Aston Villa vs Manchester City: how to watch, live stream, kick-off time and team news

Aston Villa host Premier League champions Manchester City this weekend with Steven Gerrard’s side’s looking to end a poor run of form.

Gerrard admitted he is concerned about his Aston Villa future following his side’s 2-1 defeat to Arsenal on Tuesday night. Villa have now lost four of their opening five league games this season, and the pressure is mounting on Gerrard, who now faces the daunting task of taking on Pep Guardiola’s City.

City have made a typically excellent start to the new season with four wins out of five and one draw. Erling Haaland has also scored back-to-back hatricks for his new club. City have started this campaign exactly where they ended the last, and have accumulated 13 of a possible 15 points in the early weeks of 2021/22.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the fixture this weekend.

When and where is the game?

The game takes place at Villa Park this Saturday (3 September) and gets underway at 5.30pm.

Is the game on TV?

Yes. The match will be broadcast live in the UK on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League.

Coverage gets underway at 5pm.

Team news

For Villa, Jan Bednarek and Leandro Dendoncker arrived on the final day of the window, while Douglas Luiz remained despite reported interest from Arsenal.

Midfielder Leander Dendoncker joined from Wolves for £13million and Southampton defender Jan Bednarek signed on loan.

Dendoncker is a doubt with a throat problem while Diego Carlos is out with a long-term Achilles injury.

The latter, along with Philippe Coutinho and Danny Ings, dropped to the bench for the midweek loss to the Gunners, but could return to the team on Saturday.

City are in the midst of a gruelling 18-day period that sees them play six games, so rotation could be an option for Guardiola this weekend.

Kevin De Bruyne didn’t start in the win over Forest and is likely to return, while Rodri, Cancelo, Phil Foden, Erling Haaland and John Stones were withdrawn during the game.

Ex-Villa captain Jack Grealish is likely to miss a return to his old stomping ground due to injury, with Nathan Ake and Kalvin Phillips also doubts. Aymeric Laporte is definitely out as he recovers from knee surgery.

Predicted 11s

Manchester City predicted XI: Ederson; Cancelo, Stones, Dias, Gomez; Rodri, Gundogan, De Bruyne, Mahrez, Haaland, Foden.

Aston Villa predicted XI: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Digne; Kamara, Luiz, McGinn; Buendia, Watkins, Coutinho.

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