Man City predicted lineup vs Aston Villa - Premier League
By Tom Gott
Pep Guardiola's challenge for Manchester City's upcoming meeting with Aston Villa is getting people talking about the Citizens' football once again.
A financial scandal, in which the allegations all stem from before Guardiola's time at the club, has rocked the Premier League but City cannot afford any distractions after they failed to take advantage of Arsenal's slip-up last week.
They face a tricky Villa side who tend to play better against the bigger teams, so here's how Guardiola could set up.
Man City predicted lineup vs Aston Villa (4-3-3)
GK: Ederson - Having conceded 21 goals in 21 games this season, Ederson is on track for the poorest season of his City career.
RB: Rico Lewis - Young Lewis was used out on the left against Tottenham but will likely return to his favoured right side here.
CB: Manuel Akanji - The Swiss defender has only failed to start one Premier League game for which he was available this season, and he still came on at half-time in that one.
CB: Ruben Dias - With John Stones out injured, it's a bit of a guess who will line up alongside Akanji. We've gone for Dias but this could easily be Aymeric Laporte.
LB: Nathan Ake - Ake has been City's best defender this season and will likely start on the left, given Guardiola's system will have him playing central anyway.
DM: Rodri - The 4-4-2 didn't work against Tottenham so expect Rodri to return to the base of a midfield three.
CM: Kevin De Bruyne - A surprise omission from the Tottenham game, expect De Bruyne to waltz straight back into the starting lineup in his favoured position.
CM: Ilkay Gundogan - Gundogan's physicality should give him the edge against a tricky Villa side who won't be afraid to try and overpower City.
RW: Riyad Mahrez - Don't be surprised if Bernardo Silva gets this spot as a bit of a shake-up, but Mahrez appears to have done enough to make this spot his own under Guardiola.
ST: Erling Haaland - After failing to even touch the ball in Spurs' box last time out, Haaland is going to be angry and determined to take his frustrations out on Villa. Good luck stopping him.
LW: Jack Grealish - Phil Foden has been unwell and might not be ready to put up a real fight to reclaim his spot from Grealish.