Game Week 17 Predictions: City's resurgence to start at Villa

Aston Villa vs Manchester City preview: City look to bounce back after poor form, while Villa aim to keep up strong home record.

Will Aston Villa heap more misery on Manchester City or the long road to recovery for City begins from here? (Photo credit: Opta)

 Aston Villa vs. Manchester City

Villa Park

1:30 pm

We're currently in a period of intense games, so it's important to set reminders to stay updated. It's interesting to note that we have games almost every day until the end of the year, marking the winter finale of the Premier League.

Manchester City and Aston Villa are separated by just two points, sitting in fifth and seventh place, respectively. One is looking like a complete opposite of the swashbuckling entertainers they used to be, and the other is looking like they forgot how to surprise teams with results.

Villa made it to the Champions League spots last season, but they will need a huge collapse from teams above them while winning almost every other game they play until the end of the season to stand any realistic chance of repeating that feat.

Despite being completely out of the race for the title, many people still consider Manchester City to be a contender. They’re beginning to welcome a few players back into the fold, but when will they stop losing games?

This fixture is one that has jeopardy written all over it. Manchester City typically enjoys great results against Villa, especially under Pep, but Villa’s home form could be really impressive; it could also end up being a game of two teams who don’t want to lose.

Manchester City welcomed Manuel Akanji and John Stones back into the fold, but Ruben Dias is not going to be available until the new year due to the injury he sustained in the derby loss to Manchester United last weekend.

Pep Guardiola insists his team will be back; he only wants his squad intact; however, there are growing feelings across many quarters that the champions will open their wallet in the January window to sign players in the face of the current crisis.

They've only managed one victory out of ten games, with eight of them ending in defeats—who could have predicted? They will bravely approach this game; they know they only need one win to turn things around. Could this be the turning point?

Tyron Mings and Jacob Ramsey are the only absentees for Unai Emery’s side; the Spaniard will decide if he wants to go with youngster John Dhuran again or restore the experienced Ollie Watkins back to the starting eleven against the Cityzens.

Phil Foden and Kevin De Bruyne, who have not yet demonstrated their full potential this season, are poised to make a strong comeback. This should be enjoyable to watch in the sunshine at Villa Park.

Verdict: Manchester City is to win.