Sergio Aguero makes way for Jesus, despite his double against the Italians in midweek.
John Stones starts having made two substitute appearances since his return from a rectus femoris injury.
Bernardo Silva, Joao Cancelo and David Silva also return to the starting lineup having missed Tuesday’s win, with Riyad Mahrez, Kyle Walker and Phil Foden dropping to the bench.
Oleksandr Zinchenko, Aymeric Laporte, Rodrigo and Leroy Sane are all out injured.
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City team
Starting XI: Ederson, Cancelo, Stones, Fernandinho, Mendy, Gundogan, Silva, De Bruyne, Bernardo, Sterling, Jesus
Subs: Bravo, Walker, Aguero, Angelino, Mahrez, Otamendi, Foden
Aston Villa team
Starting XI: Heaton, Guilbert, Engels, Mings, Targett, Nakamba, Douglas Luiz, McGunn, Grealish, Trezeguet, Wesley.
Subs: Steer, Taylor, Konsa, Hourihane, Lansbury, El Ghazi, Davis.
City tactics
4-3-3 for City.
Ederson starts in goal, with Stones and Fernandinho (making his 200th Premier League appearance) in front of him. The Brazilian has been superb in a somewhat unfamiliar role, with Stones eager to impress after his injury layoff. Both centre-halves are exceptional at distributing the ball and no doubt Guardiola will have told them to start attacks from deep.
Cancelo and Benjamin Mendy will play either side of them, and they will be expected to get forward and add quality in wide areas. Both are very capable in the final third.
Ilkay Gundogan continues in the defensive midfield role, with arguably the Premier League’s two best midfielders - Silva and De Bruyne - just in front of him.
Jesus will lead the line, with his pressing and work rate vital. His support comes from man-of-the-moment Raheem Sterling and the returning Bernardo.
It’s a very attacking City lineup. Expect goals against a side who have been fearless since their promotion.
Stats
Head-to-head
Manchester City have won nine successive Premier League home games against Aston Villa by an aggregate score of 30-4. Our last home league defeat in this fixture came in April 2007.
City could equal their longest top-flight home winning streak against a single opponent, while Villa are in danger of matching their club top-flight record for consecutive away defeats versus the same team.
Villa have failed to score in seven of the last nine Premier League meetings home and away.
Manchester City
City have not lost consecutive home league fixtures since February 2016.
Pep Guardiola has never lost back-to-back home league games in his managerial career.
We haven’t lost at home against a promoted team since a 2-0 defeat by Reading in February 2007.
Sergio Aguero has scored six goals in his past four league games against Aston Villa, including five in three appearances at the Etihad.
Gabriel Jesus has scored in seven successive league and cup starts for Manchester City.
Raheem Sterling is the club’s leading scorer this season with 12 goals in 13 appearances.
Fernandinho‘s next Premier League appearance will be his 200th.
Don’t forget: you can now enjoy full match replays on our Man City for TV app the day after the game!
