Manchester City’s miserable run of form continued as Aston Villa leapfrogged Pep Guardiola’s side into fifth with a deserved victory over the faltering Premier League champions.
Goals from Jhon Duran and Morgan Rogers, who struck against his former club, condemned City to a third defeat in a row and ninth loss in their last 12 games in all competitions.
City were out-run by Unai Emery’s side, who rediscovered their form with a stirring performance in front of their home fans. It was a day to forget for Jack Grealish, City’s brightest player on his return to Villa Park, who was booed throughout another lackluster performance from Guardiola’s team.
Villa started brightly and Duran had the chance to open the scoring after just 15 seconds. The striker converted his second opportunity to finish a flowing move on 15 minutes, instigated by a brilliant Youri Tielemans pass. Dominant after half-time, Rogers wrapped up victory on the hour.
City had no response, with Erling Haaland anonymous and Kevin De Bruyne remaining on the bench throughout as an unused substitute. Phil Foden pulled one back with seconds left, but it was too little too late as City drop to sixth in the table, with Villa climbing into fifth. Follow all the reaction in our live blog below.
Aston Villa v Man City LIVE
- FULL TIME! Brilliant Aston Villa add more misery to Man City and Pep Guardiola
- Goals from Jhon Duran and Morgan Rogers lift Villa above City into fifth
- Nine defeats in 12 games for Man City, as extraordinary crisis continues
- 90+3’ GOAL! Phil Foden pulls one back with first of the season (AVL 2-1 MCI)
- 65’ GOAL! Morgan Rogers doubles Villa’s lead to increase misery on City (AVL 2-0 MCI)
- 60’ POST! Rogers close as Villa dominate after half time (AVL 1-0 MCI)
- 43’ CHANCE! Josko Gvardiol heads over from Jack Grealish cross (AVL 1-0 MCI)
- 16’ GOAL! Stunning Villa move as Jhon Duran fires hosts in front (AVL 1-0 MCI)
- 1’ SAVE! Duran misses chance and then Ortega claws off the line (AVL 0-0 MCI)
Aston Villa FC 2 - 1 Manchester City FC
Resigned Pep Guardiola signals the complete breakdown of all-conquering Man City
16:24 , Richard JollyAn obsessive Spanish manager had taken his adopted club to rare heights. Then came a chastening spell of 11 games, littered with setbacks, sending his team tumbling down the table, bringing their ambitions into question. But this victory was emphatic and impressive, offering relief and respite. A slump may be over.
But not for Pep Guardiola. Because, for Unai Emery and Aston Villa, Manchester City came to town. They were duly and deservedly beaten.
Guardiola spent the first half gesturing histrionically, the second with his hands in his pockets, a man resigned to his fate.
This feels the complete breakdown of an all-conquering team.
Resigned Pep Guardiola signals the complete breakdown of all-conquering Man City
Pep Guardiola on John Stones
17:13 , Jamie Braidwood"I would say I'm not in the right moment to make tactical and creative changes with some players and where they are at. There is a moment where I cannot overthink things right now. I try to be simple, go to the principles to give certainty to the team and the players of what they can do offensively and defensively. This is one of the points. He can't because he said in the last 10 minutes again he had the disturbance that he had in the last month."
Jack Grealish sends three-finger gesture to goading Aston Villa fans
16:54 , Jamie BraidwoodJack Grealish held up three fingers to goading Aston Villa supporters as the Manchester City winger had an afternoon to forget on his return to Villa Park.
Starting against his boyhood club away from home for the first time since his £100m move to the Etihad, Grealish was on the end of a 2-1 defeat as City’s miserable run of form continued.
The England international helped Villa to promotion back to the Premier League in 2019 but was booed on every touch as he saw plenty of the ball during the first half.
Jack Grealish sends three-finger gesture to goading Aston Villa fans
‘I don’t agree with him’: Pep Guardiola on Erling Haaland form
15:47 , Jamie BraidwoodPep Guardiola responds to Erling Haaland’s comments after the Man City striker said he has not been good enough.
“I don't agree with him. Without him he would be even worse but I like players to be that way. It's the only chance we have to get better.
