The Premier League's bottom club host the league leaders as Manchester City travel to Villa Park for Remi Garde's first match as Aston Villa manager on Sunday.
The hosts are still looking for their first home win of the season, while Manuel Pellegrini's side come into this match unbeaten in four league outings.
Aston Villa
© Getty Images
Having lost 3-1 to Tottenham Hotspur on Monday, Villa sit at the bottom of the table with no wins since the opening day of the season. The defeat at White Hart Lane was the seventh in a row for the Midlands side, and eighth in all competitions, following their League Cup exit last week.
Remi Garde's appointment as Tim Sherwood's successor was confirmed ahead of Monday's fixture, but the Frenchman watched on from the stands, seeing his new side fall behind less than three minutes into their match.
The Frenchman has insisted that he will have the final say when it comes to the January transfer window, and revealed that former Aston Villa manager Gerard Houllier convinced him to take up the role.
Villa have secured just one point at home this season, losing four of their five fixtures at Villa Park so far this season, leaving the team with the worst home record in the Premier League this season.
The team have been struggling to score goals, netting just 10 times in their first 11 matches – only Stoke City have scored fewer times. Summer signing Jordan Ayew has scored in their last two league fixtures though.
Defending has also been a problem, with the team keeping just one clean sheet so far, while conceding 20 goals. Villa have let in two or more goals in four of their last five matches.
Recent form: LLLLLL
Recent form (all competitions): LLLLLL
Manchester City
© Getty Images
Manuel Pellegrini's side come into this match at the top of the table, ahead of Arsenal on goal difference after losing just twice in their first 11 outings of the 2015-16 season.
The league leaders struggled to a 2-1 win over 10-man Norwich City last time out, leaving them with three wins in four matches in the league and unbeaten in eight matches in all competitions.
City have been in Champions League action since beating the Canaries, defeating Sevilla on Tuesday to secure a place in the knockout stage of the competition, having also booked a quarter-final spot in the League Cup recently.
Sergio Aguero remains the team's top scorer with six goals, despite the Argentine having been sidelined with a hamstring injury for the last month. The team has more goals than any other side in the Premier League so far this season, netting 26 times.
Summer signings Raheem Sterling and Kevin De Bruyne have been key during Aguero's absence. Sterling has five goals in his last six appearances for the team, while the Belgian has three goals and four assists in the Premier League since joining from Wolfsburg.
The side also have one of the strongest defences in the top flight, having conceded just nine goals so far, while keeping six clean sheets – only local rivals Manchester United have kept their opponents out more often.
Recent form: LLWWDW
Recent form (all competitions): WWDWWW
Team News
© Getty Images
Pellegrini has revealed that David Silva could be ready to return from injury, having not played since picking up an ankle injury during the international break last month.
Aguero is still out, as are Samir Nasri, who picked up a knock in the win over Bournemouth last month, and Pablo Zabaleta, who has a knee injury, but Fabian Delph and Gael Clichy have been back in training this week.
There could be a number of changes for the home side under their new manager, including the return of captain Micah Richards, who served a suspension last time out.
Ashley Westwood is expected to be available, despite picking up a head injury in the defeat to Spurs, while Gabriel Agbonlahor will need a late fitness test after struggling with a tight calf during the loss at White Hart Lane.
Aston Villa possible starting lineup:
Guzan, Hutton, Clark, Lescott, Richards, Ayew, Bacuna, Westwood, Grealish, Gestede, Agbonlahor
Manchester City possible starting lineup:
Hart, Sagna, Kompany, Otamendi, Kolarov, Toure, Fernandinho, Navas, Sterling, De Bruyne, Bony
Head To Head
When the sides met at Villa Park last season, it was the visitors who secured the win, clinching a 2-0 win over Villa.
Aston Villa have won just once in the last 10 meetings between the two teams, while eight of the encounters have resulted in wins for City, including the last three. However, Villa's last three wins over Man City have all come at Villa Park.
In 150 matches, Man City have won 63 times, while Villa have 49 victories.
Video Preview
Hit play below to see what the Sports Mole Sofa had to say about this encounter:
We say: Aston Villa 1-3 Manchester City
Even with the home side looking to impress their new manager, Manchester City's recent form suggests this will be a relatively comfortable win for the visitors. Villa have improved in front of goal in recent weeks, so should keep Pellegrini's side busy at the back, but the visitors will create plenty of chances for themselves.
No Data Analysis info
