Advertisement
Australia markets closed
  • ALL ORDS

    8,153.70
    +80.10 (+0.99%)
     
  • ASX 200

    7,896.90
    +77.30 (+0.99%)
     
  • AUD/USD

    0.6529
    +0.0011 (+0.17%)
     
  • OIL

    83.11
    -0.06 (-0.07%)
     
  • GOLD

    2,254.80
    +16.40 (+0.73%)
     
  • Bitcoin AUD

    107,829.46
    -664.08 (-0.61%)
     
  • CMC Crypto 200

    885.54
    0.00 (0.00%)
     
  • AUD/EUR

    0.6044
    +0.0010 (+0.16%)
     
  • AUD/NZD

    1.0905
    +0.0003 (+0.02%)
     
  • NZX 50

    12,105.29
    +94.63 (+0.79%)
     
  • NASDAQ

    18,254.69
    -26.15 (-0.14%)
     
  • FTSE

    7,952.62
    +20.64 (+0.26%)
     
  • Dow Jones

    39,807.37
    +47.29 (+0.12%)
     
  • DAX

    18,492.49
    +15.40 (+0.08%)
     
  • Hang Seng

    16,541.42
    +148.58 (+0.91%)
     
  • NIKKEI 225

    40,369.44
    +201.37 (+0.50%)
     

Man City vs Aston Villa confirmed line-ups: Team news ahead of Premier League fixture tonight

 (AFP via Getty Images)
(AFP via Getty Images)

Manchester City have the chance to move top of the Premier League table when they host Aston Villa on Wednesday evening. Pep Guardiola’s team improved slowly over the Christmas period and, since the turn of the year, they have been the team to watch at the top end thanks to some consistent displays and defensive resilience.

Five wins in a row have come alongside four clean sheets, with the newfound partnership at the back of Ruben Dias and John Stones really developing in style. The latter netted twice in the 4-0 win over Palace, sending City into second on Sunday night, and this fixture is their game in hand which will take them level on matches played with the likes of Man United, Leicester and Liverpool - and a point clear if they win.

FOLLOW LIVE: Man City vs Aston Villa – Latest updates

ADVERTISEMENT

For Villa, it’s just one of four they have to find space in the schedule to play at some stage, with the Everton clash at the weekend just the latest to be postponed after the outbreak of coronavirus at the club.

READ MORE: Premier League fixtures and table - all matches by date and kick-off time

They have only played once since New Year’s Day, an FA Cup clash with effectively an U18s team which lost to Liverpool, leaving Villa in 11th place but with games in hand to rise up the table.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the game.

When is the match?

The game kicks off at 6pm on Wednesday, 20 January 2021.

Where can I watch it?

The game will be shown live on BT Sport 1 and BT Sport Extra 1. Subscribers can also stream the match via the BT Sport app and desktop website.

What is the team news?

Sergio Aguero is still a doubt for City after a long spell of hit-and-miss fitness. Defensive trio Nathan Ake, Aymeric Laporte and Eric Garcia could all be missing but wouldn’t be likely to return to the line-up in any case due to the form of John Stones and Ruben Dias in recent weeks.

As for Aston Villa, they are likely to be with most of their first-team squad after a period away from the training ground and without matches - though it remains to be seen if Ross Barkley is able to start after two months out. Wesley and Trezeguet are the ongoing injury issues.

Confirmed line-ups

MCI - Ederson, Cancelo, Stones, Dias, Walker, De Bruyne, Rodri, Gundogan, Sterling, Foden, B. Silva

AST - Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Targett, Luiz, McGinn, Traore, Barkley, Grealish, Watkins

Odds

Man City - 2/7

Draw - 6/1

Aston Villa - 23/2

Prediction

Villa’s lack of recent game time will ultimately go against them, whether that’s 90-minute fitness for some players or just the speed and rhythm of play. Against other clubs it might not be such an issue; against an in-form Man City it’ll be near-impossible to keep them out. City 2-0 Villa.

Read More

Stones: England recall ‘would mean everything’

City the only winners as Liverpool and United pay price for timidity

How Ozil left Arsenal and left them wanting more