By Aston Villa FC

At A Glance

Aston Villa are chasing a fourth consecutive away win in the Premier League when they take on Manchester City on Sunday.

Head coach Unai Emery has masterminded away day successes against Brighton, Tottenham and Southampton since taking charge.

That run followed seven winless league games on their travels to start the campaign, and Villa are now on the cusp of breaking into the top ten as a result.

Aston Villa versus Manchester City in the Premier League.

Manchester City boast the top flight’s best home record, having won nine of 11 matches, scoring 38 goals along the way.

Pep Guardiola’s team, who are five points off top spot, slipped to a 1-0 defeat at Tottenham last time out.

The Citizens’ top scorer Erling Haaland has notched 31 goals in 28 games thus far.

Standout Stats

Manchester City are on a run of 12 consecutive Premier League home victories over Aston Villa.

However, after a 1-1 draw at Villa Park earlier this season, the Villans could avoid defeat against City in both league meetings for the first time since 2000-01.

Aston Villa versus Manchester City in the Premier League.

Manchester City have lost three of their last six matches in all competitions, as many as in their previous 27.

Villa have scored at least once in each of their eight league matches under Emery.

City’s four defeats in the league this season is already more than for the whole of the 2021-22 campaign.

Erling Haaland has scored 18 of his 25 league goals this season at home; he's just two short of equalling the Premier League record for home goals in a single campaign, set by both Cristiano Ronaldo and Fernando Torres in 2007-08.

Aston Villa could win four consecutive away league games for the first time since a run of seven between 2008 and 2009.

Aston Villa versus Manchester City in the Premier League.

City could lose consecutive Premier League games for the first time since December 2018.

Only Manchester United and Arsenal have picked up more points than Villa's 16 since the appointment of Unai Emery.

This game will be Pep Guardiola's 250th Premier League match in charge of City. He has won 183.

Ollie Watkins has five goals in his five previous meetings against the league's reigning champions.

Emery has yet to beat Pep Guardiola as a manager in 12 attempts (D4, L8).

The Last Meeting

Leon Bailey sent Villa Park into raptures when he swept home a shot with 15 minutes remaining against City in September.

The Jamaican’s goal cancelled out Erling Haaland’s opener to earn the hosts a point.

Philippe Coutinho thought he’d scored the winner late on – only for the Brazilian to be denied by the offside flag.

Team News

Bertrand Traoré

Bertrand Traoré is back in training, while Diego Carlos is scheduled to return next week.

Emery has an otherwise clean bill of health ahead of Sunday’s game.

City will be without John Stones, who has a hamstring injury. 

Phil Foden missed out on their last match and could be in line for a return at the Etihad. 

The Boss

“It’s a very difficult match. Manchester City are building a team to win the Champions League and they are getting close to doing it. I’ve played against Manchester City here and in the Champions League, it’s a very difficult match. Maybe it’s going to be more difficult now with the issues they are having. I think they’re going to be together and they are going to try and respond on the pitch against us.”

Unai Emery