Pep Guardiola: West Ham 'not an easy one' as Manchester City continue Carabao Cup quest

Manchester City's Phil Foden celebrates scoring their second goal against Brighton with Ilkay Gundogan. City won the match 4-1 at Amex Stadium on October 23, 2021. Reuters

Riyad Mahrez celebrates with teammates Bernardo Silva, Phil Foden, Ruben Dias, Rodrigo, Kevin De Bruyne and Fernandinho of Manchester City after scoring their team's fourth goal. Getty

Phil Foden of Manchester City battles for possession with Joel Veltman and Tariq Lamptey of Brighton & Hove Albion. Getty Images

Phil Foden of Manchester City runs with the ball. Getty Images

Phil Foden of Manchester City battles for possession with Jakub Moder of Brighton & Hove Albion. Getty Images

Phil Foden celebrates with Jack Grealish of Manchester City after scoring their team's second goal. Getty Images

Phil Foden of Manchester City reacts after scoring their team's second goal. Getty Images

Phil Foden of Manchester City has his shot blocked by Robert Sanchez of Brighton. Getty Images

Brighton & Hove Albion's Lewis Dunk and Robert Sanchez look dejected after Manchester City's Phil Foden scored their third goal. Reuters

Manchester City's Ilkay Gundogan scores their first goal. Reuters

Manchester City's Ilkay Gundogan. Reuters

Brighton goalkeeper Robert Sanchez protests following Manchester City's opening goal. AFP

Brighton goalkeeper Robert Sanchez protests following Manchester City's opening goal. AFP

Manchester City's Ilkay Gundogan celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates. Reuters

Manchester City's Riyad Mahrez celebrates scoring their fourth goal with Ruben Dias. Reuters

Pep Guardiola says his Manchester City players are taking nothing for granted when as they continue their quest for a fifth straight Carabao Cup against West Ham United on Wednesday.

City have had a stranglehold on the English cup competition for most of the past decade, winning six of the past eight editions, including the last four in succession.

Tuesday marked five years to the day since they were last eliminated from the competition, but Guardiola is expecting that remarkable record to be put to the test by David Moyes’ Hammers.

“It’s good,” the City boss said. “The League Cup is a tournament in this country and we have done quite well.

“We won it for the fourth time in a row and still we are there.

“We know which team we are going to face – West Ham away – so it is not an easy one.

“At the same time, we are going to prepare to try to win the game like we do any game in any competition.”

Brighton v Man City ratings

West Ham won 1-0 at Manchester United to set up this fourth-round tie against a City side that swatted aside League One outfit Wycombe 6-1 in September.

Guardiola heavily leant on youth in that fixture with the squad stretched but more senior options are available for the trip to the capital.

John Stones, Nathan Ake, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Riyad Mahrez are among those pushing to start on Wednesday, plus there is the complication of City’s Under 21s taking on Rotherham in the Papa John’s Trophy on Tuesday.

Raheem Sterling missed Saturday's 4-1 Premier League win at Brighton & Hove Albion with a back issue and there has yet to be an update on his condition.

Ferran Torres remains out with the foot injury he sustained on international duty with Spain earlier this month.

West Ham v Tottenham ratings