“There are two options: like I judge myself, the only other situation is blame your side. That depends on them.
“I don't agree with Erling because he tried and he needs to be delivered the right balls in the right spots but now we recover and we fight for the next one.”
Erling Haaland admits his form has not been good enough and backs Guardiola
15:20 , Jamie BraidwoodErling Haaland, who now has just one goal in his last six games for Manchester City, speaking to TNT Sports:
“We have to continue working. The first thing I am looking at is myself, I have not been doing things good enough, have not been scoring my chances and everything. I have to be better. It’s a lot on me and I’ve not been good enough
“Of course it’s not the best. We know how important confidence is. You can see it. It affects every human being, these kind of things. That’s how it is. We have to continue. We have to stay positive even though it is difficult. We have to keep working hard.”
On Pep Guardiola
“He’s won the Premier League six times in seven years. We can never forget that. He will find the solutions. He’s been doing that every year, apart from one. We still believe in him and we have to work harder than ever right now “
Pep Guardiola reacts to Man City’s defeat at Aston Villa
14:56 , Jamie BraidwoodPep Guardiola speaking to TNT Sports.
“We made a good first half, we caused problems but made some mistakes. Second half we dropped. We changed our pressing when John [Stones] couldn’t continue and we weren’t as good. Congratulations to Aston Villa. We keep going.
“I would not say no. In the mid-block they are so strong. They are physical with Onana and Kamara. We had good moments. Not big chances but more than against United [last weekend].
“The second half we dropped. Our pressing was not effective in our right side and we struggled a little bit. We found a goal at the end but it was too late. We struggle to score and we concede goals.
“I have to find the answers. We have to get players back. Sooner or later we are going to find it.”
It gets a bit tense at the end when Guardiola is asked if he will try anything different to improve Man City’s form. “Back my players,” he says.
‘Lack of fight’ as Man City lose again
14:54 , Jamie BraidwoodFormer England striker Peter Crouch says Man City looked resigned to defeat and there was a “lack of fight” in Pep Guardiola’s team.
Speaking on TNT Sports, he said: “That was the worrying thing for me. It felt like they were waiting to get beat and there was nothing frantic about them.
“They were lacking ideas and there wasn’t the ‘shock’ when they were behind.”
Questions surrounding Pep Guardiola?
14:44 , Jamie BraidwoodHere’s the thoughts of The Independent’s chief football writer Miguel Delaney:
‘Pep Guardiola has an argument to be the greatest manager of all time, and yet it doesn’t feel he has “managed” this situation at all well - even separate to form. Constantly going on about himself and his own legacy, and not in a way that deflects attention from the players.
‘It doesn’t scream “leadership”, which I know sounds very “high performance” but you basically want someone growling about getting through this.’
FULL TIME! Aston Villa 2-1 Man City
14:42 , Jamie BraidwoodThere’s a chance that Manchester City could spend Christmas Day in ninth.
Bournmouth, Fulham and Brighton could all go above them with wins this weekend.
City next play on Boxing Day. They host Everton at 12:30pm.
Usually, that would be an automatic victory. You can’t say that right now.
FULL TIME! Aston Villa 2-1 Man City
14:38 , Jamie BraidwoodObviously, the continued decline of Manchester City, who were untouchable last season, will dominate the reaction here.
But Villa were excellent and looked like the side who finished fourth last season. Unai Emery’s side have struggled at times over the last couple of months, but a week off really helped and the hosts completely dominated City with an intense, energetic performance.
As Tielemans said, it’s about being consistent now. Emery has also found the formula with Kamara and Onana in midfield and Duran in-form and firing up front.
FULL TIME! Aston Villa 2-1 Man City
14:33 , Jamie BraidwoodThe run continues. Or gets even worse? As Richard Jolly points out, Man City have lost games with ok performances. Not today. They were awful.
