Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca spoke about striker Erling Haaland ahead of the Carabao Cup game with Brighton

Erling Haaland is among five players who will miss Manchester City's game with Brighton in the Carabao Cup after a decision was made to rest them. Haaland featured in the Premier League defeat to Aston Villa on Saturday but is one of a number who have been given an extended period of rest before returning in time for the next league game.

City have allowed Haaland, Josko Gvardiol, Elliot Anderson, Ruben Dias and Gigio Donnarumma to take some time off this week, giving them the opportunity to jet off on holiday for some sun. However, the club are not worried about their availability for Saturday's league game with Brighton.

Haaland did not pick up an injury in the Villa game, but both he and manager Enzo Maresca have spoken about the need to rest him given his long season for club and country last year that only ended at the quarter-finals of the World Cup. Haaland sat out the Carabao Cup game with Norwich last month and then was an unused substitute for the Champions League win over AEK Athens last week after picking up a knock against Ipswich.

"After the Villa game, we gave five players three days off," said Maresca. "Erling, Ruben, Elliot, Gigi and Josko. They are all on holiday. Three days off, energy, go, come back full of energy and then go again.

As part of that decision, Maresca confirmed that Geronimo Rulli will start in goal against Brighton. The No.2 made his debut for the club in the last round of the Carabao Cup against Norwich