Image copyright: Getty Images
2024/25 English Premier League
Matchday 17
Aston Villa v Manchester City
Villa Park
Birmingham, England
Saturday, 21 December 2024
Kick-off is at 14h30
Manchester City will be desperate to stop the rot when they travel to the West Midlands for a clash with Aston Villa at Villa Park on Saturday, December 21 in the lunchtime kick-off.
The Citizens are in crisis mode after they conceded two late goals to lose 2-1 to local rivals Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium on December 15.
A fifth defeat in seven
Premier League matches is unprecedented under Pep Guardiola, who is in the midst of his worse run as manager, with City dropping down to fifth place and are nine points behind league leaders Liverpool.
The Villans are struggling for consistency this season and saw a two-game winning streak come to an end with a 2-1 reverse to Nottingham Forest, who moved up to fourth position.
Unai Emery's side have only picked up seven points from their last five outings, but they are still breathing down City's neck a further two back in sixth spot.
Suggested photo: Jhon Duran of Aston Villa
The hosts could welcome back Leon Bailey (thigh), but the fixture comes too soon for Jacob Ramsey (thigh) and Tyrone Mings is still battling with an illness. Rico Lewis returns for the visitors after his suspension, but Rodri (knee), Oscar Bobb (calf), Nathan Ake (thigh) and Manuel Akanji (groin) remain unavailable.
Emery wants his players to take away valuable lessons from the Forest defeat after stating that their mentality shifted in the final 20 minutes which led to them conceding two late goals.
"We planned the match how we did for 70 minutes, and in the last 20 they started pushing more. We didn't keep the same idea [and] mentality we needed," the Spaniard said.
"Of course, being under pressure is more difficult, and this is the process we have to try to learn, and experiences we have to try to take. We lost a very good opportunity today. Try to be more consistent in the table."
Image Source: Alamy Stock Photo
Guardiola acknowledges City's current predicament is resulting in scenarios that wouldn't normally happen, but insists he will find the solution to their woes.
"In the past maybe I could presume we could win with two minutes left but in the situation we are in, I never thought about that," the Spaniard said.
"It's true that we are not fluid. We always play with this composure that now we don't have after the amount of games we have been losing.
"Sometimes the spirit helps you to find strength in this type of game. We were there but it's not about that. I am the boss; I have to find the solution. This is a big club and when you lose eight in 11, something wrong has happened."
Head-to-Head (Last Five Premier League Meetings)
Matches - 5
Aston Villa wins - 1
Man City wins - 3
Draws - 1
Premier League Matchday 17 fixtures:
Saturday, December 21
14h30: Aston Villa v Manchester City
17h00: Brentford v Nottingham Forest
17h00: Ipswich Town v Newcastle United
17h00: West Ham United v Brighton & Hove Albion
19h30: Crystal Palace v Arsenal
Sunday, December 22
16h00: Everton v Chelsea
16h00: Fulham v Southampton
16h00: Leicester City v Wolverhampton Wanderers
16h00: Manchester United v Bournemouth
18h30: Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool
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