Follow live coverage as Manchester City face Aston Villa today in the Premier League. Another top-flight season will be covered in full right here with The Independent, as reigning champions Manchester City look to make it an unprecedented five titles in a row come the end of 2024/25.
The likes of Arsenal and Liverpool will be chasing Pep Guardiola's side, but just as fascinating will be the race for Champions League places, with more teams than ever before having designs on top-four finishes. Chelsea remain big-spending, Manchester United's latest rebuild continues and both Tottenham and Newcastle will expect improvements this year - yet it was Aston Villa who snared fourth last term.
Meanwhile, it's Southampton, Leicester City and Ipswich Town who made it back to the elite after promotion last year and each will have hope they can make it more than a one-year stay. Follow the latest live action from the Premier League below:
Manchester City FC 0 - 0 Aston Villa FC
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
20:05
Stunned into action by nearly going a goal down inside 20 seconds, City push forward and win a corner. Villa deal with it comfortably, though. The early signs are promising - this could be an open contest.
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
20:03
OFF THE POST! Rashford almost opens the scoring! Seconds after kick-off, the Manchester United-owned striker slips away from Dias with some neat footwork, then drives a low shot towards the bottom-right corner. However, it thuds off the base of the post - so close!
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
20:02
Aston Villa kick off, and we are under way at the Etihad!
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
19:59
Both teams are out on the pitch, so kick-off in this crucial Premier League contest is now just moments away!
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
19:59
Headlining five changes to the Aston Villa team that beat Newcastle, Rashford is back in the starting XI upon his return to Manchester. Pau Torres starts at the expense of Mings, who has been left out of the squad. Captain McGinn joins top scorer Watkins on the bench.
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
19:54
McAtee and Kovacic return to Manchester City's starting XI, with the latter making his 200th Premier League appearance; Nico Gonzalez and Savinho drop down to the bench. With Ederson still sidelined by a groin injury, Ortega continues in goal. Of course, Rodri, Nathan Ake, Erling Haaland and John Stones are also unavailable.
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
19:54
SUBS: Robin Olsen, Axel Disasi, Ross Barkley, John McGinn, Ollie Watkins, Andres Garcia, Donyell Malen, Marco Asensio, Ian Maatsen.
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
19:48
ASTON VILLA (4-3-2-1): Emiliano Martinez; Matty Cash, Ezri Konsa, Pau Torres, Lucas Digne; Boubacar Kamara, Amadou Onana; Morgan Rogers, Youri Tielemans, Jacob Ramsey; Marcus Rashford.
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
19:48
SUBS: Scott Carson, Jack Grealish, Jeremy Doku, Nico Gonzalez, Manuel Akanji, Savinho, Abdukodir Khusanov, Phil Foden, Rico Lewis.
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
19:43
Enjoying another fine season under Unai Emery, Aston Villa are aiming to secure back-to-back campaigns in Europe's top competition, but they lie one point behind City in seventh as things stand. Saturday’s 4-1 victory over Newcastle United was the Birmingham club's ninth win in 10 games, with their sole setback coming away to Paris Saint-Germain. After a 2-1 success in December’s reverse fixture, Villa now aim to do the league double over today’s hosts for the first time since 1963 - that would take them above City into fourth.
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
19:43
MANCHESTER CITY (4-2-3-1): Stefan Ortega; Matheus Nunes, Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol, Nico O'Reilly; Ilkay Gundogan, Mateo Kovacic; Bernardo Silva, Kevin De Bruyne, James McAtee; Omar Marmoush.
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
19:38
Following a recent revival, Manchester City sit fifth in the Premier League table, occupying the final Champions League spot - they would move up to third with another win today. The outgoing champions won 2-0 away to Everton at the weekend, and Pep Guardiola has now seen his side take 10 points from four matches while keeping three clean sheets. Furthermore, City have come out on top in all of their last 14 top-flight home games against Aston Villa, scoring at least twice in the last 13.
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
19:33
Hello and welcome to live coverage of today's Premier League clash between Manchester City and Aston Villa!
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
18:00
Follow all the goals and latest action from the Premier League here with The Independent. Team news and line-ups coming up shortly…
