MY ACCOUNT
– Manchester City are looking to bounce back from a shocker at Spurs
– Villa have picked up under Unai Emery, but have a shocking record at The Etihad
– Recommended bet: Manchester City to win and under 3.5 goals
Manchester City have got a point to prove in front of their own fans after crashing to a dismal 1-0 loss at Tottenham Hotspur.
Victory at Spurs would have taken the champions to within two points of Premier League leaders Arsenal but that never looked likely after Harry Kane had put the home side in front.
Ordinarily, one would expect City to be licking their lips at the prospect of squaring up to a Villa side who they have beaten on each of the Midlands’ club’s last 12 visits to The Etihad.
But this is a Villa side who look an entirely different proposition from the one Emery inherited from Steven Gerrard.
Team news
Phil Foden missed out on City’s defeat at Tottenham after going down with illness. but Guardiola says the England wide-man is back in the squad.
John Stones is out with a thigh injury but Guardiola’s real headache is how many tweaks he makes from last weekend with, at the very least, a presumption that assist king Kevin de Bruyne has to return to the starting line-up.
As for Villa they could also be tempted to add another body into their midfield — presumably John McGinn — while Matt Cash is expected to replace injury doubt Ashley Young.
Centre-back Diego Carlos remains a notable long-term absentee.
The stats
City just love it when Villa turn up to the Etihad, having beaten them 12 straight times at home in the Premier League — those 12 games have produced an aggregate scoreline of 38-6.
And while it is easy to question City’s form following defeats at Manchester United and Spurs, they are the competition’s highest scorers with 53 goals (eight more than Arsenal) and have won 13 of their last 15 home league matches stretching back a calendar year.
The last time they failed to find the net in a home league game was October 2021.
Villa are 11th in the table but a very different proposition under Unai Emery than they were under Steven Gerrard, the Spaniard having guided them to five wins in eight league games.
City give up a league-low 7.6 shots per game while Villa have amassed over twice as many yellow cards as City, 45-22.
Prediction
Villa should give City a test because they carry a threat now that was not always evident under Gerrard, having scored in all eight games under Emery.
But City’s home form is still generally excellent and they are expected to be at it from the off on Sunday.
It was 1-1 at Villa Park when they met in September with City boasting 72 percent possession.
That possession ratio will not change — but the scoreline should.
Back City to win and under 3.5 goals at 23/20 with LiveScore Bet.
