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Aston Villa will be aiming to record three consecutive victories in the Premier League on Saturday, but Dean Smith’s side will be faced with a serious test in overcoming Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City at the Etihad.

Back-to-back wins over Norwich and Brighton have lifted Villa to 12th in the league table, but Smith could be wise to switch his starting XI for the visit to the reigning Premier League champions.

For City, they will be looking to build on the impressive dismantling of Atlanta in the Champions League from mid-week, but Guardiola could also rotate his starting XI and utilise the full extent of his squad’s depth for the visit of Villa.

Given City’s home form, having lost just once so far this season, a compromising of Villa’s typical attacking principles may be necessary on Saturday.

The extent to which Smith opts to construct the attacking and defensive dynamics in his starting XI will be central to whether the West Midlands side opt to play for all three points or defend and attempt to continue their unbeaten run in the league. 

Here is our predicted starting XI for Villa’s trip to the Etihad this Saturday.

Smith is unlikely to alter his backline, with Tom Heaton marshalling a defensive unit of Frédéric Guilbert, Bjorn Engels, Tyrone Mings and Matt Targett. The latter put in an extremely impressive display that culminated in scoring the match-winning goal against Brighton last weekend.

It is in midfield where Smith will be faced with a considerable dilemma.

Conor Hourihane has shone since returning to the starting XI, notching a goal and an assist whilst being extremely unlucky to have seen his strike in the victory over Brighton ruled out following consultation with VAR.

The Irishman’s return to Smith’s first-choice XI has coincided with an unbeaten run of three games, yet defensive solidity in midfield will have to take precedence and in that respect, Douglas Luiz is the far more natural option.

A visit to City is likely to mark Villa’s sternest test yet, and therefore Smith is likely to drop Hourihane in order to play two holding midfielders in the form of Marvelous Nakamba alongside Luiz.

Upfront, Wesley Moraes can be expected to retain his starting berth, whilst the attacking trident of Jack Grealish, John McGinn and Anwar El Ghazi look set to try and hurt Guardiola’s side on the counter-attack.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…

West Brom regained possession of first place in the Championship following their victory over Cardiff City at the Hawthorns on Saturday.

After losing their unbeaten record in midweek at Leeds United, the Baggies showed incredible character to put that behind them and carry on as if nothing major had occurred.

Their enigmatic loan duo Matheus Pereira and Grady Diangana slammed home two delightful efforts from range to hand Albion a two-goal advantage at half-time.

Charlie Austin then finally bagged his first league goal for the club with a low-driven effort after beating the Bluebirds’ backline with a burst of pace.

Though, it is at this very point that manager Slaven Bilic could have cost them the game.

According to the Croatian post-game, he wanted his side to bag a fourth goal despite being already three to the good.

He makes a perfectly valid point in reference to the historic 2005 Champions League final, where Liverpool came from behind against AC Milan to beat them on penalties, despite being 3-0 down at half-time.

However, it might actually show that he has a lack of faith in his side to close out results when under pressure to do so.

His comments would have had an adverse effect if his players did indeed feel that way inclined, especially considering they had guided the team to nine straight games without defeat before this week.

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Their character also shouldn’t be tested as they rank first for points gained after falling behind – by a considerable margin too, having picked up 15 points from eight deficits.

Bilic’s men have only kept one clean sheet this season, so with the game at 3-0, it would appear likely that an opposition goal would be coming, so that may add some strength to the Croatian’s comments.

Either way, he should be backing his side to see out the victory as within five minutes of netting the third, substitute Danny Ward had hit one back, and that then soon was doubled to make the game nervously poised in the final stages. Is it any surprise there’s a lack of faith? Arguably not.

It remains to be seen how they would have reacted without his comments about ‘needing a fourth goal,’ but it must have played some part considering they almost crumbled to be on the receiving end of their own ‘Istanbul’ up in the west Midlands.

Romaine Sawyers did eventually get the goal his boss desperately wanted with pretty much the final kick of the game as he slotted home from Pereira’s pass.

However, if anything, Bilic’s comments show exactly why they did need that fourth goal.

Gareth Southgate has a real conundrum at the moment.

Having a plethora of talented players at your disposal isn’t exactly the worst headache to have, but it is still an issue he needs to solve before Euro 2020.

