Manchester City vs Aston Villa LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction
Follow all the action from Etihad Stadium
Follow live coverage as Manchester City face Aston Villa today in the Premier League. Another top-flight season will be covered in full right here with The Independent, as reigning champions Manchester City look to make it an unprecedented five titles in a row come the end of 2024/25.
The likes of Arsenal and Liverpool will be chasing Pep Guardiola's side, but just as fascinating will be the race for Champions League places, with more teams than ever before having designs on top-four finishes. Chelsea remain big-spending, Manchester United's latest rebuild continues and both Tottenham and Newcastle will expect improvements this year - yet it was Aston Villa who snared fourth last term.
Meanwhile, it's Southampton, Leicester City and Ipswich Town who made it back to the elite after promotion last year and each will have hope they can make it more than a one-year stay. Follow the latest live action from the Premier League below:
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
Skewing a half-chance well wide of the target, O'Reilly mishits his shot from the edge of the area. Still, City are applying more pressure, hoping that their visitors will crack.
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
City's third straight corner is delivered by De Bruyne, but this one is sent straight towards Martinez in the six-yard box. As the Villa goalkeeper then rolls the ball out, he's accidentally clipped by Gundogan, then dramatically collapses to the turf. After a brief stoppage of play, he's ultimately able to play on.
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
Onana intervenes to deny Gvardiola a close-range chance, as McAtee sends over an inviting free-kick from the left. From the subsequent corner, Gvardiol's flick-on is cleared behind by Cash. City are on top.
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
Following Rashford's penalty in the first half, City have now conceded 22 goals at home this season - their worst tally since the 2003-04 campaign, with two games still to play. It's been a season to forget, but salvaging a top-five finish would avert disaster. There's also the FA Cup and new Club World Cup to play for.
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
Manchester City kick off, and we are back under way at the Etihad!
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
A draw would move Manchester City up to fourth and Aston Villa up to sixth, but there's plenty of time for this scoreline to change. While City have lost just one of their last 16 Premier League games which were level at half-time - winning 10 - Villa have also performed well after the interval in recent weeks. During their current run of five successive league wins, Emery's men were level at the break in four - so a compelling second half surely awaits.
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
All square at half-time, Champions League contenders Manchester City and Aston Villa have played out an eventful first half at the Etihad, each side scoring within the first 18 minutes. After City went in front through Bernardo Silva's early strike - which was helped into the net by Martinez - Villa bit back, as Ramsey was felled by Dias in the box and VAR persuaded the referee to award a penalty. On his return to Manchester, Rashford - who had struck the post after 17 seconds - stepped up to convert the spot-kick, making it 1-1. The visitors have an xG of 1.35 so far, compared to their hosts' 0.52, but City have bossed the ball. It's all set up for a fascinating second half, as both teams continue their quest for a top-five finish.
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