Aston Villa will welcome Premier League Champions elect Manchester City to Villa Park tonight as Dean Smiths men look to get their season back on track.
A lot of the talk this past few days has rightfully been all about the shambolic proposal by the self pro-claimed big six of the European Super League. I won’t bore you too much as I am sure the majority of us have very similar thoughts and almost all agree with everything Gary Neville had to say on Monday Night Football. It’s simple, say No to ESL.
Anyway back to the reason I am even writing this evening, a match preview. Manchester City have lost two of their last three games in all competitions and will have one eye on their League Cup Final game against Tottenham on Sunday. Villa’s form doesn’t look much better either, with just one win in their previous six.
Our record against Manchester City is nothing to write home about either. Villa have failed to beat City in their last 10 attempts, dating way back to September 2013. We have also conceded 12 in our last games against Man City in the last four meetings at Villa Park. I don’t mean to come across as being negative but we will need one hell of a performance if we are to get anything from a side on the verge of winning the Premier League title.
TEAM NEWS
Villa will once again be without their captain Jack Grealish. When pushed on the player’s fitness, Smith stated: “No, he’s not. I did say it’d be a few weeks before we got him back out again and we’re still waiting for him to get back out onto the grass. He’s itching to get in and we want him back.”
Trezeguet has been ruled out with a long term knee injury but Smith did say the Egyptian winger’s operation did go well this week.
Morgan Sanson has also been ruled out with a knee injury with no return date available at the moment.
Manchester City will be without Kevin De Bruyne who is being assessed after picking up a foot injury in City’s FA Cup semi-final clash against Chelsea.
THE OFFICIALS
Referee: Peter Bankes.
Assistants: Neil Davies, Harry Lennard. Fourth official: Anthony Taylor. VAR: Jarred Gillett. Assistant VAR: Stephen Child.
DID YOU KNOW
Ollie Watkins has scored in his previous two Premier League matches. He is yet to score in three consecutive Premier League fixtures.
Aston Villa have picked up more points on the road (24) than they have at Villa Park (20).
Manchester City have won their last nine Premier League away matches. They could become the first team to win 10 in a row on more than one occasion.
HOW TO FOLLOW
ON TV
Aston Villa v Manchester City will be shown live on Sky Sports Main Event in the UK.
I CANNOT WATCH LIVE
For all those who cannot watch the game live can listen through AVTV or get involved in the live match chat on our forums.
PREDICTION
It is hard to see anything other than a defeat here. Villa haven’t looked the same side since the Covid outbreak in January and haven’t shown signs of that changing. Jack Grealish missing hasnt helped but the others have failed to step up.
It will be interesting to see if Smith gives any of the youth players an oppurtunity.
Aston Villa 0-3 Manchester City