Aston Villa-Manchester City is a match for the sixth day of the Premier League and is played on Saturday at 18:30
ASTON VILLA – MANCHESTER CITY
The Premier League has been hit hard by the Haaland ‘cyclone’. Manchester City’s relentless Norwegian slinger, bought in the summer from Borussia Dortmund, immediately set out to rewrite the English top-flight record, scoring nine goals in his first five games, practically half the number scored by Pep Guardiola’s side since the new season began.
No one has ever managed to have such a disruptive impact at these latitudes, not even another record-breaker – coincidentally also in a Man City shirt – such as Sergio Aguero. Three hat-tricks in a row in the last two matches against Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest, beaten 4-2 and 6-0 respectively by De Bruyne and co. And thank goodness that, according to some insiders, he was supposed to be a fish out of water in a type of football that usually does not like offensive reference points as the Catalan coach does. Power, opportunism, physicality: Haaland is proving that he lacks nothing to keep scoring avalanche goals in the most competitive league on the planet.
However, despite recent victories against the Eagles and Forest and the league’s most prolific attack, Manchester City are currently second in the table. Only Arsenal is on a full points lead: the Citizens are paying for that daring 3-3 draw with Newcastle in which they were in serious danger of suffering their first defeat. On the other hand, the trip to Birmingham with Aston Villa, one of the most disappointing teams so far, is not too frightening. With a paltry haul of four defeats and just one win, Steven Gerrard continues to be one of the coaches most at risk of being sacked.
Gerrard
The Prediction
Taking into account the difficulties Aston Villa are having, disappointing especially in containment – no clean sheet so far for Gerrard’s side – it’s really hard to assume a Manchester City faux pas. Another wide success by Guardiola’s men looms large, in a match in which the total goals could be at least three.
Aston Villa-Manchester City’s likely line-up
- ASTON VILLA (4-3-3): Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Digne; Douglas Luiz, Kamara, Ramsey; Bailey, Watkins, Buendia.
- MANCHESTER CITY (4-3-3): Ederson; Cancelo, Dias, Stones, Gomez; De Bruyne, Rodri, Gundogan; Mahrez, Haaland, Alvarez.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-3
