Dean Smith has Aston Villa looking like they belong in the Premier League but a visit to the Etihad Stadium may prove a chastening experience. Manchester City will be hungry to cut the gap, for a day at least, to three points behind Liverpool. Smith believes his side can get a result. “We’re not taking on a superhuman team, although they look like it at times,” he said. “It’s a team that can make mistakes and when they make mistakes you’ve got to punish them.” Graham Searles
Saturday 12.30pm BT Sport 1
Venue Etihad Stadium
Last season n/a
Referee Graham Scott
This season G5 Y13 R2 3 cards/game
Odds H 1-9 A 28-1 D 10-1
MANCHESTER CITY
Subs from Bravo, Carson, Foden, Angeliño, García, Agüero, Harwood-Bellis, Mahrez, Otamendi, Walker
Doubtful None
Injured Rodri (hamstring, Nov), Zinchenko (knee, Dec), Sané (knee, Jan), Laporte (knee, unknown)
Suspended None
Discipline Y18 R0
Form WLWWLW
Leading scorer Agüero 8
ASTON VILLA
Subs from Steer, Nyland, Kalinic, Davis, Konsa, Elmohamady, Lansbury, Taylor, Hause, Douglas Luiz, Ramsey, Kodjia, Trézéguet, Chester
Doubtful None
Injured Jota (hernia, Nov)
Suspended None
Discipline Y14 R1
Form LDLDWW
Leading scorer Wesley 4
