Strong side predicted v Aston Villa

Some players rested, some players possibly returning just in time. C’mon Blues!

v Aston Villa

Etihad Stadium

Predicted line-up, subs and outcome:

(Number correct from the starting line-up in the last game: 7/11).

Fluid 4-1-5-0 / 4-6-0 / 4-3-3:

_____________________________________________

 

Sterling_____________Foden________________Silva

 

_________Gundogan_________De Bruyne_________

 

____________________Rodri_____________________

Cancelo_________________________________Walker

 

___________Laporte___________Stones___________

 

 

____________________Ederson___________________

Subs: Steffen, Zinchenko, Ake, Mbete, Fernandinho, Grealish, Palmer, Mahrez, Jesus.

Ederson in net.

With news of two England international defenders back in training on Thursday after initial assessments had ruled ‘em out for the rest of the season; there’s a chance we could see a more-familiar back-4 of Joao, Aymeric, John & Kyle on Sunday afternoon (4:00pm KO BST). That’s what I’m going for.

Ahead of that line, Rodders is the deeper of the midfielders whilst ahead of him should see a strong-looking, fluid, interchangeable ‘attacking 5’ of Raheem, Ilkay, Phil, Kevin & Bernardo.

Zack to be the reserve stopper; Oleksandr, Nathan & Luke make up the standby defenders on the side. A last outing for Fernandinho with a City badge on sees him make up midfield / wing / attacking options in ‘the 9’; as he’s joined by Jack, Cole, Riyad & Gabriel.

Notable absences:

-       Benjamin Mendy – Suspended by the club until further notice.

-       Ruben Dias – Injured.

Do I agree with Pep’s (predicted) line-up?

Absolutely.

Result? I’m very confident of a win - eventually, I think it could be by a decent scoreline too.

Any doubts; any nerves? Of course, with so much riding on us needing a win to be sure of lifting the trophy I do have a few butterflies ‘in there’; even as I type this 31 hours before kick-off. If I was to put into percentages how much doubt I have that we won’t get the 3 points and, therefore, potentially letting Liverpool leapfrog us to the title on the last day, then I say it stands at about 3% at the moment.

But I see a few of our better players - those who were rested in midweek - adding to 'the 11' tomorrow and with a potentially more-stable defence also; we’re just gonna have too much for a side who, although they are apparently slightly better away from home than they are at Villa Park, according to their manager’s own words recently; aren’t in good form at all - L L L L D W W L D D.

For me, it's a home win and a 4^th Premier League title in 5 seasons!

Last season’s, corresponding pre-match prediction and result…

Prediction: Win

Result: Won

(Pre-match blog posting from that game)

Expected weather conditions during the game: Overcast but it SHOULD be dry (there’s a small chance of a few spots of rain around about KO time) and fairly warm at 17C. Bit of a south-westerly breeze but no conditions that will affect the gameplay whatsoever. Decent conditions for both players and fans, I’d say.

Solidarity