Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City lost 2-1 at Aston Villa on Saturday as the reigning Premier League champions have now lost six of their last eight Premier League games.
WATCH — Full replay
Jhon Duran’s early goal set Villa up to counter City time and time again, while the excellent Morgan Rogers finished things off in the second half. Phil Foden scored a consolation goal in stoppage time.
MORE — Pep Guardiola reaction
Aston Villa have now moved on to 28 points, jumping ahead of Man City in the table as they remain on 27 points and are in a real scrap to finish in the top four.
Crumbling City can’t stop counters and are battling for the top four
Manchester City have a huge problem: they cannot stop teams countering on them. After just 20 seconds at Aston Villa they should have been 1-0 down after letting one ball through the middle catch out their entire defense but Jhon Duran missed a big chance. He didn’t make the same mistake 15 minutes later as he put Villa up after another counter. Morgan Rogers made it 2-0 in the second half from, you guessed it, another counter. Every single time City gave the ball away in midfield or attack, Villa needed to connect two passes and they were in on goal. Yes, City have defensive injuries. Yes, they are low in confidence. But it was remarkable to see Pep Guardiola having an entire week to work on City’s tactics for this game and just keep making the same mistake over and over. This is the team which has won four-straight Premier League titles and completed an historic treble just over 12 months ago. One injury to Rodri doesn’t explain how they’re wide-open defensively, have conceded 27 goals in their last 12 games and can’t control games or sustain attacks. This is bigger. City have crumbled. Mentally and physically they look finished. By the time the busy festive period is over they could well be in midtable and at this point they will be starting to switch their focus away from an unlikely title bid to making sure they somehow finish in fourth to claim a Champions League spot. It wasn’t just the play on the pitch which was most concerning in the loss at Villa on Saturday. It was the negative body language and the way City basically just gave up and accepted their fate. Guardiola has a humongous job on his hand to rebuild City’s confidence and try to find some kind of solution to stop them from giving up big chances galore in each and every game. For a squad of this quality the way they’re playing is unacceptable.
Aston Villa vs Manchester City player ratings (via FotMob.com)
What’s next?
Aston Villa head to Newcastle on Thursday, December 26 on Boxing Day. Manchester City host Everton on Boxing Day.
Aston Villa vs Manchester City score: 2-1
Duran 16', Rogers 65'; Foden 94'
Aston Villa vs Manchester City live updates! - By Joe Prince-Wright
Foden finishes in stoppage time — Aston Villa 2-1 Manchester City
Phil Foden runs into the box and Digne steps on the ball and it pops straight back to Foden who finishes well. Surely City aren’t back in this!?
Watkins denied by Ortega
Rogers set up another counter and substitute Watkins is in. But he goes a little wide and his shot on goal is saved by Ortega and then collected. It is so easy for Villa to catch City out on the counter.
Rogers slots home a superb counter! — Aston Villa 2-0 Manchester City
Brilliant counter from Villa as Rogers leads it and then plays in McGinn. Lovely pass from McGinn to put it on a plate for Rogers to slot home a low shot.
Less than 30 minutes to go
Pep Guardiola’s side have just had their second touch of the second half in Villa’s penalty box. They aren’t looking threatening at all. Pep looks distressed on the sidelines.
Villa should be 2-0 up!
Rogers hits the post after some lovely link-up play between him and Duran. A lovely flick from the latter leads to Rogers bulldozing past a tackle but his low shot hits the post.
Duran scores... but he’s offside
Konsa plays it through and Duran is in and finishes, but the flag is up and he’s clearly offside. City’s high-line almost caught out again.
Cash smashes it wide at the near post
Villa counter and Duran goes down off the ball but there’s nothing there. Cash then drives into the box but his shot is wide.
Kyle Walker on for John Stones at half time
Pep Guardiola has made a half time switch with Kyle Walker coming on for John Stones. That means Rico Lewis has gone to left back with Walker at right back and Akanji and Gvardiol at center back. Perhaps Stones was rushed back from injury too quickly?
Half time: Aston Villa 1-0 Manchester City
Brilliant start to the half from Villa and Duran made the most of it with his calm finish. City did hang in there and didn’t crumble but Villa look so dangerous on the counter. Guardiola will surely call on De Bruyne, Doku and Savinho soon.
Gvardiol heads over
Josko Gvardiol leads a counter and strides forward after playing in Grealish. A lovely cross from the former Villa man finds Gvardiol but he just gets too much on his header and it flies over.
First big chance for City!
Foden and Lewis combine and the former has a low curling shot pushed wide by Martinez. Good play from City and that is a very good save from Martinez.
City have not responded well to going behind
They’ve had a lot of the ball but have done very little with it. Villa are just sitting in and letting City have it, then look so dangerous on the break when they win it back. City are looking so vulnerable.
Duran puts Villa ahead! — Aston Villa 1-0 Manchester City
Tielemans with a lovely turn and ball forward to Rogers and he squares for Duran to slot home. That was coming and Villa deservedly lead and as it stands they’re going above City in the table and into fifth place.
City denied, then Akanji clears at the other end
What a start at Villa Park! City are almost in but Grealish can’t make the most of a good chance, then Villa break and Akanji makes a vital clearance.
Villa have had three big chances inside the first two minutes!
Aston Villa should be 1-0 up less than 30 seconds in! McGinn presses Gvardiol and Duran is in. His low shot lacks power and Ortega saves. From the corner Ortega then makes an incredible save to deny Torres. Then Onana heads another corner over. Straight away Manchester City on the back foot.
Stefan Ortega comes up with two HUGE early saves to keep Aston Villa off the scoresheet in the first 90 seconds. 🫨
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) December 21, 2024
📺 USA Network | #AVLMCI pic.twitter.com/tCxb9uzJ1s
Aston Villa lineup
Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne; Kamara; McGinn, Tielemans, Onana, Rogers; Duran
Manchester City lineup
Ortega; Stones, Akanji, Gvardiol; Lewis, Kovacic; Silva, Foden, Gundogan, Grealish; Haaland
Aston Villa team news, focus
How about a note for the string-pullers? Youri Tielemans, Morgan Rogers, and Lucas Digne have cued up so many chances for Villa. And then there’s Ollie Watkins, who is getting sharper. If he can finish more of his big chances — he currently has a league-best 15 big chances and seven goals — Villa will be back in the top four.
OUT: Jacob Ramsey (thigh)
Manchester City team news, focus
Jack Grealish will be in focus as he goes back home, and he’s on a long run without a goal. Grealish last scored when he capped off a three-match goal streak on Dec. 16, 2023 at home to Palace. That will be over a year come kickoff.
OUT: Ruben Dias (muscular), Rodri (knee - out for season), Nathan Ake (thigh), Oscar Bobb (lower leg), Ederson (unknown)
Aston Villa vs Manchester City prediction
Expecting a clean sheet or two here would be irrational. Making any specific prediction would be silly given both teams’ unpredictable defensive records. Grealish assist on return? Aston Villa 1-2 Man City.
