Pundits agree on Manchester City prediction ahead of Aston Villa clash

Manchester Metropolis are again in Premier League motion on Wednesday night as they tackle Aston Villa.

Pep Guardiola‘s males face Dean Smith’s facet on the Etihad Stadium, kicking off at 6pm, as they appear to proceed their spectacular type.

City are unbeaten in 9 league matches and have gained 5 in a row.

They’ve additionally stored seven clear sheets of their earlier 9 outings.

Sunday’s 4-0 victory over Crystal Palace took them to inside reaching distance of Manchester United, with a sport in hand.

United tackle Fulham at Craven Cottage on Wednesday night time (8.15pm) – however Metropolis go head-to-head with Villa first.

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Villa haven’t performed a league sport since New Yr’s Day – after they misplaced 2-1 at Outdated Trafford – as a consequence of a coronavirus outbreak on the membership.

Michael Owen is backing Metropolis to expire 3-1 winners towards their West Midlands opponents.

“Manchester Metropolis have hit a wealthy vein of type. Sunday’s 4-0 win towards Crystal Palace was of the kind of efficiency we’ve turn out to be accustomed to through the years,” stated former United and Liverpool striker Owen in his newest BetVictor blog.

“Their huge hitters all appear to be discovering type on the proper time which is ominous for the remainder of the Premier League.

“Villa will arrive right here recent after their calendar was interrupted as a consequence of postponements.

“I believe they’ll be pleased to surrender territory to Metropolis within the hope they will sucker-punch them on the counter. As I discussed, they’ll have recent legs, so it’s one thing that Pep will probably be planning to nullify I’m positive.

“I do imagine these ways may work for Villa to a sure extent. Nonetheless, Metropolis are taking part in too effectively simply now to be missed and I believe they’ll notch up one other win of their quest for prime spot.”

BBC Sport pundit Mark Lawrenson goes for the same final result, predicting a 3-0 Metropolis victory.

“A coronavirus outbreak at Aston Villa means their first workforce haven’t performed since they went to Outdated Trafford on New Yr’s Day, which was the most effective a part of three weeks in the past,” stated former Liverpool defender Lawrenson.

“The Villa gamers who didn’t check optimistic will nonetheless have skilled so they are going to be match however match sharpness will probably be a problem – you lose your contact when you do not play for that period of time.

“For those who did have Covid-19, we do not know if they are going to be struggling any long-term results.

Manchester Metropolis shrugged off the difficulties brought on by a Covid-19 outbreak to brush apart Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

First-half targets from Ilkay Gundogan, Phil Foden and Kevin De Bruyne successfully ended the match earlier than the break with the house facet solely in a position to rating a comfort in damage time.

It places the Blues in good coronary heart forward of the Carabao Cup semi-final towards Manchester United at Outdated Trafford on Wednesday.

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“Their scenario is much from splendid in any circumstance, nevertheless it’s particularly powerful with them going to Etihad Stadium to face a Manchester Metropolis facet who’re going extraordinarily effectively.

“By beating Crystal Palace on Sunday, Metropolis grew to become the primary top-flight workforce to win 5 successive league video games this season and I’m backing Pep Guardiola’s facet to make it six in a row right here.

“That ought to most likely be sufficient to ship them prime – for a few hours a minimum of.”