Manchester City’s run of results, NINE losses in 12 games
L 1-2 vs Tottenham (A) - Carabao Cup
L 1-2 vs Bournemouth (A) - Premier League
L 1-4 vs Sporting (A) - Champions League
L 1-2 vs Brighton (A) - Premier League
L 0-4 vs Tottenham (H) - Premier League
D 3-3 vs Feyenoord (H) - Champions League
L 0-2 vs Liverpool (A) - Premier League
W 3-0 vs Nottingham Forest (H) - Premier League
D 2-2 vs Crystal Palace (A) - Premier League
L 0-2 vs Juventus (A) - Champions League
L 1-2 vs Manchester United (H) - Premier League
L 1-2 vs Aston Villa (A) - Premier League
FULL TIME! Aston Villa 2-1 Man City
14:31 , Jamie BraidwoodYouri Tielemans has earned his Christmas Day. Brilliant performance.
“Really good, we fought together, defended together and made the right choices in attack. It was a good performance.
“For me, going forward it helped knowing I had them [Onana and Kamara behind me]. I knew I had space behind their midfielders.
“It’s always difficult against Man City. We know they haven’t won as much but they are a class side. It’s credit to us because we showed character.
“The league is wide open. That’s why we love football. This season is tough physically, mentally, but the quality is high. We have to be consistent.”
FULL TIME! Aston Villa 2-1 Man City
14:27 , Richard Jolly, at Villa ParkPhil Foden's belated first league goal of the season has given the scoreline a flattering sheen for City. That was a pretty comprehensive defeat. Guardiola believes they have played well in some of their losses. Not today. Duran, Watkins and Tielemans were all terrific for Villa, putting their own recent stumbles behind them. For City, Foden apart, their best player may have been their goalkeeper, Stefan Ortega.
FULL TIME! Aston Villa 2-1 Man City
14:24 , Jamie BraidwoodAnd that’s it!
Aston Villa 2-1 Man City
14:24 , Jamie BraidwoodVilla just had to keep the ball. Instead, they concede a free-kick and City have the chance to fling it forward.
Foden’s cross is caught by Martinez.
GOAL! Aston Villa 2-1 Man City (FODEN 90+3’)
14:23 , Jamie BraidwoodOh! Phil Foden has pulled one back with a minute to play. It’s his first of the season. Sharp move from City as Silva slips Foden through. The finish is clinical into the corner.
Too little too late? Just seconds left...
Aston Villa 2-0 Man City
14:22 , Jamie Braidwood90+2 mins: Youri Tielemans is named man of the match. The Belgian has put in one of the performances of the season in midfield. Sensational throughout.
Aston Villa 2-0 Man City
14:20 , Jamie Braidwood90 mins: Morgan Rogers gets a standing ovation as he is replaced. A goal and an assist for the 22-year-old today.
We’re into four minutes added on.
Aston Villa 2-0 Man City
14:18 , Jamie Braidwood89 mins: I can’t remember a single chance for City in this second half. It’s like they gave up after Villa’s second goal.
Aston Villa 2-0 Man City
14:17 , Jamie Braidwood86 mins: Frustration for Grealish, who was bright in the first half but has had an afternoon to forget on his return to Villa Park.
He takes out former team-mate John McGinn and picks up a yellow card. McGinn looks like he loved that.
Aston Villa 2-0 Man City
14:12 , Jamie Braidwood82 mins: And a chance for Watkins right away! Villa break forward again, Tielemans releasing Rogers who plays in Watkins.
Watkins take it on on his left foot, but whacks the shot straight at Ortega.
Aston Villa 2-0 Man City
14:10 , Jamie Braidwood80 mins: A change for Villa: Jhon Duran, who scored his fourth goal in as many games, is replaced by Ollie Watkins. Unai Emery is getting the best out of the striker at the moment, and Watkins will be hungry to make an impact.
Still nothing from City at the other end. Haaland has been anonymous in the second half. And there is still no Kevin De Bruyne. City appear to have accepted defeat.
Aston Villa 2-0 Man City
14:05 , Jamie Braidwood75 mins: Morgan Rogers dropped the ‘cold’ celebration after scoring against City, who he never played for before he was sold to Middlesbrough.
Rogers, says Cole Palmer stole the celebration from him, continues a brilliant campaign in the Premier League.