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One position that is very competitive within the Three Lions squad is centre-back.

There are a number of quality defenders to choose from in the England squad, and when Stuart Pearce and Phil Babb were asked to name their best XI, there was some disagreement as to who should start in the heart of the defence.

Pearce wants to see Joe Gomez start alongside Harry Maguire, while Babb believes that Tyrone Mings is the better option alongside the Manchester United man.

It’s interesting to see a man who played over 150 games for the Reds opt to snub a current Liverpool player, especially one with Gomez’s potential.

It remains to be seen who Southgate actually picks to start at the back, but based on Pearce and Babb’s selections it seems like it’s going to be a tough choice.

AC Milan are keeping a very close eye on Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric as they seek a replacement for 33-year-old Lucas Biglia, reports Calcio Mercato.

The recent report from the Italian outlet states Biglia’s future at Milan is under threat and there is a strong possibility that the Argentine could leave the club in the January window.

Indeed, Biglia’s contract expires at the end of the season and with a renewal looking unlikely, it seems the Rossoneri are looking to cash in on the former Lazio man in January.

Another reported possible route for the midfielder is Qatar, where the transfer window does not shut until September 30, but either way, it seems Milan are preparing for life without him.

The report claims Milan’s go-to man is Real Madrid star Modric, who was also heavily linked with city rivals Inter Milan last season.

Modric, who is a Milan fan according to Calcio Mercato, would move to Milan under the right conditions, such as if the Italian side can seal Champions League football.

So far this season, Modric has played just 78 minutes for Madrid but he still managed to bag himself an assist and prove that even at 34 years old, the current Ballon d’Or holder would no doubt be capable of filling the boots of Biglia if he were to sign.

In today’s Manchester City roundup, we take a look at what news has been making the headlines for Pep Guardiola’s side. David Silva could be set to join David Beckham in the MLS for his new club Inter Miami, City legend Shaun Goater backs Gabriel Jesus to rival Sergio Aguero, and John Stones could be set to put pen to paper on a new deal.

Silva to join Inter Miami

Report: In a report from the Independent, City legend Silva could be set to become the face of new MLS franchise Inter Miami next season, with the report saying he is ‘likely’ to join the club.

Verdict: It has been known for some time now that Silva will be leaving the Etihad at the end of the season after he announced he will leave back in June, shortly after claiming his fourth Premier League title with the club.

Of course, this has attracted much attention, with Manchester United legend David Beckham now reportedly seeking his signature for his new MLS club, which will play it’s inaugural campaign next year. This season, Silva is still continuing to represent himself as one of Europe’s best right now, providing four assists in five league games so far.

Furthermore, he remains a regular for City and having won 12 trophies at the club, Beckham will not just get one of English football’s greats, but also a man who could bring a new level to the MLS.

Goater backs Jesus

Report: Citizens legend Shaun Goater, when speaking to City officials, heaped the praise on Gabriel Jesus and backs the Brazilian to rival the league’s current top scorer, Sergio Aguero. Goater said: “I think that Gabriel will have a huge part to play this season.

“I really think we could see him playing a huge part and I think he will really be pushing Sergio this season when it comes to goals.

“Gab handled all that pressure in Brazil. If we put a neutral hat on, what’s more pressure than playing for England? You’d probably say Brazil. So, his confidence is right up there. He has started great and I think he’ll just carry on from there.”

Verdict: Jesus has entered his second full season at the Etihad, having signed from Palmeiras with massive expectation back in 2016. Jesus has had a tough time with injuries and played just 87 times, however the former Palmeiras man has registered an impressive turnover of 37 goals over that period.

Currently, it is hard for him to get into the side, with Aguero in astonishing form and topping the charts for most goals this campaign. However, Jesus is still only 22 and with Aguero now 31, soon the Brazilian will take the spot as City’s main man. So, this is the season where the Brazilian must really kick on and stamp his authority on the team sheet before Guardiola considers other options.

Stones set for contract talks

Report: According to La Gazzetta dello Sport journalist Nicolo Schira, centre-back John Stones is set for contract talks with Manchester City, in a deal which could see the Englishman earn €7M a year and sign until 2024.

