Game-starved Villa to return with a bang
The games keep coming thick and fast in the Premier League, and for no side is this now more true than for Aston Villa; having had postponements in the league and a youth team lineup for the FA Cup, they now embark on a gruelling schedule of five matches in 14 days, ominously starting at the Etihad to take on Manchester City. The blue half of the conurbation remain in the ascendancy, and are now two points off rivals United at the summit with a game in hand. Pep Guardiola could choose to rotate his XI, whilst Dean Smith's matchday squad is a complete unknown after all the COVID kerfuffle. Nevertheless, the visitors have been impressive all season long, and could give their hosts plenty of headaches despite their rustiness. Read our preview here:
Okay İlkay
One of the most pleasing aspects of the Citizens' campaign to date has been the fitness (and form) of box-to-box midfielder İlkay Gündoğan. Having returned to first team action back in October, the 30 year old has been a dynamo in the middle of the park, underlining his willingness to get stuck in with an excellent goals return, averaging better than one in every three in all club competitions in 2020/2021. He is not in the same bracket as either Fernandinho or Kevin De Bruyne, but he still performs a hugely pivotal task in both bringing the ball out of the second phase, and then being a spare man when it's worked into the opposition penalty area. He's the most balanced member of City's midfield contingent since David Silva's departure, and much will be riding on him evading the pressure he'll be put under by the double pivot of John McGinn and Douglas Luiz to assist with penetrating the rearguard.
Ross and the supremes
Another figure having a standout season is Ross Barkley. He, like Gündoğan, has issues with staying available for selection, but as the central piece in Dean Smith's attacking quartet, he allows Jack Grealish to work his magic, Anwar El Ghazi to whip in crosses from the right, and the through balls he can implement set striker Ollie Watkins free to outpace his marker. Rodri will be tasked with deciding whether to attempt to shackle the Chelsea loanee or allowing the high line the home side's back four have to stifle Grealish of space to operate in. Either way, the Birmingham outfit are not likely to set their stall out as most teams do in Eastlands, and will be seeking to form their own attacks from the off whilst acknowledging they will cede the lion's share of possession.
Forging ahead
Wednesday evening represents a chance for Guardiola's men to leapfrog United to go top for at least two hours. Should their neighbours fail to beat Fulham at Craven Cottage, they will remain in situ with the luxury of still having a game spare to open up a gap. It's difficult to predict just how Villa will perform with all the unknowns COVID has wrought upon the club, but assuming that all the key first team players can be picked to start, 888sport are offering odds of 5.25 for them to score 1.5 goals or more.
