Aston Villa V Man City Barclays Premier League Match 28 -September 2013.Aston Villa's quartet of Gabriel Agbonlahor, Fabian Delph, Ciaran Clark and Antonio Luna should all be fit to face Manchester City, having missed the midweek League Cup defeat by Tottenham.
Ashley Westwood remains absent because of a thigh strain, and top scorer Christian Benteke is also injured.Watch Aston Villa V Man City Live, Watch Aston Villa V Man City Live Stream, Watch Aston Villa V Man City Free Live Stream, Watch Aston Villa V Man City Online, Watch Aston Villa V Man City Online Free, Aston Villa V Man City Live, Aston Villa V Man City live stream Online.
Manchester City pair Sergio Aguero and David Silva are nursing injuries and will not be risked against Villa.
Both players are likely to be fit to face Bayern Munich in midweek.
MATCH PREVIEW
A few weeks ago, you would have given Villa a very good chance of winning this match. But while they have subsequently struggled with injuries and poor home form, Manchester City have suddenly sparked into life.
LAWRO'S PREDICTION
Image of Mark Lawrenson Mark Lawrenson Football analyst
"Will Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini make more changes this time ahead of his side's game against Bayern Munich on Wednesday? I don't think he needs to - it is only September after all, and I cannot believe that any of City's players are tired.
"City were lucky to avoid defeat at Stoke and Pellegrini has got to be careful when he rotates his squad because the Premier League is not like La Liga."
Read Lawro's full prediction and score
City have scored 12 goals in their last three matches in three different competitions. They have become a team again.
Their squad is deeper than arguably any other Premier League club, with the possible exception of Chelsea. They have added width to their attack, addressing the criticism of last season, and manager Manuel Pellegrini can select from four of the very best forwards around.
The players really seem to have taken to Pellegrini. He is very balanced in his interviews and his serenity is an antidote to the increasingly fractious reign of his predecessor, Roberto Mancini.
So what chance Villa? It might suit them that they are the underdogs, especially at Villa Park where they often seem weighed down by their poor home record over the last few years. They have lost both home games this season in the league and were thumped 4-0 by visitors Tottenham in the League Cup on Tuesday.
It seems clear that Villa are better on the counter attack but if they are going to continue to play the same way then they need their forwards to fire - especially now that Christian Benteke is injured. Gabby Agbonlahor has four assists but no goals, while Andi Weimann has also yet to score in the league this season.
At the other end of the pitch, it tells a story that Villa kept a first clean sheet in 27 matches last Saturday at Norwich. Captain Ron Vlaar has already had three different partners in central defence this season, while the full-backs have looked vulnerable at times.
Whoever plays in the back four on Saturday will need to have their wits about them if Villa are to prevent their worst start to a season at home since 1946.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
Manchester City have won the corresponding fixture 1-0 in each of the last two seasons. They have registered 18 Premier League victories against Aston Villa, more than against any other team.
Villa have lost their last four league matches against City and their only win in the last nine meetings came courtesy of Darren Bent's debut winner at Villa Park in January 2011 (W1, D1, L7).
Aston Villa
Villa have won just one and lost five of their last seven home league matches, a run that began with the 1-0 defeat by Manchester City in March. They have only earned 11 points from a possible 42 at Villa Park since December (W3, D2, L9).
They have not lost their first three top-flight home matches since 1946.
Villa have the lowest average ball possession in the Premier League this season (40.3%).
Paul Lambert's side kept their first Premier League clean sheet in 27 attempts against Norwich. It was the first time they had opened the scoring this season.
Libor Kozak scored one minute and 41 seconds after replacing the injured Christian Benteke against Norwich.
Manchester City
City are the division's leading scorers with 12 goals following the 4-1 derby win over Manchester United.
Manuel Pellegrini's side have only taken one point from their first two Premier League away fixtures this season. City have only won three of their last 10 away fixtures (W3, D3, L4).
They have kept a Premier League-high 21 clean sheets since the start of last season.
City have conceded only one first-half goal in their last 14 league matches, scored by Anthony Pilkington in Norwich City's 3-2 away win in May.