Verdict: It is no surprise to see Guardiola want to sign Stones on a long term deal, with club legend Vincent Kompany now gone and the club seeking a man to fill his shoes. Indeed, Stones has been important for City winning back-to-back Premier League titles, averaging a performance rating of 6.87 for the Citizens last campaign.

Guardiola adores defenders who can play out from the back, and Stones has been a favourite in doing that throughout his career. Last season, the 25-year-old made on average 73 passes at a 94.2% success rate , proving to be a very worthy addition to the Guardiola style.

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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has suggested that he would rather Tottenham Hotspur win the Premier League than Manchester City and Liverpool, according to the Daily Star.

Spurs are third in the table, five points behind both the Blues and the Reds, who are separated only on goal difference.

What’s the word?

United sit fourth and play Liverpool this weekend, with the opportunity to issue a serious blow to Jurgen Klopp’s hopes of lifting the trophy in May.

However, they are seemingly out of the reckoning in the title race – they are nine points behind Spurs and 14 behind City.

It would take a significant collapse from the top three clubs for United to have any hope of being champions again and Solskjaer was asked on Friday who he would like to be crowned at the end of the season.

“I’ve not really focused on the [other] teams and what they’re doing,” Solskjaer said, per the Daily Star.

“I’m focusing on us and what we have to do to get to where we want to be.

“It’s a three horse race for the title and fourth that’s my focus.”

However, when asked if he would prefer that Spurs are the ones celebrating, he added: “I don’t get myself involved in that but maybe.”

An understandable long shot

Solskjaer is perhaps the personification of the United Way and this question will surely have riled him.

It is understandable, then, that he chose Spurs over his club’s eternal rivals City and Liverpool.

Mauricio Pochettino’s side have been in fine form this season but it is a long shot at best.

Spurs still have to play both Liverpool and City away from home but they will surely have to win every game between now and the end of the season if they are to have any chance of being champions.

Former Wigan & Fulham man, Jimmy Bullard recently showed that he’s still got it! Check out the video below…

It is not beyond the realms of possibility but it is incredibly unlikely.

Solskjaer, though, knows all about incredibly unlikely triumphs, having scored the winning goal in the last minute of the famed 1999 Champions League final.

Perhaps history will repeat itself and he will again get his wish.

[ad_pod ]The FIFA 20 ratings have caused a lot of controversy amongst the Leicester City camp this week.Wes Morgan tweeted his disdain about the way EA Sports have judged him, especially his speed.This led to a number of his teammates tweeting in his defence, and now the official club account has provided video evidence to show that the in-game rating he received is wrong.

The Foxes aimed to prove that their captain is quicker than the 29 pace rating he has been given in this year’s game.

In order to dispute the rating he was given they timed him running the length of the pitch.

He clocked a time of 9.59 seconds, convenientlyÂ0.01 second slower than Usain Bolt’s 100m world record pace.

Watch Leicester City Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

Unfortunately for Morgan, the footage was quite clearly sped up, so he doesn’t have the pace of a world-class sprinter.

Ben Chilwell tweeted that he found the video hilarious.

While the footage may be funny, it doesn’t do Morgan’s case for changing his rating any favours as the club had to edit the clip to make him seem quicker than he actually is. Sorry Wes.

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Aston Villa journalist Ashley Preece says the club ‘like’ Manchester United’s Jesse Lingard, who could leave Old Trafford this month. 

The lowdown

Villa manager Steven Gerrard, who sits third in Liverpool’s all-time appearance list, has already done business with one of his former nemeses this January, with Lucas Digne arriving from the Reds’ local rivals Everton in a £27million deal.

Philippe Coutinho has also joined on loan from FC Barcelona, with goalkeeper Robin Olsen making a temporary switch from AS Roma.

At present, it’s relegation-threatened Newcastle United who are ‘pushing very hard’ to land Lingard, though The Red Devils are resisting their efforts to take him on loan. They would prefer a permanent deal for the £18million-rated asset.

Villa have trimmed their attacking ranks this month, allowing Anwar El-Ghazi and Jaden-Philogence Bidace to leave. With Trezeguet also potentially on the way out, you can understand why they might want another body.

The latest

In a fan Q & A, The Birmingham Mail’s Preece was asked whether Lingard would ‘be interested in coming’.

He replied: “Lingard is admired by Villa, I can say that,” before adding in a separate answer that “Villa like him”.

