Manchester City head to Aston Villa in dire need of a result, both to boost morale and their faint hopes of defending their Premier League title.
City's dramatic derby collapse against Manchester United left them nine points behind leaders Liverpool in the standings as their dreadful run of form stretched to eight defeats and just one win in 11 games in all competitions.
Injuries have made matters extremely difficult for manager Pep Guardiola, but pressure is on the City boss to find a solution to their problems and get their season back on track before the turn of the year.
Yet Saturday's early kickoff represents another stern challenge. Villa won this same fixture last season thanks to an outstanding performance, and although Unai Emery's side have found it tough to balance league and UEFA Champions League commitments this term, there is no question that they remain a tough test — especially on home soil.
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Aston Villa vs. Man City lineups, confirmed starting 11, team news
Villa look to be going with a 4-3-3 set-up, with Amadou Onana coming into midfield to partner Boubacar Kamara and Youri Tielemans. Matty Cash reverts to right-back, the Poland international having played on the wing during the defeat to Forest.
Emery does not expect Jacob Ramsey to be back from a muscle issue until early January, but Leon Bailey is back on the bench after recovering from a "small" thigh injury.
Tyrone Mings has sat out Villa's past three games in all competitions but is fit enough to make the matchday squad, having overcome an illness.
Aston Villa starting lineup (4-3-3, right to left): Martinez (GK) — Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne — Tielemans, Kamara, Onana — McGinn, Duran, Rogers
Aston Villa subs: Mings, Barkley, Buendia, Watkins, Nedeljkovic, Maatsen, Olsen, Bogarde, Bailey
Injured: Ramsey (thigh), Mings (illness, doubt)
Suspended: None
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News that Ruben Dias is facing four weeks on the sidelines represents another body blow to Guardiola, although Manuel Akanji and John Stones returning to the lineup means City's defence looks much more robust than it has recently. Rico Lewis is available after a one-match suspension and comes straight back into the lineup in place of the under-fire Kyle Walker at right-back.
Jack Grealish starts against his former club, with Phil Foden the No. 10 in place of the benched Kevin De Bruyne. Goalkeeper Ederson "does not feel good", according to Guardiola, and is not in the matchdays squad.
Erling Haaland has scored just three times in 11 league matches, but despite speculation of a falling out with Guardiola, he leads the line.
Man City starting lineup (4-2-3-1, right to left): Ortega (GK) — Lewis, Stones, Akanji, Gvardiol — Gundogan, Kovacic — Silva, Foden, Grealish — Haaland
Man City subs: Walker, Ake, Doku, De Bruyne, Savinho, Carson, Simpson-Pusey, O'Reilly, McAtee
Injured: Rodri (knee), Bobb (leg), Ake (thigh), Dias (muscular)
Suspended: None
Aston Villa vs. Man City live stream, TV channel
Here's how to watch this Premier League match across selected areas of the world's major regions:
| Region | TV | Streaming |
| USA | USA Network, Universo | Fubo, NBC Sports app/site, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo |
| Canada | — | Fubo |
| UK | TNT Sports 1 | discovery+ |
| Australia | — | Optus Sport |
| India | — | Disney+ Hotstar, JioTV |
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