Manchester City head to Aston Villa in dire need of a result, both to boost morale and their faint hopes of defending their Premier League title.
City’s dramatic derby collapse against Manchester United left them nine points behind leaders Liverpool in the standings as their dreadful run of form stretched to eight defeats and just one win in 11 games in all competitions.
Injuries have made matters extremely difficult for manager Pep Guardiola, but pressure is on the City boss to find a solution to their problems and get their season back on track before the turn of the year.
Yet Saturday’s early kickoff represents another stern challenge.
Villa won this same fixture last season thanks to an outstanding performance, and although Unai Emery’s side have found it tough to balance league and UEFA Champions League commitments this term, there is no question that they remain a tough test — especially on home soil.
MORE: All the latest Man City news | Premier League schedule for 2024/25 | Latest Premier League top scorer rankings
Aston Villa vs. Man City lineups, predicted starting 11, team news
Villa do not expect Jacob Ramsey to be back from a muscle issue until early January, but Leon Bailey could be available if he recovers from what has been described as a “small” thigh injury. That should see Matty Cash revert to right-back, the Poland international having played on the wing during the defeat to Forest.
Tyrone Mings has sat out Villa’s past three games in all competitions but should at least be fit enough to make the matchday squad, having overcome an illness.
Aston Villa predicted lineup (4-2-3-1, right to left): Martinez (GK) — Cash, Carlos, Torres, Digne — Kamara, Tielemans — Bailey, McGinn, Rogers — Watkins
Injured: Ramsey (thigh), Mings (illness, doubt)
Suspended: None
MORE: All the latest EPL club news | Team-by-team Premier League schedule for 2024/25 | Latest Premier League top scorer rankings
City’s injury problems are not showing any sign of abating swiftly, although Manuel Akanji could be back this weekend after sitting out the past two league games with a pelvic injury.
Rico Lewis is available after a one-match suspension, and he could come straight back into the lineup, perhaps in place of the under-fire Kyle Walker at right-back.
Erling Haaland has scored just three times in 11 league matches, but despite speculation of a falling out with Guardiola, it seems highly unlikely the Norway star will sit this one out.
Man City predicted lineup (4-2-3-1, right to left): Ederson (GK) — Lewis, Dias, Akanji, Gvardiol — Gundogan, Kovacic — Silva, De Bruyne, Foden — Haaland
Injured: Rodri (knee), Bobb (leg), Ake (thigh), Akanji (pelvis, doubt)
Suspended: None
Aston Villa vs. Man City live stream, TV channel
Here’s how to watch this Premier League match across selected areas of the world’s major regions:
| Region | TV | Streaming |
| USA | USA Network, Universo | Fubo, NBC Sports app/site, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo |
| Canada | — | Fubo |
| UK | TNT Sports 1 | discovery+ |
| Australia | — | Optus Sport |
| India | — | Disney+ Hotstar, JioTV |
