"Manchester City" Predicted The Team That Will Face Aston Villa

Manchester City travel to Villa Park on Saturday lunchtime with Erling Haaland fit, Antoine Semenho injured and the chance to become only the third team in Premier League history to win their first eight league games.

Enzo Maresca’s side lead the Champions League on 21 points, three behind Arsenal after a 3-2 win over Ipswich Town and a much-changed side beat AEK Athens 5-1. Villa Park is a different problem. City have lost their last three trips, while Unai Emery has won two of his three meetings with Maresca.

Kick-off is at 12.30pm BST and it’s an eleven that gives City the best chance of ending this run.

“Manchester City” predicted the team that will face Aston Villa

Manchester City predicted line-up to face Aston Villa (4-2-3-1): Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Guéhi, Guardiol; Anderson, Bouaddi; Foden, Cherki, Doku; Haaland

Gianluigi Donnarumma: Manchester City’s number one at Villa Park

Donnarumma keeps his place in goal. City’s new No.1 has been part of a side that has won every league game so far and he will need to be at his sharpest against a Villa side who have beaten City in each of their last three meetings at Villa Park.

Matheus Nunes: facing Aston Villa at right-back

Nunes was rested in midweek after a minor problem against Ipswich and may need a late fitness test. If he is ready, he starts on the right side. If not, Rico Lewis will be replaced by another option, Abdukodir Khusanov, after facing AEK Athens.

Ruben Diaz: Scored in City’s last win at Villa Park

Diaz last scored for City in a 2-1 win at Villa Park in December 2021. His experience is exactly what City need where they have lost their last three outings.

Marc Guéhi: partner Dias

Guéhi lines up alongside Dias in the center of defence. Villa have Nicolas Jackson leading the way and the number 10 behind him, so the centre-back pairing will be tested.

Josko Guardiol: Man City left-back vs Aston Villa

Nico O’Reilly’s lingering back problem makes Guardiol the likely starter at left-back. O’Reilly was rested in midweek and should be fit for the squad, but the safer call with a back problem is Guardiola.

Elliot Anderson: permanent midfielder

Anderson anchors the midfield. Whether Maresca goes with a double pivot or a midfield three, he’s at the heart of it.

Man City’s Ayyoub Bouaddi has predicted his squad to face Aston Villa

Bouaddi partners with Anderson in a double loop. If Maresca wants a more solid base, Bouaddi could be part of a trio with Anderson and Enzo Fernández, while Ryan Cherki is the man to pave the way.

Phil Foden: It’s impossible to stay out of the Man City squad

Foden has four goals in his last two games, including a hat-trick against AEK Athens in the Champions League. With Antoine Semenho out for nearly eight weeks with a knee injury, he is a natural choice at right-back.

Ryan Cherky: creative liaison

Cherki takes the No. 10 role, providing a link between the midfielder and Haaland. If Maresca decides to bolster the case with an additional midfielder, he is the one most at risk.

Jérémy Doku: left wide against Aston Villa

Semenyo’s injury leaves Maresca out wide, relying on Doku and Iliman Ndiaye, with Doku nodding in from the left to stretch Villa’s back line.

Erling Haaland: fresh and 100% fit for Villa Park

Maresca has confirmed Haaland is “100% fit” after being rested against AEK Athens, and the leg knock he picked up against Ipswich is not a concern. He has 12 goals in 10 games this season, but just one in five against Villa will look to match that.

Selection doubts with Man City bench and Aston Villa

Mateo Kovačić was another to sit out in midweek and may need a late fitness test, while Rico Lewis and Abdukodir Khusanov are the main alternatives in defence. Iliman Ndiaye is a back-up option with Semenyo out injured and Enzo Fernández struggles if Maresca opts for a midfield three, as he did against Crystal Palace earlier in the season. Fernandez’s summer transfer from Chelsea gives Maresca plenty of options in the middle.

City have won all seven of their league games so far, but a fourth successive defeat at Villa Park would be the first treble in this fixture since the 1960s. With Haaland fresh, this lineup gives them every chance to avoid it.