Man City 2-1 Aston Villa – Premier League: Live score, team news and updates as Phil Foden fires champions back in front just before half-time

City have their tails up now as Alvarez is twice denied, first by a charging slide tackle before seeing his header a few seconds later tipped over the bar by Olsen.

Villa have gone from looking comfortable to hangin on for dear life in a matter of minutes!

It’s a complete mess of a defensive wall from Aston Villa that allows Foden’s free-kick from 25-yards out settle in the back of the net.

Luiz was lucky to have not been shown a second yellow card for fouling Foden in the build-up but felt equally as punished as City re-established their lead moments later.

Villa’s wall for some reason fell apart when jumping as some players turned their backs and others didn’t but City don’t care as they go back infront on the stroke of half time.

Four minutes of additional time will be played at the end of the half as City continue to try and probe holes in Villa’s defence.

It feels like the whole match has been played in the visitor’s half but they are remaining hard to break down – much to the annoyance of Pep Guardiola.

Someone in a sky blue shirt needs to find the courage to pull the trigger because City are doing everything right apart from shoot as Alvarez’s latest speculative cross goes out of play.

Haaland’s absence is really being felt here and you wonder whether he will be sent out ot warm-up at half time if the score remains the same at the interval.

Douglas Luiz is booked for pulling at the arm of Grealish on the edge of the box. Alvarez fancies himself with the set-piece but sends his effort over the bar following a long wait.

Another City attack has Villa backpeddaling and ends with Alvarez being presented with a golden chance to put City back infront.

The Argentinian is deep in the box but spurs his shot by hitting it at Olsen who stands up well to save with his right-foot.

Stunning play from Doku as he rides Digne’s challenge before getting near the byline and firing a welcoming cross into the box.

You feel that type of delivery would have been perfect for Haaland who you can see is so eager to get onto the pitch.

Jack Grealish is shown the first yellow card of the evening after fouling Douglas Luiz. It wasn’t the actual foul that caused him to be booked, but rather Grealish’s contnued barks of innocence at the referee.

Nathan Salt, Mail Sport, at the Etihad Stadium:

‘I’m back with another manager update and this time it’s Pep Guardiola absolutely losing it to fourth official Robert Jones.

‘Like, he has completely blown his top that Jeremy Doku wasn’t awarded a foul just now.

‘Referee Darren England immediately gestured for the winger to get up after he appeared to slip… I won’t pass that verdict onto Pep, though’.

Villa finally get to have a little bit of breather as they recycle possession through defence before trying to go long and release Diaby.

Zaniolo made a promising run to the edge of the box before Dias clears. Villa are throwing players forward when in possession and City’s defence looks a bit susceptible.

Every attack City are crafting is beautiful to watch, quick one-touch passing with players wriggling out of scenarios where they look certain to lose the ball.

The problem here so far is without Haaland they are lacking a prominent centre forward figure with Alvarez so far interchanging with Phil Foden as both try to get involved in the build-up play.

Villa aren’t getting much of the ball but look dangerous when they break.

It’s brilliant end-to-end action as Grealish goes within inches of re-taking the lead for City.

Doku’s cross to the back-post was deep and Grealish’s scuffed volley attempt almost crept into the bottom corner with Olsen left scrambling between the sticks.

Another goal means another uneccesary long VAR check that eventually see’s the goal allowed after offside threatened to rule Dhuran’s strike out.

It was a perfect one-two to send the Colombian through on goal who finished the chance excellently.

Who cares what the gameplan is because it works to perfection here as City are caught sleeping on the counter-attack and Dhuran finishes brilliantly from a tight angle to level the match.

I’m not really sure what Villa’s gameplan is here because everything they have done so far tonight feels a bit disjointed.

None of their attackers have clicked and it’s all individual moments of attempted brilliance rather than operating as a collective.

Unai Emery is wathcing on with frustration from the dugout.

Dhuran is ruled offside but he has sent City a warning to not rest on their laurels here as he latches onto a ball over the top with a first-time volley that Ortega saves well.