“Philogene-Bidace now heading to Stoke on loan, and Trezeguet looking to be loaned out, there could be scope but Newcastle are expected to step up their interest and take him this month rather than for free in the summer.”

The verdict

Newcastle seem determined to snap up Lingard, but negotiations are proving difficult, so maybe Villa will look to capitalise.

As long as United aren’t overly concerned by the optics of doing business with one of their arch-rivals’ legends, it could be doable.

Lingard may find the move more appealing, knowing that if he joins Newcastle, he could find himself looking for another transfer in the summer if they get relegated.

The Englishman notched 16 direct goal involvements in just half a season at West Ham, and he could help propel Villa into European contention in the next couple of seasons.

In other news, fans loved this confirmation from the club.

Everton are set to be without Ben Godfrey for the coming weeks after the Englishman was forced off in the early stages of the Toffees’ 4-1 FA Cup fourth-round win over Brentford.

What’s the latest?

According to new manager Frank Lampard, it isn’t sounding good. The 43-year-old said: “It’s a hamstring injury which is to be assessed.

“We’ll have to let it settle for two days and then scan it, not good. He’ll be missing for a period of time depending on the severity of the injury, but it’s a hamstring.”

The 24-year-old only lasted 14 minutes of the Englishman’s first game as Everton boss before suffering the injury, being replaced by Yerry Mina who later scored the first goal of the Lampard era.

Fans will be sweating

Having made the cut for his first game, it appears as though Godfrey will be high up the pecking order under the new Everton manager, at least would’ve been for the opening matches.

Moreover, Lampard opted to play a 3-4-3 formation against the Bees which means that he’ll need a handful of fit centre-backs available at all times to continue with the same set-up, which makes the defender’s injury a particularly hefty blow, one that will surely leave supporters sweating.

Although this season has been somewhat of a disaster so far for the Merseyside club, Godfrey has been a regular, making 17 Premier League appearances, having been out of the squad for the first three matches of the campaign.

In fairness, none of Everton’s centre-backs have been particularly great this campaign with the Toffees conceding 35 goals in their 21 league matches thus far.

Furthermore, the Blues have only mustered three clean sheets in their 24 matches across all competitions with their regular leakiness at the back something Lampard will have to see to immediately.

When it comes to matches played this season, only Michael Keane has played more at centre-back than Godfrey, playing 19 games in the top-flight.

There have certainly been glimpses of promise though from the former Shrewsbury defender after his move from Norwich City in October 2020 and, at 24, Godfrey will only improve.

In other news: One Everton ace proved Lampard wrong with an outstanding performance yesterday

As per club insider Claret & Hugh, a West Ham United transfer update has come to light involving boss David Moyes, Manchester United forward Jesse Lingard and owners GSB.

The Lowdown: West Ham eye Lingard move…

In what is potentially the worst kept secret of the January transfer window, Moyes has firmly set his sights on Lingard as a top target with multiple reliable sources confirming the club’s interest.

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Both ExWHUemployee and Jack Rosser of The Evening Standard both say that the England international is up there among Moyes’ top transfer agendas for the winter window.

Amid his precarious contract situation, with Lingard’s deal at Old Trafford set to expire at the end of 2021/2022, West Ham could sign him as a free agent in the summer or agree a cheap fee with the Red Devils in January.

The Latest: Insider shares Lingard update…

Sharing some information, insider Claret & Hugh explain that West Ham’s boss is indeed eyeing a Lingard move – going on to say that the Scotsman has personally told owners GSB that he wants to sign the player.

As well as this, the Irons source claims that ‘a move will be attempted’ as a result before the January transfer window shuts its doors.

The Verdict: Get it done?

The Lingard saga has been dragging on since the beginning of the winter window and last summer, yet his numbers suggest that he would be the perfect addition.

Racking up nine goals and four assists in just 16 Premier League starts, being called ‘sensational’ by former Arsenal man Nigel Winterburn, the 29-year-old was electric on loan with the Hammers last season.

His influence going forward would be major boost for Moyes as he aims to keep West Ham in the mix for a Champions League qualifying spot.

However, if this continues to drag on, we believe all efforts should be put towards signing a striker alternative to Michail Antonio.

In other news: Talks ongoing…ExWHUemployee shares promising update out of West Ham, find out more here.