Man City predicted lineup vs Aston Villa - Premier League
By Tom Gott
Manchester City have been on a tear recently and will plan to continue that at Villa Park against Aston Villa on Saturday.
Erling Haaland has netted six of City's ten goals across the past few games and will be licking his lips at the prospect of facing a Villa side who sit 19th in the Premier League at the beginning of a real crisis.
Here's how Pep Guardiola could set up.
Man City predicted lineup vs Aston Villa (4-3-3)
Man City Starting 11
GK: Ederson - Guardiola has lamented City's struggles at the back in recent weeks but Ederson has three clean sheets in five games this year.
RB: Joao Cancelo - With Sevilla coming up on Tuesday, Guardiola may rest Kyle Walker and give Cancelo a run-out.
CB: Ruben Dias - Nathan Ake is approaching a return to fitness but might not be risked just yet.
CB: John Stones - Manuel Akanji joined on Deadline Day but this game will likely come too soon for the Switzerland international. An appearance on the bench seems more likely.
LB: Sergio Gomez - Gomez could be in line for his first City start to allow Guardiola to keep his big guns fit and healthy for the midweek Champions League action.
DM: Rodri - Kalvin Phillips is returning from injury but probably isn't fit enough to start yet. If the former Leeds man makes it back to the bench, expect him to see the final 30 minutes to give Rodri a break.
CM: Kevin De Bruyne - Rested for the thumping of Forest, De Bruyne should return to the starting lineup here but probably won't see out the full 90 minutes, with Sevilla in mind.
CM: Ilkay Gundogan - Gundogan's energy should help him be available for both City's fixtures over the coming days.
RW: Riyad Mahrez - Like De Bruyne, Mahrez was dropped to the bench for the Forest game so he can expect to return here.
ST: Erling Haaland - You can't bench a striker who is looking for his third consecutive hat-trick. On current form, you couldn't even bet against him.
LW: Julian Alvarez - Alvarez netted twice against Forest and is fully deserving of keeping his place here.