Aston Villa 2-0 Man City
14:02 , Jamie Braidwood72 mins: Chance for City as Savinho, another without a goal this season, replaces Gundogan.
City have been overrun in midfield. Tielemans, Onana and Kamara have been first class.
Still no Kevin De Bruyne for City, as the Belgian looks on from the bench.
Aston Villa 2-0 Man City
14:01 , Jamie Braidwood70 mins: Foden have a deflected shot saved by Martinez. Aston Villa are in complete control, playing with an energy and drive that looks beyond City at the moment. The run is looking like it’s going to continue.
Aston Villa 2-0 Man City
13:57 , Richard Jolly, at Villa ParkIt wouldn't be a weekend without someone chanting "sacked in the morning" at Pep Guardiola and now he is hearing a familiar sound. Villa's second goal may have finished City off. It certainly illustrates one of the factors in their fall. Morgan Rogers, owned by City but never picked by them, made one and scored one. City have made millions by selling players. Now it has come at a cost. Rogers can run. Some of these City players cannot.
GOAL! Aston Villa 2-0 Man City (ROGERS 65’)
13:54 , Jamie BraidwoodTHAT’S THE GAME, SURELY?!
So good from Villa, who deserve their two-goal lead. And it’s Morgan Rogers who strikes against his former team!
A flowing Villa move as McGinn surges forward. Tielemans, who has been the best player on the pitch, makes the overlapping run, but McGinn goes to Rogers.
And it’s quality from the former Man City academy star. He takes it on his left foot and buries the finish into the bottom corner.
Aston Villa 1-0 Man City
13:54 , Jamie Braidwood63 mins: All of City’s play went through Grealish in the first half. It’s been a different story since the restart.
But this time Grealish can’t find Haaland with his cross and it’s into the side-netting.
Aston Villa 1-0 Man City
13:50 , Jamie Braidwood60 mins: POST! Wonderful again from Villla, woeful from City, who escape again. Rogers powers into the box and gets on the end of a flick from Duran. Gvardiol’s challenge is weak and Rogers shrugs him off before firing towards the near post. It clips the outside of the upright and goes behind.
It’s Villa, Villa, Villa with an hour gone.
Aston Villa 1-0 Man City
13:49 , Jamie Braidwood58 mins: Brilliant from Villa, who have looked tired in recent weeks but have clearly made the most of not being involved in the Carabao Cup and having seven days off.
Duran presses Ortega and Villa win the throw high up the pitch. The home fans love it.
Aston Villa 1-0 Man City
13:47 , Jamie Braidwood56 mins: Another concern for Man City. After already losing Stones, Akanji takes a knock to his shoulder and stays down.
He looks like he’s going to continue. Villa, though, are looking comfortable. Emery’s side are bossing it.
Aston Villa 1-0 Man City
13:45 , Richard Jolly, at Villa Park55 mins: History has repeated itself for John Stones. He played 45 minutes in November, taken off at half-time in defeat to Tottenham and injured again. Now he has not reappeared for the second half again. Kyle Walker's demotion lasted half a game. City's lack of fit defenders means they cannot play without him. It also feels as though they can't find a way to stop Youri Tielemans.
Aston Villa 1-0 Man City
13:41 , Jamie Braidwood51 mins: Rare space for Foden, who turns and faces the goal. He takes the shot on but the wait for a first goal of the season continues - it ends up high and wide.
Aston Villa 1-0 Man City
13:40 , Jamie Braidwood50 mins: The ball is in the net.... it’s copy and paste for Villa as Tielemans turns and releases Duran, who gallops away and finishes.
Duran is offside, but he wasn’t too far away.
Aston Villa 1-0 Man City
13:39 , Jamie Braidwood47 mins: CHANCE! Space, so much space for Villa! They break through City with ease. Cash is released down the right, with Tielemans releasing the counter. Kamara was there for the pull-back but Cash shoots into the side-netting.
Walker and Duran were grappling off the ball. Nothing given.
Aston Villa 1-0 Man City
13:35 , Jamie BraidwoodBack underway! A subplot here is Erling Haaland didn’t have a chance in the first half and has just one goal in his last six games...
