Aston Villa vs Manchester City predictions: Champions set for another tough trip

James Milton

Spotlight

Pep Guardiola is enduring a tough time at Manchester City

- Aston Villa's only home league defeat this season came against Arsenal in August
- City's defeat to Manchester United last weekend was their eighth loss in 11 matches in all competitions
- Recommended bet: 2-2 correct score

Manchester City suffered another stunning setback last weekend, conceding two late goals to lose 2-1 at home to derby rivals Manchester United in the Premier League.

Pep Guardiola's faltering champions have lost eight of their last 11 games in all competitions and they also blew a 3-0 lead to draw 3-3 with Feyenoord in the Champions League.

Since March, only Arsenal have beaten Aston Villa in the Premier League at Villa Park and Unai Emery's men, who are also flying high in the Champions League, are aiming to deepen City's woes.

Team news

Rodri has been a huge miss for Manchester City this season

Villa will assess the fitness of centre-back Tyrone Mings (illness) and winger Leon Bailey, who is recovering from a thigh injury. Midfielder Jacob Ramsey is likely to be sidelined until the new year.

City hope to have defender Manuel Akanji available but Rodri, Oscar Bobb and Nathan Ake are injured. Rico Lewis returns after serving a one-match ban against Manchester United last weekend.

The stats

Villa have lost only one of their last 13 Premier League games at Villa Park.

Villa have opened the scoring in their last four matches in all competitions.

Unai Emery's men have taken just one point from five games against teams above them in the table.

City have lost three of their last seven league matches by a 2-1 scoreline.

The Citizens have won and both teams have scored in five of the last seven league meetings between these clubs.

Eight of City's last 10 league games produced over 2.5 goals.

The latest Aston Villa vs Manchester City odds are available on LiveScore Bet

Prediction

City appeared to be on course for a morale-boosting win over rivals Manchester United on Sunday before the Red Devils took advantage of some familiar defensive frailties.

United equalised through a Bruno Fernandes penalty in the 88th minute and Amad Diallo outwitted the City defence to score an injury-time winner.

The concern for City fans is that most of their recent troubles have come on the road as they have lost six of their last seven away fixtures.

Three of those defeats, at Tottenham in the Carabao Cup and Bournemouth and Brighton in the league, were by a 2-1 margin while they also drew 2-2 at Crystal Palace earlier this month.

The 2-2 correct score appeals when they visit Villa, who have kept only two clean sheets in their last 21 league games — against bottom club Southampton and a Manchester United side limping towards the end of Erik ten Hag's reign.

Villa, like City, let in two late goals to lose 2-1 last weekend, away to Nottingham Forest, and they have drawn five of their last 10 home league matches.

That run includes 2-2 draws with Chelsea at the end of last season and Palace this term and they can take a point off City in an entertaining contest on Saturday.

Back 2-2 correct score at 9/1 with LiveScore Bet