Haaland back, Gvardiol at left-back and Foden on fire: Man City predicted lineup vs Aston Villa

Manchester City head to Villa Park on Saturday lunchtime with Erling Haaland fully fit, Antoine Semenyo out injured and a chance to become only the third team in Premier League history to win their first eight league games.

Enzo Maresca’s side sit top on 21 points, three clear of Arsenal, after a 3-2 win over Ipswich Town and a much-changed side’s 5-1 thrashing of AEK Athens in the Champions League. Villa Park is a different challenge, though. City have lost their last three visits, and Unai Emery has won two of his three meetings with Maresca.

Kickoff is at 12:30pm BST, and this is the eleven that gives City the best chance of ending that run.

Man City predicted lineup vs Aston Villa

Man City predicted lineup vs Aston Villa (4-2-3-1): Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Guéhi, Gvardiol; Anderson, Bouaddi; Foden, Cherki, Doku; Haaland

Gianluigi Donnarumma: Man City’s number one at Villa Park

Donnarumma keeps his place in goal. City’s new No.1 has been part of a side that has won every league game so far, and he will need to be at his sharpest against a Villa team that has beaten City in each of the last three meetings at Villa Park.

Matheus Nunes: starts at right-back vs Aston Villa if fit

Nunes was rested in midweek after a minor issue against Ipswich and may need a late fitness test. If he is ready he starts at right-back. If not, Rico Lewis is the obvious replacement after impressing against AEK Athens, with Abdukodir Khusanov another option.

Rúben Dias: scored in City’s last win at Villa Park

Dias scored the last time City won at Villa Park, in a 2-1 victory back in December 2021. His experience is exactly what City need at a ground where they have lost their last three visits.

Marc Guéhi: partnering Dias

Guéhi lines up alongside Dias at the heart of the defence. Villa have Nicolas Jackson leading the line and a No.10 arriving behind him, so the centre-back pairing will be tested.

Joško Gvardiol: Man City’s left-back vs Aston Villa

Nico O’Reilly’s lingering back issue makes Gvardiol the likely starter at left-back. O’Reilly was rested in midweek and should be fit for the squad, but with a back problem the safer call is Gvardiol.

Elliot Anderson: the midfield constant

Anderson anchors the midfield. Whether Maresca goes with a double pivot or a midfield three, he is at the centre of it.

Ayyoub Bouaddi in the Man City predicted lineup vs Aston Villa

Bouaddi partners Anderson in the double pivot. If Maresca wants an even more solid base, Bouaddi could be part of a three alongside Anderson and Enzo Fernández, with Rayan Cherki the man to make way.

Phil Foden: impossible to leave out of the Man City lineup

Foden has four goals in his last two appearances, including a superb Champions League hat-trick against AEK Athens. With Antoine Semenyo out for around eight weeks with a knee injury, he is the natural choice on the right flank.

Rayan Cherki: the creative link

Cherki takes the No.10 role, providing the link between midfield and Haaland. He is the one most at risk if Maresca decides to tighten things up with an extra midfielder.

Jérémy Doku: width on the left vs Aston Villa

Semenyo’s injury leaves Maresca relying on Doku and Iliman Ndiaye out wide, and Doku gets the nod on the left to stretch Villa’s back line.

Erling Haaland: fresh and 100% fit for Villa Park

Maresca has confirmed Haaland is “100% available” after resting him against AEK Athens, and the foot knock he picked up against Ipswich is no concern. He has 12 goals in 10 games this season, but just one in five against Villa, which he will be keen to fix.

Man City bench and selection doubts vs Aston Villa

Mateo Kovačić was another to sit out midweek and may need a late fitness test, while Rico Lewis and Abdukodir Khusanov are the main alternatives in defence. Iliman Ndiaye is the back-up option out wide with Semenyo injured, and Enzo Fernández is in contention if Maresca opts for a midfield three, much as he did against Crystal Palace earlier in the season. Fernández’s summer move from Chelsea gives Maresca plenty of options in the middle.

City have won all seven league games so far, but a fourth straight defeat at Villa Park would be their first three-in-a-row in this fixture since the 1960s. With Haaland fresh, this lineup gives them every chance of avoiding it.

Man City predicted lineup vs Aston Villa (4-2-3-1): Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Guéhi, Gvardiol; Anderson, Bouaddi; Foden, Cherki, Doku; Haaland