With Walker on, Lewis has gone to left back and Gvardiol has replaced Stones in the middle.
HALF TIME! Aston Villa 1-0 Man City
13:32 , Jamie BraidwoodThere will be a change for City at the break. Kyle Walker is replacing John Stones, who had just come back from injury. Hopefully Stones hasn’t suffered a set-back.
HALF TIME! Aston Villa 1-0 Man City
13:21 , Jamie BraidwoodAs it stands, City are heading for an NINTH defeat in TWELVE games.
If the Premier League started in November, City would be in the bottom three.
They have the second half to turn it around but it’s been uninspiring stuff again.
HALF TIME! Aston Villa 1-0 Man City
13:18 , Jamie BraidwoodAnd it’s kicking off between Grealish and Martinez on the half-time whistle! Not sure why. We’ll see in a moment.
But Martinez was booked and Villa lead 1-0. Grealish is surrounded by Villa players, with more boos from the home fans, as he heads into the tunnel.
Aston Villa 1-0 Man City
13:15 , Jamie Braidwood43 mins: CHANCE! City’s best chance of the game and it falls to their second-top goal-scorer this season. Josko Gvardiol led the break with a good burst from defence. He played wide to Grealish and carried on his run into the box. Grealish found the cross but Gvardiol headed over the bar from six yards.
Big moment.
Aston Villa 1-0 Man City
13:13 , Jamie Braidwood40 mins: Villa almost played themselves into trouble but worked their way out of the press to release a counter. McGinn’s switch to Rogers almost worked but Lewis made a last-ditch challenge to prevent the break.
Aston Villa 1-0 Man City
13:08 , Jamie Braidwood36 mins: Cash makes his third foul on Grealish. This time he can’t avoid punishment. The right back is booked.
Everything is going through Grealish and City should keep trying that route with Cash on a yellow card.
Grealish gets the ball again and is able to work his way into the box. His shot is straight at Martinez.
Aston Villa 1-0 Man City
13:07 , Jamie Braidwood35 mins: What a chance again for Villa! From the corner, Grealish loses it and suddenly Villa have a 5 on 2. It’s led by McGinn, who looks overwhelmed by his options. He in the end takes too long and can’t find Duran.
City escape.
Aston Villa 1-0 Man City
13:06 , Jamie Braidwood34 mins: Better from Man City, and Phil Foden. Last season’s player of the year, who has not scored this season, exchanges a one-two with Rico Lewis and breaks into the box. He looks for the far corner, but Martinez tips the curling effort wide.
Aston Villa 1-0 Man City
13:01 , Richard Jolly, at Villa Park29 mins: Jack Grealish is getting booed on his first proper return to Villa Park (he played three minutes as a sub but that was his only involvement in his three previous trips since joining City). He has been City's outlet, with diagonal balls to the left, but Erling Haaland has been starved of service so far.
Villa's goal, meanwhile, highlighted some of City's problems, particularly the lack of a defensive midfielder. It has allowed Youri Tielemans to play defence-splitting passes. Villa have enjoyed City's high defensive line, too, as Rogers and Duran did for the goal.
Aston Villa 1-0 Man City
12:59 , Jamie Braidwood26 mins: This suits Villa now. They can sit in and soak up the City pressure before hitting Guardiola’s side on the counter. Emery’s team are being patient - looking for that moment to punish City in transition.
Aston Villa 1-0 Man City
12:56 , Jamie Braidwood23 mins: Grealish has been City’s best player so far. He beats Cash to get into the box... but then slices his shot out for a throw-in...
The Villa fans enjoyed it. “What the f--- was that?” they chant.
At least Grealish is trying. I’ve barely heard Phil Foden’s name so far.
Aston Villa 1-0 Man City
12:52 , Jamie Braidwood19 mins: My goodness. The space between John Stones and Manuel Akanj in the Man City defence for Villa’s opening goal... Pep Guardiola’s team were cut wide open from Emi Martinez’s goal-kick. It was a brilliant move from Unai Emery’s side.
GOAL! Aston Villa 1-0 Man City (DURAN 16’)
12:47 , Jamie BraidwoodAston Villa lead and it’s Jhon Duran again!
