A short trip across Manchester brings a rare local narrative to the Etihad Stadium on Saturday afternoon, where Manchester City welcome Salford City in the FA Cup fourth round with a place in the fifth round on the line. It is a meeting that carries obvious imbalance in status and resources, yet still arrives with just enough intrigue to keep it from feeling like a routine box-tick: one side chasing trophies across competitions while managing fatigue, the other stepping into a landmark occasion that has already become a defining chapter in its season. Kick-off is at 15:00, and, as with ties from the first round onwards, extra time and penalties will decide the outcome if the match is level after 90 minutes.
Momentum for the hosts is strong, at least on the scoreboard. The most recent outing in any competition was a commanding 3–0 Premier League victory over Fulham on Wednesday 11 February, settled before half-time through goals from Antoine Semenyo, Nico O’Reilly and Erling Haaland. The performance did what title-chasing teams often need at this stage of the calendar: establish control early, bank the points, and limit the stress that can build when games remain tight into the closing stages. It also underlined the impact of Semenyo since his January arrival, with his first-half contribution again standing out as City tightened the gap on the league leaders.
Even in comfortable wins, there have been notes of caution in the build-up to this cup tie. Haaland was withdrawn at half-time against Fulham and has been described as a fitness doubt, with Guardiola indicating he would wait until after the final training session before deciding whether Haaland and John Stones are available to face Salford. That uncertainty adds a bit of edge to selection talk, especially given the broader context Guardiola has acknowledged publicly: a physically and mentally demanding run of fixtures with little rest since the start of the year.
For Salford, the last competitive action brought a setback rather than a surge. A 1–0 defeat away at Accrington Stanley on 5 February halted their push up the League Two table, with Alex Henderson scoring early for the hosts to settle the contest. The numbers in that match hinted at a team that still tried to play and create, but cup trips to elite opponents rarely allow for missed chances or slow starts, making the opening phases here particularly important if the visitors want to keep the afternoon alive.
The road to this stage has already been historic. A 3–2 win over Swindon Town in the third round secured a first-ever place in the FA Cup fourth round for the club, driven by Ryan Graydon scoring in each half and Luke Garbutt producing a decisive free-kick after Swindon had twice pulled level. That tie captured exactly why Salford will arrive with genuine belief rather than simply hope: when the game becomes about moments, nerves and finishing, underdogs can make noise—especially if they can keep the scoreline close long enough for pressure to grow on the favourites.
There is also recent history between the sides, and it is impossible to ignore without overstating what it means for this weekend. The only prior meeting came in last season’s FA Cup third round, when City ran out 8–0 winners. It serves as a reminder of what can happen if the Premier League side find an early rhythm and the underdog concedes momentum, but it also gives Salford a clear emotional hook: this is a chance to show growth, to compete longer, and to turn the day into something more than survival.
Players in form help frame how the tie might feel on the pitch. For City, the headlines naturally gravitate toward Haaland, even with his fitness being monitored, and toward Semenyo, whose immediate influence since January has provided fresh thrust and directness in the front line. Add in O’Reilly’s goal against Fulham and the depth of match-winners available even when rotation arrives, and the task for Salford becomes less about stopping one threat and more about limiting waves.
Salford’s danger men are more clearly defined by outputs across the season. Graydon is their leading scorer with nine goals in league action, while Daniel Udoh has also contributed strongly, and Garbutt’s delivery—especially from dead balls—has already been decisive in the cup. Those are the areas that can translate even when the opponent dominates possession: a set piece won in a good area, a second ball falling kindly, one clean transition that forces a decision in the City back line.
All of this points toward a familiar cup dynamic, but with a distinct Manchester flavour. The home side will want a professional start, early control, and a match state that prevents the crowd from sensing a story; the visitors will want the opposite—an opening spell that stays calm, a few phases of possession to settle nerves, and a scoreboard that keeps pressure squarely on the team expected to progress. With no replay to rescue a flat performance and with extra time and penalties sitting in the background as a very real possibility if the underdog can hang on, the script is clear: turn it into a contest of moments, and anything can feel possible for longer than expected.
