Manchester City will be aiming to avoid a shock defeat by Salford City in the FA Cup.
Manchester City vs Salford City best bets
- Manchester City -3 handicap – 3/4 with BetMGM
- First goal 11-20 minutes – 13/5 with Betfred
- James McAtee to score any time – 6/4 with Paddy Power
Manchester City vs Salford City odds
Find the latest match odds for Manchester City vs Salford City. All odds are provided by our best football betting sites. Odds are subject to change.
Manchester City vs Salford City predictions
Manchester City have quietened some of the noise around the club over the last fortnight, as back-to-back victories have eased the pressure on the Premier League champions.
Pep Guardiola’s team got the better of Leicester City on Boxing Day, before beating West Ham United 4-1 last weekend. Their title chances may have gone, but few would bet against City qualifying for the Champions League.
Of course, a mere top-four finish would have been seen as a hugely disappointing outcome at the Etihad Stadium before a ball had been kicked in 2024/25.
The landscape has changed now, though. Rodri’s season-ending injury substantially weakened the City side, who proceeded to suffer from a crisis of confidence.
There is a sense that the team has been allowed to grow old together. Fresh blood is desperately needed in the summer – or preferably in the January transfer window.
Still, the season is far from over for Guardiola’s side. Sure, winning an FA Cup alone would not normally satisfy the City fan base, but it would be better than ending the campaign empty-handed.
Despite their struggles up to now, the bookies rate City as the favourites in this competition. Perhaps the fact they are not doing so well in the top flight gives them the opportunity to take the FA Cup more seriously.
Liverpool, for instance, would be much less disappointed than City to crash out in the third round given their position in the league.
Neither giant is likely to be eliminated this weekend. Liverpool host Accrington Stanley as City welcome Salford City, perhaps including co-owners Gary Neville, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and Nicky Butt, to the Etihad.
These two teams have never played each other before. The clubs’ stadiums are just five miles apart and Salford’s connection with Manchester United adds a further layer of intrigue to the occasion.
On the pitch the gulf between the two teams should be clear for all to see, even if Guardiola shuffles his pack ahead of a Premier League clash with Brentford on Tuesday night.
City are striving to reach a third consecutive FA Cup final. It remains to be seen whether they get there or not, but it is hard to see them slipping up against Salford in the third round.
Manchester City vs Salford City betting tips
Will Manchester City get the job done in their first ever competitive meeting with Manchester City?
Manchester City -3 handicap
This is the first time in their history that Salford City have reached the third round of the FA Cup, so they will enjoy every minute of Saturday’s showdown with Manchester City.
Karl Robinson, who recently celebrated his first anniversary at the Peninsula Stadium, guided Salford to victories over Shrewsbury Town and Cheltenham Town in the first and second rounds respectively.
Salford are also in fantastic form in League Two, where they have won six games in a row to surge up to second in the standings.
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Confidence in the camp must be high, but that will not be enough for Salford to upset Guardiola’s team.
City look to have turned a corner and they should triumph pretty comfortably here, perhaps by three or more goals.
Choose Manchester City with a -3 handicap at 3/4 with BetMGM
First goal 11-20 minutes
Manchester City took the lead in the 10th minute of last weekend’s clash with West Ham United, as Vladimir Coufal put through his own net.
Salford City might be able to hold out for slightly longer, but we do not particularly like their chances of making it to the 20-minute mark with their sheet still clean.
Guardiola will be aiming to get this one done and dusted as quickly as possible with an eye on Tuesday’s trip to Brentford.
Needless to say, this is a huge step up for Salford and their defence could ultimately be overwhelmed.
Bear in mind, too, that City have scored six goals in this timeslot in the Premier League this term. Only in the final 10 minutes (with the help of stoppage time) have they been more prolific.
Tip the first goal to be between the 11th and 20th minutes at 13/5 with Betfred
James McAtee to score any time
Manchester City have faced scrutiny for letting several young players leave the club in recent years, including Chelsea trio Cole Palmer, Jadon Sancho and Romeo Lavia.
The success of those players elsewhere may convince the City hierarchy to keep hold of McAtee, a 22-year-old academy product who was born in Salford.
McAtee has made four appearances in the Premier League in 2024/25, but he is yet to start in the top flight.
He should feature from the first whistle on Saturday, with Guardiola likely to give some of his senior stars a rest.
McAtee will be desperate to impress and show why City should keep him around.
Select James McAtee to score any time at 6/4 with Paddy Power
How to watch Manchester City vs Salford City
- Location: Etihad Stadium, Manchester, England.
- Date and time: Saturday 11th January, 5.45pm.
- How to watch: BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
Read more about the 2024/25 football season
- Premier League winner predictions
- Premier League top scorer odds
- Premier League relegation odds
- Champions League winner odds
- Championship promotion odds
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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