And Man City are behind again! It’s a stunning counter-attack, with one of the passes of the season from Youri Tielemans, who splits the Man City defence wide open from inside his own half.
His through pass releases Morgan Rogers, who is unselfish. He squares to Duran, who continues his hot run of form to bury the chance first time.
Aston Villa 0-0 Man City
12:46 , Jamie Braidwood14 mins: After a frantic start, it’s quitened down a touch. Cash clips Grealish for the second time, with Grealish spinning off the defender on the turn.
Cash is very, very lucky not to be in the book. Both fouls could have been yellow cards. Cash wins the next challenge and is staying touch-tight to his former team-mate.
Aston Villa 0-0 Man City
12:43 , Jamie Braidwood11 mins: Grealish has made a difference for City already and is looking more direct out on the wing. He tees up Kovacic, who cracks a shot straight at Martinez. Easy save.
Aston Villa 0-0 Man City
12:41 , Jamie Braidwood9 mins: A bit better from City, who build some pressure. The big concern is how fragile they look to the counter-attack. Cash gets a ring of cheers as he crunches into Grealish by the touchline.
Lots going on in the penalty area as City get a wide free-kick. The visitors are asking for a penalty as Akanji goes down under some ‘close’ Villa marking. All cleared, though.
Aston Villa 0-0 Man City
12:40 , Richard Jolly, at Villa Park8 mins: An absolutely shambolic start from City, with Josko Gvardiol almost gifting Villa the lead within 15 seconds. City may be glad Ederson is injured, given the two early saves Stefan Ortega has made. Jhon Duran is very lively for Villa. Ominously for City, Villa look quick on the break.
Aston Villa 0-0 Man City
12:39 , Jamie Braidwood6 mins: The goal-line technology was needed, and replays show that Torres’ header was mostly over the line.
But Ortega clawed it out before it could fully cross, so it’s still 0-0.
Aston Villa 0-0 Man City
12:37 , Jamie Braidwood5 mins: The boos turn into jeers as Grealish cuts into the box and shoots wide.
It’s end to end here. McGinn breaks forward down the right and almost slides in Duran.
Akanji slides in to cut it out.
Aston Villa 0-0 Man City
12:35 , Jamie Braidwood3 min: Man City clear the third corner, and breath a sigh of relief. Duran should have scored and then Ortega made a brilliant stop to deny Torres.
A few boos for Grealish as he gets his first touches on the left wing.
Aston Villa 0-0 Man City
12:33 , Jamie Braidwood1 mins: SAVE! Huge save from Ortega to keep McGinn’s corner out! It was Torres’ header actually, Ortega clawed it off the line. Then he tips over McGinn’s deep corner.
WHAT A START!
KICK-OFF!
12:32 , Jamie BraidwoodAnd an early chance for Aston Villa! Incredible. 20 seconds in, Gvardiol slips and Jhon Duran is through!
He takes it so, so early and Ortega saves easily, pushing behind for a corner.
That should be 1-0.
Aston Villa vs Man City: Kick-off next
12:31 , Jamie BraidwoodWhere can I watch the match?
The match is being shown on TNT Sports 1 and Discovery+.
Aston Villa vs Man City: Kick-off next
12:30 , Jamie Braidwood‘Crazy Train’ rings out at Villa Park.
It’s been crazy times for Manchester City of late. One win in 11 games.
Can they start to turn it around this afternoon or will Unai Emery increase the misery on the champions?
Kick-off is next.
Aston Villa vs Man City: Last time out at Villa Park
12:25 , Jamie BraidwoodAston Villa’s only victory in the past 17 meetings in all competitions was by 1-0 at home in the Premier League on 6 December last year. Unai Emery’s side can earn consecutive home league wins against Manchester City for the first time since 1993.
After defeat at Villa Park last year, Man City didn’t lose again in the Premier League and went on to lift their fourth title in a row under Pep Guardiola. How they could use a run like that now... but it does not look likely on current form.
