Currently, Pep Guardiola's side sits one point behind Arsenal and three points adrift of league leaders Liverpool. They'll need a significant goal swing in their favor to overtake Liverpool, even if only temporarily.
Aston Villa, on the other hand, comes into this match on the back of a convincing 2-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers. Despite a recent dip in form against West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur, they still hold a three-point advantage over Spurs in the race for the top four.
Villa's strength lies in their away performances, having remained unbeaten in their first eight away games of the year. However, they face a tough task against Manchester City, especially considering their poor record in away matches against the reigning champions.
While Villa managed to secure a memorable 1-0 win over Manchester City earlier in the season, repeating that feat will be a daunting challenge, especially considering their 13 straight Premier League losses away to the reigning champions.
INJURIES & SUSPENSION
Manchester City continues to grapple with defensive issues at a crucial juncture of the season. Nathan Ake was forced off in the first half of Sunday's draw with Arsenal due to an unspecified concern, while both Ederson and Kyle Walker remained sidelined with thigh injuries.Guardiola confirmed that Ederson was far from being fit for the Arsenal game, and although John Stones was named on the bench, he wasn't deemed fully recovered. Therefore, Rico Lewis is expected to step in for Ake in Wednesday's match. Additionally, Guardiola may consider options like Jeremy Doku and Jack Grealish to bolster the wide areas.
Meanwhile, Aston Villa faces an attacking setback as Ollie Watkins sustained a hamstring injury in their win over Wolves. The extent of Watkins's injury is yet to be determined, but Villa is already dealing with absences including Tyrone Mings, Boubacar Kamara, Emiliano Buendia, Matty Cash, and the suspended John McGinn.
Jacob Ramsey, recovering from an ankle injury, might be the only possible returnee for Villa. In Watkins's absence, Jhon Duran is expected to partner Moussa Diaby after an impressive performance in the previous match.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Manchester City possible starting lineup:Ortega; Lewis, Dias, Akanji, Gvardiol; Rodri, Kovacic; Doku, De Bruyne, Grealish; Haaland
Aston Villa possible starting lineup:
Martinez; Konsa, Carlos, Torres, Digne; Bailey, Luiz, Tielemans, Rogers; Diaby, Duran
EXPERT PREDICTION
Manchester City 3-1 Aston Villa
After Arsenal's effective defensive strategy frustrated Manchester City in their previous match, it's worth watching to see if Aston Villa's manager, Emery, chooses a similar defensive approach or sticks with their risky high defensive line, which could play into Manchester City's strengths.
Despite Aston Villa's resilience away from home, the uncertainty surrounding Watkins's availability and Manchester City's ability to adapt their attacking options may give the hosts an advantage. Therefore, it's likely that Manchester City will secure their 14th consecutive home win against Aston Villa, helping them regain momentum in their title defense.
