Aston Villa vs Manchester City preview: Ake and Grealish available after returning to training

By Ric Turner, Fri 02 September 2022 14:51


Aston Villa vs Manchester City preview: Ake and Grealish available after returning to trainingKalvin Phillips remains a doubt, whilst Aymeric Laporte expected back after international break

Aston Villa vs Manchester City

Competition: F.A. Premier League

Date: 5.30pm, Saturday 3rd September 2022

Venue: Villa Park, Birmingham

Referee: Simon Hooper Assistants: A Holmes, D Robathan Fourth Official: P Bankes VAR: M Dean

Odds: Villa 8/1, Draw 9/2, City 1/3

Tickets: Sold out

TV: Sky Sports

Aston Villa

Manager: Steven Gerrard

Squad (from): Martinez, Steer, Olsen, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Chambers, Augustinsson, Young, Guilbert, Digne, Bednarek, Luiz, McGinn, Sanson, Buendia, Nakamba, Coutinho, Ramsey, Kamara, Dendocker, Ings, Watkins, Bailey

Injured: Carlos

Doubtful: Dendoncker

Suspended: None

Form guide: WLWLL

Manchester City

Manager: Pep Guardiola

Squad (from): Ederson, Ortega, Carson, Walker, Dias, Stones, Ake, Cancelo, Akanji, Gomez, Lewis, Wilson-Esbrand, Phillips, Gundogan, Grealish, Rodri, De Bruyne, Silva, Foden, Palmer, Haaland, Alvarez, Mahrez

Injured: Laporte

Doubtful: Grealish, Ake, Phillips

Suspended: None

Form guide: WDWWW

Jack Grealish and Nathan have returned to training and are available for the trip to Villa Park on Saturday. Kalvin Phillips remains a doubt, however, since suffering a shoulder injury duringthe charity game at the Camp Nou last week. Aymeric Laporte, meanwhile, is expected to return to training after the international break.

Villa have had a difficult start to the season, with four defeats out of five games played, and currently sit 19th in the table but Pep Guardiola is expecting a difficult game.

“It’s more dangerous right now,” he said.

“I would prefer Aston Villa to be in a better position in the table. Always they are difficult but tomorrow will be more difficult for the fact they have won one game.

"The quality is there with the manager but with the players. They add Dendoncker and Bednarek, two experienced players.

"I cannot imagine how tough it will be."

City won their last game at Villa Park 2-1, with goals from Ruben Dias and Bernardo Silva. Overall City have won 79 of the 177 games played against the Villans, with 41 draws and 57 defeats.

Predicted line-up: Ederson, Walker, Stones, Dias, Cancelo, Rodri, Gundogan, De Bruyne, Silva, Foden, Haaland

Score prediction: Villa 1 City 3