Man City vs Aston Villa LIVE commentary: Citizens look to continue title charge against Champions League-chasing Villa: Kick-off time, team news and talkSPORT coverage

Manchester City's quest to become Premier League champions again pits them against Aston Villa tonight, and is live on talkSPORT 2.

pep guardiolaMen could not win Arsenal at the Etihad at the weekend, meaning they are third as we approach the final games of the season.

He The citizens They were not at their best and only managed one shot on goal against their opponents.

Meanwhile, town They returned from the international break with a 2-0 win over Wolves.

This leaves Unai Emeryon the driver's side to occupy a place in the first fourand they can do the double over City after beating them at Villa Park earlier this year.

Man City vs Aston Villa: Haaland in trouble

It was another game without a goal for Erling Haalandwho seems to be struggling right now.

The striker has only scored four league goals in his last 11 games.

This is a poor return for a player who scored 36 in the top flight last season and started this year in similar form.

But Haaland also offers very little in the build-up and was harshly criticized by the Sky Sports expert. Roy Keane after City's 0-0 draw against Arsenal.

Keane said: “The level of his general game is very poor. And not only today but in general.

“In terms of facing goal, he is the best in the world, but his overall game is very poor.

“He's almost like a League Two player. That's how I see him. His overall game has to improve.

“It will be enough in the coming years. Being this brilliant striker is fantastic, but he has to improve his game in all aspects.”

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• Manchester City have won 17 of their last 18 Premier League home games against Aston Villa (L1), winning the last 13 in a row since a 2-0 defeat in April 2007.
• Following their 1-0 victory at Villa Park in December, Aston Villa are looking to claim their first league double against Manchester City since the 1962-63 campaign.
• Aston Villa have won just one of their last 30 away league games against the reigning top-flight champions (D6 L23), beating Manchester United 1-0 in December 2009. The Villans have lost their last nine matches of this type by an overall score of 29-7.

Man City vs Aston Villa: team news

The hosts hope Ederson will be fit enough to start after missing the weekend.

However, they will most likely be left without Nathan Ake after he limped away.

He joins Kyle Walker and Matheus Nunes on the sidelines, while John Stones could be back on the bench as he continues to battle an abductor problem.

For Villa, star striker Ollie Watkins has been ruled out with a hamstring problem after limping off at half-time.

Jacob Ramsey will also not participate and will join Boubacar Kamara, Tyrone Mings and Emi Buendia on the treatment table.

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• Manchester City have won 27 of their last 29 Premier League games played on Wednesdays (D1 L1), with their only defeat in that run coming against Aston Villa in the first leg. At home, they have won their last 19 league games on Wednesdays and are unbeaten in 30 (26 wins and 4 draws) since a 1-0 defeat to Tottenham in May 2010.
• Manchester City have won 19 of their last 21 Premier League games in April (D1 L1) and are unbeaten in 11 since a 2-1 home defeat to Leeds United in 2021.
• Aston Villa are unbeaten in their last five Premier League away games (W3 D2), although their last away defeat was in Manchester (2-3 against Man Utd in December). The Villans' last longest unbeaten run away from home in the competition was between November 2008 and February 2009 (7).

Man City vs Aston Villa: What has been said?

Guardiola has responded to criticism over his decision to speak to his players in front of cameras at the end of matches.

In his pre-match press conference, he sarcastically said: “I do it for the cameras, my ego.

“I'm the famous person on the team and I need the cameras to watch me so I can go to sleep with incredible satisfaction.

“I always try to criticize the players and let them know how bad they are. Especially when Erling scores three goals, the cameras have to focus on me.”

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• Aston Villa's shot conversion rate is 14.4% this season, the highest recorded (since 1997-98) in a single Premier League campaign. Over the same period, his record of 14.4 shots per game is the third highest in a season, behind 2002-03 (16.2) and 2001-02 (14.7).
• Leon Bailey scored Aston Villa's winning goal against Manchester City in the first leg; The last Villa player to score home and away league goals against the Citizens in the same campaign was Juan Pablo Ángel in 2003-04.
• Moussa Diaby has been involved in four goals in his last four Premier League games for Aston Villa (1 goal, 3 assists), despite starting only one of those games.

Man City vs Aston Villa: date and how to follow

This Premier League clash will take place on Wednesday, April 3.

Kick-off at the Etihad is scheduled for 8:15 p.m.

talkSPORT 2 will have live commentary from the blue half of Manchester with Ian Danter and former Watford striker Troy Deeney guiding you through the action.

talkSPORT.com will also have all the reaction.

To tune in to talkSPORT or talkSPORT 2 via the website, click HERE for the live stream. You can also listen through the talkSPORT appon DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.