they were beaten 8-0 by City in this competition, much to the dismay of their co-owners David Beckham and Gary Neville.

Salford are in better shape now than they were 13 months ago, but this is still one of the toughest assignments imaginable.

Manchester City vs Salford City betting tips

Manchester City host League Two side Salford City in the fourth round of the FA Cup.

Tough day for Salford

Manchester City were in formidable form in the first half of Wednesday’s meeting with Fulham.

That comeback victory over Liverpool seems to have given them renewed energy – and that is bad news for Salford City.

The League Two team will look to make life as difficult as possible for their illustrious opponents, but that is easier said than done when you consider the gulf in talent.

City showed against Exeter that they are not interested in protecting a two-goal lead. Once they are ahead, they will continue to press home their advantage.

A one-sided encounter is on the cards at the Etihad this weekend.

Manchester City -3 handicap – 4/6 with BoyleSports

Fast start for City

Manchester City were rapid out of the blocks against Fulham, establishing a 3-0 lead before half-time.

Guardiola’s team have tended to make fast starts this term. They have been ahead at half-time in 17 of their 25 Premier League games, more than any other team in the division by some distance.

City have also been the division’s most dominant team in the first 15 minutes, scoring seven goals in that time and conceding none.

There is no market for the first quarter of an hour, but bettors should take advantage of this attractively priced offer. City should have the lead with 20 minutes on the clock.

Manchester City to be ahead after 20 minutes – 4/5 with Betfred

Reijnders to find net

Guardiola is likely to shuffle his pack for this fourth-round tie, as he did for the match against Exeter City last month.

Tijjani Reijnders is one of the fringe squad members who will be given a chance to impress the manager.

After an excellent start to the campaign, Reijnders has fallen out of favour of late. The Netherlands needs to make the most of any opportunity he is given.

Reijnders will see plenty of the ball in the final third and his runs into the box will cause problems for Salford City.

Tijjani Reijnders to score any time – 7/4 with Tote

Manchester City vs Salford City predicted lineups

• Manchester City expected lineup: Trafford; Lewis, Khusanov, Alleyne, Ake; Gonzalez; McAidoo, Reijnders, Foden, Cherki; Marmoush.
• Salford City expected lineup: Young; Turton, Dorrington, Garbutt; Butcher; Longelo, Grant, Woodburn, N’Mai; Graydon, Udoh.

Where to watch Manchester City vs Salford City

• Location: Etihad Stadium, Manchester, England.
• Date and time: Saturday 14th February, 3pm.
• How to watch: Not being shown live in the UK.

More FA Cup predictions

We have plenty more FA Cup predictions and picks – find our latest betting tips from expert punters in our match preview overview.

About the author

Greg Lea

Greg Lea is a freelance football writer from London. He predominantly covers the Premier League and has had work published by the Guardian, FourFourTwo, ESPN and others.

Follow Greg on X: @GregLeaFootball

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