Manchester City travel to the midlands to take on Aston Villa with the hope of showing a return to the form of previous seasons.
City are winless in three and have just one win in their last 11 games in all competitions, seeing them well short in the title race at this moment in time.
However, a few of their key players are edging closer to full fitness and we may see them begin to get more minutes on the pitch starting this Saturday
Here are five things to look out for from the lunchtime kickoff:
Rogers and Watkins causing problems
Aston Villa FC v Brentford FC - Premier League Photo by Aston Villa FC/Aston Villa FC via Getty Images
Ruben Dias’s injury adds to the ever growing list of woes beset on Manchester City at this moment in time.
The 27 year old is easily City’s best defender at this moment in time, and to lose him against Aston Villa and the best strike partnership in the league is a huge blow.
Ollie Watkins runs in behind well and holds the ball up brilliantly, whilst Morgan Rogers is brilliantly technical (from his days in the City academy) and excels driving into large spaces in midfield.
Long balls over the top and counter attacks through the heart of the midfield have been two of City’s biggest weaknesses in recent weeks, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see Villa and their attackers have a field day.
The return of Stones and Akanji
FC Internazionale v Manchester City FC - UEFA Champions League Final 2022/23 Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images
On a more positive note, we should see John Stones and Manuel Akanji return from injury.
Stones has struggled for injuries a lot recently whilst Akanji has battled his way through niggles to make himself fit, and it appears both are now fit and available again.
Both will be hoping to start together as a pair against the Villains and they’ll give City the best chance of winning the game, though they certainly shouldn’t be rushed back into the action with the risk of potential aggravation of their injuries.
It’d be brilliant (and somewhat essential to the chances of a good result) if Akanji and Stones could both start but what would be a huge disaster is if the pair of them sideline themselves for weeks and leave City short at the back again.
City fresh after a midweek rest
Manchester City v Feyenoord - UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD5 Photo by Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
Manchester City v Feyenoord - UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD5 Photo by Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
City’s elimination from the Carabao Cup has worked in their favour.
The likes of Jokso Gvardiol, Erling Haaland, Kevin de Bruyne and Bernardo Silva have needed to play every game recently due to injuries and the lack of a midweek fixture has afforded them a midweek to rest and recover.
Let’s just hope it begins to show on the pitch…
Lewis/Nunes as full backs
Manchester City v Watford - Carabao Cup Third Round Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images
Kyle Walker has run his race (and may well leave in January) and with more options fit again it might be time for City to look at alternatives to start at full back.
One of these might be a duo of Rico Lewis and Matheus Nunes.
Lewis’ development has hit a wall recently but he’s been magnificent on the whole since graduating from the academy.
Nunes, meanwhile, was excellent last week against Manchester United (catastrophic blunder aside) and should be given another chance due to his differing footballing profile compared to his teammates.
It’s hardly ideal, but may be the best the Blues can offer.
The title race on the line
Chelsea FC v Manchester City FC - Premier League Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images
Realistically, a loss tomorrow may well seal City’s fate in the title race.
Depending on other results they could drop down to ninth place in the table, and it’d be one win in 12 matches across all competitions.
That run of form isn’t good enough to escape relegation, let alone challenge for league titles, and it probably won’t matter who they sign in January as they’re unlikely to make such a big impact right away.
A win tomorrow, however, and spirits are instantly raised.
The confidence will be flowing again after City had managed to better the result they achieved in the last few seasons and wins against Everton and Leicester City would further this.
By this point, we’ll be in January, and City can add new bodies and restock ahead of a big push in the second half of the season.
This all depends on the result against Unai Emery’s side, with a win potentially able to kickstart better things to come for the reigning Premier League champions.