Our Manchester City fans here in the Transfer Tavern are hoping to extend their team’s unbeaten domestic form into the Carabao Cup this week.

Man City are blowing teams away in the Premier League this season and look a shoe-in for the title already, despite only just entering December. The Citizen’s have a healthy gap on their neighbours and local rivals Man United, and a quarter-final win against Leicester City tonight will put them in the hat for the semi-final of the Carabao Cup.

Pep Guardiola will be hoping to secure his first piece of silverware as City boss in his second season, and in the past, the February cup final can give the winner some huge momentum going into the end of the season.

With the games coming thick and fast in the upcoming festive period, Guardiola will look to sprinkle his team with a little freshness to keep the squad ticking over nicely. Read on as our landlord takes a look at two players that need to sit this game out for the better of the team…

Kyle Walker

After his big money move in the summer, Walker has impressed in the right-back role this season. The marauding full-back will need to take a rest when needed, and this fixture offers the perfect opportunity for exactly that to happen.

Danilo is the perfect replacement waiting in the wings for the Citizens.

If Danilo is to push his way into the first team and dislodge Walker as the first choice, he’ll have to give a big performance when he can and helping his team to a semi-final can only help his case.

Leroy Sane

The German midfielder is in inspired form this season and alongside Kevin De Bruyne and Raheem Sterling has been the main catalyst for City’s unbelievable winning form this season. His pace and finishing ability has made him one of the most feared players in the Premiership, and a little rest can only aid his performances in what will be a long season.

Giving another summer signing Bernardo Silva a chance to shine will keep the competition for places high throughout the squad, whilst also giving the fringe player an opportunity to show the City boss why he deserves more minutes. A rest for Sane will be a big boost too.