Eight defeats in City’s past 11 matches in all competitions is as many as they lost in their previous 106 fixtures, and they are winless in seven successive away games in all competitions for the first time since a run of 10 from January to April 2011 under Roberto Mancini.
The champions have earned just four points from their past seven Premier League fixtures, a joint-low alongside Southampton.
Out of form Walker and De Bruyne dropped by Guardiola
12:23 , Richard JollyA side with six defeats in 11 against a team with eight. It is the derby of the out of form, with two Spanish managers looking for a winning formula. Pep Guardiola has dropped Kyle Walker and Kevin de Bruyne and selected the fit-again John Stones. Unai Emery has preferred Jhon Duran to Ollie Watkins.
Villa Park return is painful reminder that Jack Grealish is wasting his talent at Man City
12:20 , Richard JollyJack Grealish has been at City since August 2021. He has only played particularly well for one of those seasons, 2022-23. Last year, he found form for a month, from the end of December, and around 10 days in spring. His form otherwise explained his omission from England’s Euro 2024 squad. He may have been luckless with ill-timed injuries this season and the statistics again show City lose a lower percentage of games he starts, but his recent achievements end there.
And the glimpse of his beloved ground may remind Grealish, the great-grandson of a 1905 Villa FA Cup winner and the Brummie who captained them to promotion, of what he is missing out on. Sold long before Unai Emery was appointed, Grealish was not to know what would happen in his absence, but the thought must have crossed his mind that he could have still been there, skippering them in their Champions League win over Bayern Munich.
Villa Park return is painful reminder that Jack Grealish is wasted at Man City
Manchester City’s run of results, eight losses in 11 games
12:10 , Jamie BraidwoodL 1-2 vs Tottenham (A) - Carabao Cup
L 1-2 vs Bournemouth (A) - Premier League
L 1-4 vs Sporting (A) - Champions League
L 1-2 vs Brighton (A) - Premier League
L 0-4 vs Tottenham (H) - Premier League
D 3-3 vs Feyenoord (H) - Champions League
L 0-2 vs Liverpool (A) - Premier League
W 3-0 vs Nottingham Forest (H) - Premier League
D 2-2 vs Crystal Palace (A) - Premier League
L 0-2 vs Juventus (A) - Champions League
L 1-2 vs Manchester United (H) - Premier League
Pep Guardiola on dropping Kyle Walker and Kevin De Bruyne
12:05 , Jamie BraidwoodPep Guardiola, speaking to TNT Sports ahead of Man City’s test against Aston Villa.
On the return of John Stones and Manuel Akanji, who start:
“They train two, three times. Important players for us.”
On Ederson, who is not in the City squad:
“He’s not here. He doesn’t feel good.”
On Walker and De Bruyne, who have both dropped to the bench:
“The way we want to play, I decide this line-up. As simple as that.”
Erling Haaland will score if Man City ‘play better’ - Pep Guardiola
12:00 , Jamie BraidwoodPep Guardiola on Erling Haaland, who has scored just once in five appearances.
“I prefer to play with Erling,” said Guardiola. “I don’t think in the situation that I have that I don’t let Erling play - absolutely not. No, no, I didn’t think about that.
“Always I play false nines for the quality specifically of the players I have in that moment.
“In some games playing man to man, I love to play against false nines but I have an Erling, I have to adapt.
“I see him well, I see him fine. The reason why maybe he’s not so productive in this situation is for the way we are playing, that we don’t produce the amount of chances that we were able to do in the past.
“When he’s surrounded by two or three or four central defenders it’s not easy for him. We have to play better, to create the spaces for him.”
Unai Emery on Man City and Pep Guardiola: ‘He’s the best’
11:45 , Jamie BraidwoodUnai Emery insists Pep Guardiola is “the best” coach as Aston Villa seek to pile further misery on Manchester City.
City have lost eight of their last 11 games in all competitions, winning just once in that sequence, and fallen nine points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool.
The Premier League champions have also played a game more than Arne Slot’s table toppers and face a tough weekend assignment with a Saturday lunchtime date at Villa Park.
But Villa boss Emery has no doubt over what he is coming up against, saying of his fellow Spaniard Guardiola: “He’s the best. I’m a little bit surprised (about Manchester City’s form), but it’s football.
