An enormously important game in the race for Champions League qualification will be in the spotlight as Manchester City host Aston Villa on Tuesday in Premier League action.
Both clubs are in the thick of the race for a valuable top-five place, which comes with a lucrative place in Europe's top competition.
Man City currently sit fourth, now just a single point above Chelsea after the Blues secured a late comeback at Fulham on Sunday, while Aston Villa are in seventh, level on points with Chelsea and Nottingham Forest. The thin margins mean any potential winner from this contest will find themselves in command of the dramatic race with just four matches remaining.
Incredibly, while seemingly every other clubs works around a litany of injuries, Aston Villa have a fully fit squad at Unai Emery's disposal, meaning the experienced manager can formulate the perfect plan to navigate the 90 minutes. Pep Guardiola can hardly say the same, as he is without a number of players, including the prolific Erling Haaland and his goalkeeper Ederson.
The Sporting News runs through the latest team news and injury updates for both sides as the match draws nearer.
Man City vs. Aston Villa lineups, confirmed starting 11, team news
Pep Guardiola has tried this season to stick behind struggling Man City legends Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan, and it finally paid off against Everton as both played well in last weekend's 2-0 win. Both experienced playmakers start alongside Kevin De Bruyne on his ongoing farewell lap, while Mateo Kovacic is rewarded with a start after his goal from the bench at Goodison Park.
James McAtee returns to the starting XI after a goalscoring outing in City's previous home game against Crystal Palace. Phil Foden and Jeremy Doku are among the substitutes along with Jack Grealish against his boyhood club.
Defenders Nathan Ake and John Stones remain sidelined, while Ederson and Erling Haaland continue to recover from injuries that are likely to keep them out for the next few weeks, although Ederson is probably closer to returning than City's prolific goal scorer.
Man City (4-2-4, right to left): Ortega (GK) — Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O'Reilly — Kovacic, Silva — McAtee, De Bruyne, Gundogan, Marmoush.
Injured: Ederson (groin), Haaland (ankle), Ake (muscle), Stones (thigh), Rodri (ACL).
Suspended: None.
Aston Villa have a squad at full, 100% fitness for Unai Emery to pick from. For a club that made a Champions League quarterfinal run to have such a bill of health at this point in the season is truly remarkable.
Marcus Rashford has six career goals against City and starts at centre-forward, supported by Morgan Rogers and Jacob Ramsey. Marco Asensio, John McGinn, Donyell Malen and Ollie Watkins are all on a strong bench as Youri Tielemans, Boubacar Kamara, and Amadou Onana all start in an imposing midfield three.
Aston Villa (4-3-3, right to left): E. Martinez (GK) — Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne — Onana, Kamara, Tielemans — Ramsey, Rashford, Rogers.
Injured: None.
Suspended: None.
Man City vs. Aston Villa live stream, TV channel
Here's how to watch this Premier League match across selected areas of the world's major regions:
| Date | Time | TV channel | Streaming | |
| USA | Tue, Apr. 22 | 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT | USA Network, Universo | Fubo USA |
| Canada | Tue, Apr. 22 | 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT | — | Fubo Canada |
| UK | Tue, Apr. 22 | 8 p.m. BST | Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League | Sky Go Extra |
| Australia | Wed, Apr. 23 | 7 a.m. AEST | — | Optus Sport |
| India | Wed, Apr. 23 | 12:30 a.m. IST | — | JioCinema |
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