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Manchester City looking to extend period of good form against Villa

Photo: Reuters/Phil Noble

Manchester City travel to Villa Park on Sunday looking to continue the good form they showed in their midweek Carabao Cup win over Manchester United.

Goals from Bernardo Silva, Riyad Mahrez and a Andreas Pereira own-goal saw City race into a three-goal lead before Marcus Rashford restored some pride for the red half of Manchester.

Dean Smith’s Aston Villa team featured in the other semi-final in the competition against Leicester and also gained a positive result, taking a 1-1 draw back to Villa Park for the second leg.

Pep Guardiola’s Citizens have won their last four fixtures in all competitions and are beginning to display shades of the dominant team of last season.

Their opponents Villa have almost had a much-needed resurgence of late having won two of their last three Premier League fixtures which have helped them climb outside of the relegation zone in 17th.

Sergio Aguero could prove to be the thorn in Villa’s side on Sunday afternoon. The Argentinian has netted six goals in just four previous appearances against the Villains.

Team news

Danny Drinkwater could make his Aston Villa debut after signing on loan from Chelsea this week. Wesley and Tom Heaton could to recover from their long-term injuries whilst Keinan Davis and Jonathan Kodjia are unlikely to feature.

Pep Gaurdiola is hopeful that Kevin De Bruyne will be available after suffering a knock in the win over United although the game will come too soon for the fit-again Aymeric Laporte.

Aston Villa manager Dean Smith was full of praise for his opposite number ahead of the fixture:

“He is an unbelievable coach. What Jurgen Klopp’s doing this season is incredible but they’re doing it week in, week out.

“You have to look at the last two years and what City have done and even this year. The biggest surprise this year is they’ve lost five in the Premier League, which is usually unheard of.”

Pep Guardiola was keen to reaffirm that Aston Villa pose a real threat to his City team:

“You have to play all the teams, it’s a strong club, a fantastic stadium.

“They changed their set-up in the last games, playing more five at the back, perhaps because of the big injury they had [to Wesley].

“We’ll try to maintain the dynamic that we have.”