Manchester City host Aston Villa in a midweek Premier League clash which is set to have huge consequences on the title race and the fight for the top four.
City, fresh off a goalless draw against the Gunners, come into the match hoping to keep the pressure on league leaders Liverpool who are three points clear of the reigning champions. With second-placed Arsenal also in action this evening, Pep Guardiola’s team cannot afford to drop points though there is a chance they can finish the night top of the table if they perform exceptionally against Villa.
For their part, Villa are hoping to build off the back of a midlands derby victory over Wolves at the weekend and Unai Emery’s side are hoping to close out a phenomenally good season with a spot in next season’s Champions League. They are battling for fourth with Tottenham and know that they need to collect as many points as possible during the run-in including against teams as difficult to beat as City.
Guardiola’s side come into the game following consecutive draws against Liverpool and Arsenal so now may be the best, or worst, time to face them. How will this intriguing encounter play out?
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Manchester City vs Aston Villa
Speaking to TNT Sports pre-match, Pep Guardiola suggests that Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne are left out for reasons of rest of rotation, with a short turnaround to a lunchtime encounter with Crystal Palace on Saturday. He urges his team to focus on today and forget about the defeat to Aston Villa earlier in the season.
“I prefer to be the hunted,” he emphasises when it is put to him that he might enjoy chasing Liverpool and Arsenal down from behind. Point made.
Harry Latham-Coyle3 April 2024 19:59
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
Harry Latham-Coyle3 April 2024 19:55
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
No goals as of yet in tonight’s other fixtures, with Luton holding Arsenal at bay and Brentford and Brighton similarly scoreless. An Arsenal slip-up would leave the door open for Manchester City to take top spot – though they’d need to score five at least to overhaul Liverpool’s goal difference advantage. We’ll cross that bridge if we get there…
Harry Latham-Coyle3 April 2024 19:54
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
The way Aston Villa disrupted Manchester City’s flow in possession was the key to their victory in December, pressing hard and high to really dominate the contest. Will they be quite as cohesive without John McGinn and Ollie Watkins? Nicolo Zaniolo has endured a difficult season but has begun to show glimpses of the talent that once made him one of Italy’s top talents – this feels like a big night for the midfielder.
News of a late change for the visitors – Emi Martinez is unwell, so Robin Olsen steps in to the starting side.
Harry Latham-Coyle3 April 2024 19:46
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
It will be fascinating to see how Manchester City line up tonight. It looks a versatile front five named by Pep Guardiola, with Julian Alvarez in theory leading the line but the quintet like to move and morph with and without the ball to ask Aston Villa complex questions.
Harry Latham-Coyle3 April 2024 19:40
Arsenal up and running
It’s a busy night of Premier League action, with Manchester City’s fellow title chasers Arsenal also in action. Can Luton cause an upset at the Emirates? They’re already playing in North London – throw it up on another tab and follow along with m’colleague Michael Jones:
Harry Latham-Coyle3 April 2024 19:33
The wrong kind of impact: Why Jack Grealish has reached a crossroads at Man City
Pep Guardiola had finished a particularly animated display of pointing to his left when he executed a 90-degree pivot to his right on the spot, like a man intent on proving he did not need a turning circle. Jack Grealish looked mildly bemused. It was the end of Manchester City 0 Arsenal 0 and Guardiola, with the impatience of a perfectionist, had again demonstrated he could not wait until he reached the sanctuary of the dressing room to make his point.
Thankfully, perhaps, few can translate his range of melodramatic gestures to understand the message he was trying to convey. Grealish may still be none the wiser. Guardiola deadpanned his way through his explanation of his antics. “I did it for the cameras, for my ego,” he said sarcastically. “I am the famous person of the team so that is the reason why. Always I try to criticise the players there and let them know how bad they are.”
Richard Jolly3 April 2024 19:26
Aston Villa team news
Young Tim Iroegbunam starts in midfield for Aston Villa, with Jhon Duran utilised up front in the absence of Ollie Watkins.
Aston Villa XI: Olsen; Konsa, Diego Carlos, Lenglet, Digne; Zaniolo, Iroegbunam Douglas Luiz, Rogers; Diaby, Duran.
Harry Latham-Coyle3 April 2024 19:19
Manchester City team news
Erling Haaland and Kevin de Bruyne drop to the bench for Manchester City, with Pep Guardiola also not feeling that John Stones is yet ready to start.
Manchester CIty XI: Ortega; Lewis, Akanji, Dias (C), Gvardiol; Rodri; Doku, Bernardo, Foden, Grealish; Alvarez.
Harry Latham-Coyle3 April 2024 19:16
Manchester City vs Aston Villa team news on the way…
Right, with little more than an hour until kick-off in Manchester, both sides will soon be confirming their sides. How will the visitors compensate for the absent Ollie Watkins? And is John Stones ready to return to the Manchester City defence?
Harry Latham-Coyle3 April 2024 19:10