Manchester City’s 3-3 draw with was prime viewing and their trip to should be equally entertaining.
This could be another rollercoaster, high-scoring affair with the two protagonists leading the goal charts, City having found the net on 36 times in the top-flight this season compared to Villa’s 33.
The match offers European champions City the chance to steady the ship after successive draws at and at home to Liverpool and Spurs, while Villa can really press their claims to be title contenders if they defeat the current holders.
They enter the match fresh from a 2-2 draw at Bournemouth where Ollie Watkins grabbed a late goal to gain a share of the spoils and the England striker also hit the winner at Spurs in another match where Unai Emery’s team fought back after being behind.
They will be happy to be back in front of the Holte End where they have won 17 of their last 18 matches in all competitions and will fancy their chances against a City side who have conceded ten goals in their last four games.
There’s no doubt Pep Guardiola’s team have missed Kevin de Bruyne’s immense influence in midfield and they will be without the suspended Rodri and Jack Grealish butwould be a big boost.
It also must be noted that City, and Erling Haaland in particular, were extremely wasteful in the first half against Tottenham while Villa would have been facing no way back if Spurs had made the most of their early opportunities in the opening 20 minutes in north London.
A case can be made for Villa winning at BetMGM’s bumper 19/5 but City can return to form with victory against a side commendably committed to attack and they are 3/4 with StarSports to gain maximum points.
The same firm go 7/4 the reigning champions lead HT/FT while bet365 offer 3/1 there’s over 4.5 goals, as there has been in three of City’s last four outings.
Haaland is 100/30 with Sky Bet to fix his radar in front of goal and be the first to get the scoreboard moving and Jeremy Doku is 7/2 to find the net for City at any time.
England striker Watkins is 41/20 with BetMGM to reply for Villa at some stage and a 4-2 away win is 33/1 with William Hill.
• Manchester United could have lost by a landslide at Newcastle and improving Chelsea are 31/20 with BetUK to win at Old Trafford and heap further problems on Erik Ten Hag’s plate.
• Stick Manchester City, Chelsea, Brentford and Fulham to win outright in a Premier League acca with Liverpool to lead HT/FT at Sheffield United. Chris Wilder may have returned as Blades manager but it will take time to plug holes in the sinking ship.
