Title Contenders Manchester City, Face Aston Villa In Return Fixture

Photo Credit: AP

League Leaders Man City host Villa at the Etihad Stadium – Sunday – kick-off at 4:00pm GMT.

Leaders Man City are currently 13 places higher than their opponents Villa, when the two sides meet, they will sit in first and fourteenth positions respectively.

Winning the Premier League and securing a Champion’s League qualification is Manchester City’s focus

Man City drew 2-2 when they visited West Ham United, their disappointment was further deepened, having previously drawn against Wolverhampton Wanderers, they must now try and get a positive result from this fixture.

Also, League leaders Man City keep finding ways to win, having secured 15 victories in their last 20 games is astonishing this season. They are worthy of their place within the Champion’s League zone. With 90 points (28W – 3L and 6D), they currently sit top of the League having won 28 meetings, drawn six fixtures, and lost three meetings.

When Man City host Villa, they will do so on the back of 14 wins, two darts, and two defeats on their own ground.

The ultimate prize this season will be for Manchester City to finish top of the Premier League and secure automatic qualification for the Champion’s League. However, they must play each game as it comes and secure the points, if that is to be achieved.

A solid defensive team

Defence begins with attack and Man City have defended well as a team, borne out by conceding 24 goals in their previous fixtures. Every player has contributed to them delivering a solid defensive display this Premier League season. Man City have delivered goals in spades this season, largely down to the key attacking force of Kevin De Bruyne (9), Raheem Sterling (6), and Gabriel Jesus (6).

Man City are no strangers this season to illness and injury and Pep Guardiola is concerned that Sunday’s fixture could see him without four of his key players.

This season’s Premier League campaign, has so far seen Aston Villa achieve 45 points

Losing home to Liverpool 1-2, which followed them drawing home to Crystal Palace 1-1, this is a worrying run of form for Villa Manager Steven Gerrard, who goes into this fixture, knowing that only a positive result will be good enough.

Also, Villa need to find a way to generate wins on a consistent basis, as they’ve recorded five losses in their last nine meetings. Their position is fourteenth in the League and they have 45 points, that is, 13W, 18L and 6D having won 13 games, drawn six meetings, and lost 18 meetings.

Villa’s away record is remarkable and poses a significant threat to Man City. In the 18 games they’ve played on the road this season, they have so far won seven games, drawn one game, and lost 10 fixtures.

A victory for Aston Villa would put them on 48 points.

Steven Gerrard could be missing up to three of their players through injury or illness for the game on Sunday.

Manchester City v Aston Villa – Head-to-Head.

Regarding their historical duels Man City and Villa have faced each other 47 times in the past, with the balance of wins sitting in Man City’s favour (31 – 7). Also, Villa have tasted defeat against Man City in eleven out of the last 19 matches with them. The last time both teams met in this competition The Villa delivered a 1-2 away win.

Performance Report

For Man City, Kevin De Bruyne has nettednine goals and provided one assist in 37 League games this campaign, while Ollie Watkins contributed withsix goals in 36 League games so far for Villa.

Other players of note for Man City are Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus with six goals and six goals respectively and for Villa are Philippe Coutinho and Jacob Ramsey with four goals and four goals respectively.

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