Predicted Starting Line-Up: Aston Villa vs Manchester City (Premier League) | OneFootball

Manchester City continue to slump in the Premier League and return to action following Derby Day defeat with a tricky fixture away to Aston Villa this weekend.

Pep Guardiola’s side have fallen on hard times so far this season and their woes were further inflamed by a crushing loss to Manchester United last weekend, despite holding a lead in the match until the 88th minute.

That defeat signalled the eighth defeat in the last 11 games for the Etihad Stadium outfit, a record-poor run of form for Pep Guardiola at any of his previous clubs in management. Despite that, they will have to turn their attention to Aston Villa over the weekend.

Yet again, there has been some bad news and some good news on the injury front for the Sky Blues, as the return of both Manuel Akanji and John Stones to full training was marred by the revelation that Ruben Dias could be out for up to a month with a new muscular injury.

Elsewhere, Ederson is also a doubt for the trip to the Midlands with a fitness problem of his own, accompanying the confirmed absences of Nathan Ake, Rodri, and Oscar Bobb from the squad this weekend.

Rico Lewis will return to the Manchester City roster for the Aston Villa clash after serving his one-match suspension for a red card against Crystal Palace, which forced him to sit out of last weekend’s Manchester derby.

With all of that in mind, let’s pick through how Pep Guardiola might set up his Manchester City side for the hugely challenging trip to face Aston Villa at Villa Park in the early Saturday lunchtime kick-off!

Predicted XI

With number one choice goalkeeper Ederson potentially set to miss out on the trip this weekend, we believe Stefan Ortega Moreno will take his spot as Manchester City’s shot-stopper against Aston Villa.

More defensive injuries for Pep Guardiola’s side means we will once again see somewhat of a make-shift back-four, starting with club captain Kyle Walker and another start for the veteran full-back despite successive outings previously.

While he may be back in training and in the matchday squad, the likelihood of John Stones starting and playing 90 minutes seems very slim for the time being, and so Manuel Akanji and Josko Gvardiol could occupy the two central defender spots.

Much to the chagrin of many Manchester City fans, that shift around in the centre means another run out at left-back for Rico Lewis. The young gem just simply cannot get a run of games in the same position at the moment due to injuries elsewhere.

As we move into midfield, the return of Mateo Kovacic and Phil Foden over the last week is a huge boost, and the former should come in against Aston Villa to help fill the Rodri-sized hole in the middle of the park.

The Croatian international should be joined once again by Ilkay Gundogan, who is still seemingly being forced into starting every single match for Manchester City with precious few other options.

One man who does need a rest however, is Kevin De Bruyne. As a result, we believe we could see Phil Foden reclaim his central creative role behind the central striker for Pep Guardiola on Saturday afternoon.

Shifting forward into the front-three, and out on the right-wing, Bernardo Silva was a major help for Kyle Walker against Manchester United last weekend, and his industry will be needed against a counter-attack heavy Aston Villa side once again this weekend.

Through the middle, there is no other choice but Erling Haaland. Pep Guardiola will be hoping the Norwegian forward can put on a one-man show and win the match for the Sky Blues.

Finally, Jack Grealish is yet to start a match away to his boyhood club, but the time is now. The former Aston Villa captain could be key in adding a bit of composure and control in what is poised to be a raucous atmosphere.

Predicted XI: Ortega Moreno; Walker, Akanji, Gvardiol, Lewis; Kovacic, Gundogan, Foden; Bernardo, Haaland, Grealish.

Substitutes: Carson, Stones, Simpson-Pusey, Nunes, O’Reilly, De Bruyne, McAtee, Savinho, Doku.