There was a VAR check to see if Doku had strayed offside before finding Rodri with a brilliant cross. It’s close but the Belgian just manages to hold his run.

Villa are inviting so much pressure as they continue to lose the ball on the edge of their box.

The problem is further compounded by Unai Emery’s side having nobody up the pitch and a quick move see’s Doku find Rodri in space who finishes with a rocket strike from close-range into the roof of the net.

City swarm on a defensive error in the box that is eventually cleared up by Clement Lenglet as the hosts continue to try and force an opening goal.

Grealish and Bernardo Silva are at the centre of everything positive before Rodri tries his luck from long-range that Olsen saves comfortably.

City are going through their usual motions and getting joy down the right-wing as Doku slips the ball into the box before seeing the ball cleared emphatically back down the other end.

Meanwhile Villa striker Jhon Duran has gone down after a clash of the heads while trying to win an aerial battle but appears to be ok to continue.

Grealish seems to thrive off criticism and as Villa fans boo their former player, the City star drifts through a host of players before trying to send Alvarez through on goal.

Boo him at your own peril!

Manuel Akanji swats away a developing Villa attack to concede a corner that is cleared convincingly. Foden tries to lead a counter-attack but Villa get bodies behind the ball well.

Nathan Salt, Mail Sport, at the Etihad Stadium:

‘Feels so odd seeing a City team walk out and Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne aren’t in it.

‘Pep Guardiola is never shy in calling out the chaotic schedule – and both could do with a rest – but with Arsenal ahead and this being a must-win game it’s a huge call.

‘Plenty in front of the press box are a bit jittery about it.’

Villa get the ball rolling and we are underway in this mouth-watering Premier League clash that has so much riding on it for both teams.

We are just minutes away from kick-off as the two sides walk out into a raucuous Etihad stadium. Plenty of nerves on the faces of both sets of players.

Right we are just minutes away from kick-off at the Etihad as City try to reign in both Arsenal and Liverpool, while Villa can take another huge step towards Champions League qualification.

You can follow every big moment from tonight’s action with us right here across the next 90 minutes.

The absence of John McGinn and Emi Martinez mean Douglas Luiz has been handede the armband by Unai Emery for the Etihad clash.

I guess we know who Villa’s third-choice skipper is and the Brazilian’s leadership skills will need to be at their best tonight against the reigning Premier League champions.

The big team news is both Erling Haaland and Kevin de Bruyne have been named amongst the substitutes by Guardiola.

The City boss appeared tense while speaking to TNT Sports pre-match and explained his team selection was forced by playing again in two-days time against Brighton on Saturday.

Commenting on Haaland and De Bruyne, Guardiola said: ‘In two days we have another game.

‘I think all the teams at the top have a big squad and of course we have it and that is the position today we decide for the line-up.’

The Argentinian World Cup winner would likely walk into the starting line-ups at most Premier League teams, but often plays second-fiddle to Haaland at City.

Tonight he has a chance to make a huge impact on the title race after being preferred upfront to Haaland – who is one of the shock names amongst the substitutes.

Alvarez has scored eight Premier League goals in 28 appearances this season, but has never scored against Villa. What a chance to change that tonight!

The Man Untied legend is at the Etihad tonight and believes City have enough amongst their ranks to come from behind and lift the Premier League title.

Speaking pre-match on TNT Sports, he said: ‘I think on paper Man City have the easier run-in and think the experience will play a big part.

‘Liverpool with three away games are difficult, Arsenal have the toughest run-in and I think Man City [will win the league].

‘I don’t want them to win it. I would take Arsenal winning it over Liverpool and Man City.’

Arsenal will move four-points clear of City tonight if they beat Luton and Aston Villa win at the Etihad.

You can follow all the action from Arsenal’s ongoing clash against Luton below as well throughout tonight.

Former Man City title-winning defender Joleon Lescott has begrudgingly admitted that he thinks Liverpool will win the Premier League this season by beating Arsenal and City to the title.

