Aston Villavs.Man City

sportsmole.co.uk, 19 December 2024, 14:46

Premier League champions Manchester City will again try to stop the rot on Saturday afternoon, when they visit Aston Villa in Birmingham, and embattled boss Pep Guardiola could make several changes to his first XI.

Following last week's dramatic defeat, City are likely to recall Rico Lewis - who has served a one-match ban - while Mateo Kovacic might be ready to feature in central midfield after appearing as a substitute in the Manchester derby.

Jack Grealish also made a cameo from the bench, but any hopes of starting at Villa Park - scene of his progression from Championship star to £100m player - are relatively slim. Even Matheus Nunes has been preferred on the left flank of late, and Jeremy Doku is favourite to fill that role this weekend.

Despite his subdued performances this season, Phil Foden is again set to join Kevin De Bruyne in supporting top scorer Erling Haaland, along with Portuguese playmaker Bernardo Silva.

City's long absence list has shortened a little over the past couple of weeks, with Kovacic and John Stones recently returning, and Manuel Akanji could now be involved following a layoff.

Furthermore, Lewis has returned from suspension to boost the visitors' back four, with Ederson favourite over Stefan Ortega to feature behind them.

Nathan Ake joins Rodri and Oscar Bobb on the treatment table, but Guardiola's hand has been strengthened somewhat, and he will have plenty of talent to choose from.

Manchester City possible starting lineup: Ederson; Walker, Dias, Gvardiol, Lewis; Kovacic; Silva, De Bruyne, Foden, Doku; Haaland

Written by

Jonathan O'Shea

Read full version: https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/man-city/predicted-lineups/will-guardiola-give-grealish-the-nod-predicted-man-city-lineup-vs-aston-villa_560976.html

Aston Villa
Aston Villa - Manchester City
Aston Villa vs Manchester City
Bernard
Bernardo
Bernardo Silva
Birmingham
Central
Championship
Ederson
Erling Haaland
Grealish
Guardiola
Jack Grealish
Jeremy Doku
John
John Stones
Kevin
Kevin De Bruyn
Kevin De Bruyne
Man City
Manchester City
Manu
Manuel Akanji
Mate
Mateo Kovacic
Matheus
Matheus Nunes
Nathan Ake
Nunes
Oscar Bobb
Pep Guardiola
Performance
Phil Foden
Play
Playmaker
Premier League
Ready
Rico Lewis
Rodri
Silva
Stefan Ortega
Stone
Stones
Villa Park

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Aston Villavs.Man City

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