Harry Kane and Robert Soldado lead the line for Tottenham as manager Mauricio Pochettino makes 10 changes after the defeat to Newcastle at the weekend.

Kyle Naughton, fit again after a ankle injury, starts while fellow defender Federico Fazio is in the line-up after suspension.

Brighton, 21st in the Championship, makes six changes from the side that drew with Rotherham last time out. Striker Kazenga LuaLua is back in the side after serving a suspension but Sam Baldock is cup-tied.

Image source, Getty Images

It's not entirely a surprise, but Fulham have finally given the manager's job to Kit Symons after a fairly length spell in charge as caretaker.

"Kit has thoroughly earned the opportunity to take Fulham from here as our first-team manager," said Cottagers chairman Shahid Khan. "We've been a different football club, on and off the pitch, since Kit stepped in as our caretaker manager in September.

"His passion for Fulham is evident and contagious, and I believe the promise ahead of him is extremely bright."

Happy, Fulham fans?

Andrew Neill:, external NUFC seem to be playing 4 full backs but only one centre-back. I'm all for a bit of squad rotation but really...?

Andy Donley:, external As an MUFC fan I'm delighted to see the strength of the MCFC team tonight - hopefully NUFC run them ragged. #extratimeplease

Image source, Empics

Tonight's two managers have history. In 1991, Mark Hughes and Ronald Koeman were on opposing sides when Manchester United beat Barcelona 2-1 in the European Cup Winners' Cup final in Rotterdam. I bet that was some tussle. They don't make strikers, or defenders, like those two anymore do they?

Tom Thrall:, external Re Dave 18:33... This isn't the Cup for us to focus on, I'd sacrifice all domestic to win the Europa for a Champo League place next year!

Stoke City starting XI: Begovic; Bardsley, Shawcross (c), Wilson, Pieters; Cameron, Nzonzi; Walters, Bojan, Arnautovic; Diouf

Southampton starting XI: Forster, Clyne, Fonte (c), Gardos, Targett, Wanyama, Schneiderlin, S. Davis, Tadic, Long, Pelle.

Tottenham have made 10 changes to the team which lost at Newcastle last weekend. Only Jan Vertonghen retains his place. Harry Kane leads the line up front.

Tottenham starting XI: Vorm, Naughton, Fazio, Vertonghen, Davies; Dembele, Stambouli; Lennon (c), Kane, Townsend; Soldado.

Brighton starting XI: Walton; Calderon, Dunk, Hughes, Chicksen; Ince, Holla, Forster-Caskey, LuaLua, McCourt, Colunga.

Image source, Getty Images

The last time these two teams met at the Britannia, Stoke goalkeeper Asmir Begovic opened the scoring in the first minute of the game. Has the stopper brought his shooting boots again tonight, I wonder?

Southampton, though, are taking this season's competition seriously and have already knocked out Arsenal this term.

"As you've seen from the last two games, he's (manager Ronald Koeman) put out the strongest team that he can really put out and he's had a right go," said Jack Cork., external

"It's good for us knowing that he's taking it so seriously, because sometimes you go into cup games thinking 'Oh, it doesn't really matter what happens, it doesn't really affect us' but it's good to know that he's confident that we've got a good chance of doing well in it and he wants us to do well in it."

Manchester City have named a strong team for tonight's League Cup tie. David Silva, Yaya Toure, Edin Dzeko and Stevan Jovetic all play. Samir Nasri makes his return from injury on the bench.

Newcastle's injury-hit midfielder Ryan Taylor makes his first appearance since August 2012 as Alan Pardew names an inexperienced side.

City starting XI: Caballero, Sagna, Demichelis, Mangala, Kolarov, Milner, Toure, Fernandinho, Silva, Jovetic, Dzeko.

Newcastle starting XI: Elliot, Janmaat, Coloccini, Dummett, Haidara, R.Taylor, Abeid, Colback, Obertan, Armstrong, Aarons.

Joel McCroy Ejike:, external I saw Newcastle players backing and supporting their manager. I hope they back that up with good performance tonight.

Michael Blighe:, external So glad we've finally heard from the players! Glad they're backing Pards, maybe some good form will perk the fans up too?

Image source, @MCFC/Twitter

Here's a sight that the Newcastle defence don't want to see tonight - the face of Manchester City hotshot Sergio Aguero. The Argentine gives a cheeky stare to City's club photographer as he strolls into the Etihad with his kitbag over his arm. But will he make his first League Cup start of the season against the Magpies? They hope not - Aguero has scored eight times in his last six outings.

Image source, PA

Some breaking news to bring you... QPR defender Rio Ferdinand has been suspended for three matches and fined £25,000 by the Football Association for comments he made on Twitter.

The 35-year-old ex-England captain has also been "severely warned as to his future conduct" and told to attend an education programme arranged by the FA.

It is believed his use of "sket" was deemed "abusive and/or indecent and/or insulting and/or improper".

The definition of the term is "a promiscuous girl or woman".

Dave Bowerman in Folkestone: Spurs should throw all their eggs into the cups basket starting with tonight. I'd take a mid-table finish if a trophy is won all day long. We are a cup club!

The Seagulls will be hoping to get a whiff of a cupset this evening, when they visit under-pressure Tottenham at White Hart Lane.

Brighton are taking 4,000 fans to north London hoping to turn around a poor run of form, and their manager Sami Hyppia believes his situation is the same as the one currently facing his opposite number Mauricio Pochettino.

"I think my situation is the same," he said., external "I'm new here, I've brought something different to the players and we work hard so the players will understand everything in a short period of time but that is not always possible.

"I'm happy that at this club people understand what is going on. I'm happy that the supporters have been quite patient with us."

Image source, Getty Images

Newcastle haven't scored against Manchester City in their last five meetings in all competitions.

We're asking for the strangest thing you've been in trouble for, which is sport-related...

Dave Hailey:, external Got drunk and bought Spurs memorabilia for £700 at work party 4 days before Xmas - sold it later for £250! Wife was mad...!

If Newcastle are to get anything tonight, however, they need to turn around one of the worst recent head-to-head records in English football. Manchester City have never lost to Newcastle at the Etihad Stadium, while they boast a 17-match unbeaten run against the Magpies in all competitions which stretches back to 2005.

Now that's a bogey side.

Image source, PA

When Alan Pardew next bumps into Daryl Janmaat at the bar, he owes the Newcastle defender a drink and a packet of peanuts. That's because the Dutch full-back has given the Magpies boss the biggest seal of approval possible - by saying the players are fully behind their boss.

After seeing his side pick up a couple of good wins in recent weeks, Janmaat said: "The pressure has eased. We want him as the manager. We do not want another manager."

That would also mean John Carver staying at the club. Is JC the most passionate assistant in the Premier League? I reckon he'd be in the mix.

Image source, Getty Images

Had any post this morning? A few bills? Maybe the odd takeaway menu?

Spare a thought for Swansea manager Garry Monk, whose neighbour posted him a letter to criticise his performance. In response, the manager's wife, Lexy, took to Twitter.

She posted:, external "Absolutely incensed a neighbour has the audacity to hand deliver a letter moaning at Garry's handling of things/everything he's doing wrong. If u want to talk to him go to the Swans. Don't come to my children's home. Or better still, as you think you know better than him, why don't you become a manager?"