The Reds hold a four-point lead over City heading into tonight and Lescott feels the Premier League is Liverpool’s to lose:

Speaking pre-match at the Etihad on TNT Sports, Lescott said: ‘It has gone into Liverpool’s hands, for them to have to lose a game now I don’t see that. I think they get the job done.

‘Yes you don’t want Man City chasing you but overall I believe Liverpool get the job done.’

City stars have arrived at the Etihad and cut some steely expressions when walking into the ground with their title ambitions hanging in the balance.

Victory and they are still in the race, defeat and you feel the advantage sways heavily in Arsenal and Liverpool’s favour.

Aston Villa have just announced Argentinian goalkeeper Emi Martinez has now been pulled out of the game with an illness – despite being named as a starter.

34-year-old Robin Olsen replaces Martinez for just his second Premier League appearance of the season.

Guardiola has made a huge call tonight and one nobody saw coming as the City boss names both Erling Haaland and Kevin de Bruyne on the bench.

The duo are City’s most potent players and there would have been an audible gasp of delight amongst Villa’s ranks after seeing both named amongst the substitutes tonight.

Haaland struggled against Arsenal last time out, with Roy Keane piling on the criticism and Guardiola has reponded by starting Julian Alvarez upfront instead.

Meanwhile, Grealish comes back into the team to make his first Premier League start since December as De Bruyne is similarly denied starting minutes.

John Stones has made the bench after being declared fit.

Villa’s match-winner in this season’s previous home win over City is left on the bench as Nicolo Zaniolo is preferred over Leon Bailey in attack.

Douglas Luiz starts in midfield and will be responsible for being Villa’s main creative outlet tonight.

Wow what a massive call by Pep Guardiola as he leaves Erling Haaland and Kevin de Bruyne on the bench for tonight’s clash – a forced change or something more tactical?

In comes Jack Grealish who makes his first Premier League start since December’s win over Sheffield United, while Julian Alarez leads the line.

The final month of last year saw tonight’s visitors stun City at Villa Park with Leon Bailey’s strike capping off a terrific display that shocked Guardiola and his players.

City were dominated that night, but will likely feel more confident tonight having won 17 of their last 18 Premier League home games against Villa.

What’s more is Villa have won just one of their last 30 away league games against reigning top-flight champions – Man United in 2009.

Victory tonight would see Villa record a double over City for the first time in 60 years and what a moment that would be!

As if visiting the Etihad wasn’t one of the most difficult away trips of the season, Villa’s visit has been made even harder with the absence of two key players.

Unai Emery revealed star striker Ollie Watkins and midfielder Jacob Ramsey are unavailable for selection due to recent injuries.

Commenting on their absence, the Villa boss said: ‘They (Jacob Ramsey and Ollie Watkins) will not be available for tomorrow.

‘They have small injuries. Jacob Ramsey is not getting better like he wants and we are not in a hurry with him, and for tomorrow he is not available.

‘With Ollie, it’s more or less the same but I think it’s a small injury. We are going to wait because with some days he could be available for the next match.’

The Man City boss protects his players to the hilt – as was the case with Roy Keane’s ‘League Two’ jobe about Erling Haaland after Sunday’s draw against Arsenal.

Pep Guardiola is now using the comments about his side’s prolific goalscorer as fuel for the title charge, writes Mail Sport’s JACK GAUGHAN below.

City’s media team has tried to give supporters a boost tonight by putting together a stat-pack that shows just how good the reigning Premier League champions are at this time of the season.

Pep Guardiola’s squad of superstars have won 19 of their last 21 Premier League games in April, while Rodri has scored more goals against Villa than any other PL team (3 goals).

Mathematically? No. Mentally? Yes.

City have made a mark of being the perfectionists of the end-of-season run-in in recent years, famously getting the better of Liverpool and last season pipping Arsenal to the title.

But last season’s Treble-winners must overcome one of their biggests tests yet if they are to become the first-ever team to win four consecutive English top-flight titles.

Guardiola and his squad know they have to win every one of their nine remaining Premier League fixtures to stand any chance of lifing the trophy and defeat tonight would be a mental blow that you doubt they could recover from.