Preview for Aston Villa v Man Metropolis
Pep Guardiola has little time for the pundits who confidently predicted the demise of his aspect earlier within the season and at the moment are concentrating on Liverpool.
August defeats to Spurs and Brighton prompted loads of discuss that Manchester Metropolis have been heading in the right direction to undergo a repeat of final season’s disappointing marketing campaign just for Guardiola to mastermind a run of seven wins and two attracts of their final 9 video games.
Metropolis are as much as second within the desk, three factors behind leaders Arsenal and one forward of Liverpool, who’ve misplaced their final three within the Premier League.
Talking forward of Sunday’s journey to Aston Villa, Guardiola stated: “Within the first two, three video games we have been carried out and now it appears like Liverpool are carried out.
“I’ll let you know that we are going to be again, I’ve stated many instances that the pundits, the specialists, the previous footballers know what’s going to occur after 5 video games, I’m not ready to do this.
“Ten, 15 video games to know what’s happening. Liverpool and Arsenal are there, another person will probably be there and hopefully we could be there.”
Regardless of his sarcasm, Guardiola did settle for his group stay in a state of transition and have but to hit their greatest type.
He added: “We’ve good momentum however not the consistency for 90 minutes.
“We’re beginning to perceive opponents and what we need to do. Our mentality and our physique language is in the suitable spot and it’ll make us steady.
“[We need to] play higher throughout 95 minutes, we play good however we have to play higher.”
Guardiola described a conflict with Villa as “one of many hardest away video games we’ll have all season,” regardless of their shock defeat on the Go Forward Eagles final night time.
“Defensively actually good, set-pieces additionally and after that they’ve improved lots during the last years,” stated Guardiola.
“With the keeper [Emiliano Martinez] they’ve it’s troublesome to regulate the urgent. They create numerous gamers within the center, the connection is basically good, they break the traces and when that occurs they’re so, so fast.
“A very full group.”
Villa’s midweek defeat within the Netherlands got here as a shock after 5 successive wins in all competitions had seen Unai Emery’s aspect bounce again after a sluggish begin to the season.
Workforce Information for Aston Villa v Man Metropolis
Morgan Rogers, Matty Money, John McGinn and Boubacar Kamara have been all overlooked of the beginning XI in opposition to Go Forward Eagles however will come again in.
Lucas Digne ought to return at left-back.
Nico Gonzalez is Metropolis’s most important concern after being compelled off within the win at Villarreal in midweek with a foot damage. Mateo Kovacic is his seemingly alternative if he’s dominated out.
Abdukodir Khusanov is shut however not but obtainable.
Predicted line-ups for Aston Villa v Man Metropolis
Aston Villa: Martinez; Money, Konsa, Torres, Digne; Kamara, Onana; Malen, Rogers, McGinn; Watkins
Man Metropolis: Donnarumma; Nunes, Stones, Dias, Gvardiol; Kovacic, Savinho, Lewis, Silva, Doku; Haaland
Tips on how to watch Aston Villa v Man Metropolis: TV and on-line streams
Aston Villa versus Manchester Metropolis kicks off at 2pm UK time on Sunday. It kinds a part of Tremendous Sunday on Sky and could be watched on Sky Sports activities Primary Occasion from 12.30pm.
It’s also possible to stream it on the Sky Go app.
Stats for Aston Villa v Man Metropolis
- Erling Haaland will look to attain in a sixth successive Premier League away sport
- Aston Villa have gained their final two house league video games in opposition to Manchester Metropolis, final profitable extra consecutively between 1960 and 1975 (5)
- Manchester Metropolis have gained extra factors within the Premier League than every other aspect because the begin of April (39 – W12 D3 L2)