The FA Cup Fourth Round brings a fascinating "local derby" of sorts to the Etihad Stadium this Saturday, February 14, 2026. Premier League giants Manchester City host League Two's Salford City, with kick-off scheduled for 15:00 GMT.
While only a few miles separate the two clubs geographically, they are worlds apart in the football pyramid. However, for Salford—making their first-ever Fourth Round appearance—this is the ultimate "free hit" against a City side that has been ruthless in cup competitions this season.
Match Information
| Feature | Details |
| Competition | Emirates FA Cup (Fourth Round) |
| Date | Saturday, February 14, 2026 |
| Kick-off | 15:00 GMT / 10:00 ET |
| Venue | Etihad Stadium, Manchester |
| Referee | TBD |
| TV Channel | Not televised in UK (3pm blackout) / ESPN+ (US) |
Manchester City: The Treble-Chasing Machine
Pep Guardiola’s side enters this fixture in high spirits after a vital 2–1 comeback win over Liverpool on February 8. City has made a habit of obliterating lower-league opposition in the FA Cup, having crushed League One Exeter City 10–1 in the previous round. With a congested February schedule, expect heavy rotation from the Sky Blues.
Team News and Selection:
Injury List: City will be without Josko Gvardiol (tibial fracture), Mateo Kovacic (ankle), and John Stones (muscle). Savinho and Jérémy Doku are also nearing returns but are unlikely to be risked from the start.
New Faces: Winter signing Marc Guéhi could lead the defense, while young academy graduate Nico O'Reilly is expected to start in midfield after impressing in January.
Goal Machine: While Erling Haaland may be rested, Omar Marmoush—who has been in stellar form with a 9.4 match rating recently—is primed to lead the line.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Matheus Nunes, Khusanov, Guéhi, Ait-Nouri; Rodri (or Phillips), O'Reilly, Reijnders; Cherki, Marmoush, Semenyo.
Salford City: History in the Making
The "Ammies" are enjoying their best-ever FA Cup run. After a dramatic 3–2 win over Swindon Town in the Third Round—secured by a late Luke Garbutt free-kick—Salford has set up a dream tie at the Etihad. Currently sitting 4th in League Two, they are juggling a promotion charge with this historic cup adventure.
Team News and Selection:
The "Garbutt" Threat: Veteran left-back Luke Garbutt remains their most dangerous set-piece weapon and was the hero of the previous round.
In-Form Attack: Ryan Graydon, who scored a brace on his home debut in January, will be the primary outlet for counter-attacks alongside Ollie Palmer.
Clean Bill of Health: Unlike their hosts, Salford reports no major fresh injury concerns, allowing them to field their strongest possible side for this "David vs. Goliath" encounter.
Predicted XI (4-4-2): Jones; Edwards, Mariappa, Negru, Garbutt; Graydon, Watt, Lund, McAleny; Palmer, Stockton.
? Head-to-Head (H2H) and Key Stats
The Recent Meeting: This is only the second competitive meeting between the two. City won the first encounter 8–0 in last season's Third Round.
The "10-1" Shadow: City’s double-digit victory over Exeter in the last round serves as a warning of how clinical they can be against EFL opposition.
Local Ties: Salford's owners (the Class of '92) have legendary ties to the red half of Manchester, adding an extra layer of spice to this fixture.
Clean Sheets: City has kept 3 clean sheets in their last 5 matches, while Salford has struggled defensively, conceding in 4 of their last 6.
Tactical Preview and Prediction
Expect Manchester City to command 75-80% possession, using the vision of Rayan Cherki and Tijjani Reijnders to pull Salford's back four out of position. Salford’s best hope lies in a disciplined low block and the occasional long ball to Ollie Palmer to win flick-ons for the arriving midfielders.
While the FA Cup is built on upsets, the gulf in quality—even with City's rotated squad—is likely too large for the League Two side to bridge.
Final Score Prediction: Manchester City 6–0 Salford City