“It’s a very tough match and an exciting match for us. We’re respecting them a lot.”
Pep Guardiola on Man City transfer decisions
11:30 , Jamie BraidwoodPep Guardiola has revealed that Manchester City may look to do business in the January transfer window - something that he has rarely done while in charge of the champions.
But City are struggling and have a long injury list, although Guardiola has said that any new recruits will not be stop-gap signings.
“We’ve spoken about doing something. If it’s in winter it’s if we really we need it or if we can really find something - (but) not for just four or five months.
“We’ll see. I don’t know how many times in the last years we’ve gone into the winter (market) - maybe just Aymeric Laporte seven years ago.
“We’re not a big fan of that but the circumstances of this season have been special. We have to see if something is possible and if not we will wait until the summer time.
“In the winter it is more difficult to do. Teams don’t want to sell and they are so expensive.”
Aston Villa vs Man City team news and line-ups
11:22 , Jamie BraidwoodSo Jack Grealish starts on his return to Villa Park. Mateo Kovacic also returns for the visitors, as does John Stones. There’s no Ederson in Man City’s squad, with Stefan Ortega starting in goal. Kyle Walker is fit but drops to the bench.
Jhon Duran starts ahead of Ollie Watkins for Aston Villa and Boubacar Kamara partners Amadou Onana in midfield, with John McGinn and Youri Tielemans either side. Morgan Rogers starts against his former club.
Aston Villa vs Man City team news and line-ups
11:19 , Jamie BraidwoodAston Villa XI: Martinez; Cash; Konsa, Torres, Digne; Onana, Kamara; Tielemans, McGinn; Rogers, Duran.
Subs: Olsen, Mings, Barkley, Buendia, Watkins, Nedeljkovic, Maatsen, Bogarde, Bailey.
Man City XI: Ortega, Lewis, Stones, Akanji, Gvardiol; Kovacic, Gundogan, Bernardo; Foden, Haaland, Grealish
Subs: Carson, Walker, Ake, Doku, De Bruyne, Savio, Simpson-Pusey, O’Reilly, McAtee.
Aston Villa vs Man City team news and line-ups
11:16 , Jamie BraidwoodAston Villa:
Man City:
Villa Park return is painful reminder that Jack Grealish is wasting his talent at Man City
10:10 , Richard JollyTxiki Begiristain was looking forward to being entertained. Manchester City, often dubbed big spenders, had spent more than any other English club previously had on one player. They had made Jack Grealish the £100m man. Their director of football called his costliest recruit “one of the most exciting attacking players in world football”.
Three-and-a-half years later, Grealish returns to Aston Villa on Saturday as, arguably, neither an attacking player nor an exciting one. Instead, a maverick has been reinvented as a curiosity, a Pep Guardiola project who now does far fewer of the things often associated with excitement – score goals, make them, run at defenders – than he used to. There are those at Villa Park who will recognise a local accent and see a familiar face. But the player they might see is rather different.
A more successful one, Guardiola may argue, an individualist who became part of a champion team. Grealish may have sacrificed some of the flair, but he got silverware in return. In the glow of the treble, it seemed a fine trade-off. Now? Perhaps not.
What is the Man City team news?
10:03 , Jamie BraidwoodFor Man City, Mateo Kovacic and John Stones returned to the bench for last week’s Manchester derby and are one step closer to being match fit.
Ruben Dias and Nathan Ake join Rodri and Oscar Bobb as a long-term absentee but Manuel Akanji could feature after recovering from a pelvis issue. Goalkeeper Ederson is a doubt.
Former Villa captain Jack Grealish is pushing for a start but will have to displace Jeremy Doku on the left wing and is more likely to take up a spot on the bench.
When is Aston Villa vs Man City?
10:01 , Jamie BraidwoodAston Villa vs Man City is due to kick off at 12.30pm GMT on Saturday, 21 December at Villa Park in Birmingham.
Where can I watch the match?
The match will be shown on TNT Sports 1, with coverage starting at 11am. Subscribers will also be able to live stream via the discovery+ app.
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