With Liverpool losing for a third time this season at Stamford Bridge yesterday, both teams have an opportunity to strengthen their top four credentials.
In-form City could climb into third spot with a victory at Villa Park while Martin O'Neill's side are three points behind fourth-placed Arsenal.
All eyes will be on Gareth Barry - the former Villa captain who makes his first return to Villa Park after leaving during the summer transfer window.
And despite the inauspicious circumstances surrounding Barry's exit, Villa winger James Milner wants the home fans to give his former team-mate a warm reception.
Milner said: 'He played for the club for a very long time and served the club brilliantly.
'He's obviously a top-quality player, and it's not only about what he's done, it's about the help he's given the other young players coming through who have had the chance to learn off him.
'I certainly learned a lot and he did great service to Aston Villa, so hopefully he'll get a good reception.'
Milner will feature in a Villa team which look likely to be unchanged from their defeat to Blackburn Rovers last time out, although O'Neill is yet to decide whether to keep Fabian Delph in his starting line-up or draft in Emile Heskey up front and push Gabriel Agbonlahor out wide.
Hughes also faces a selection headache ahead of the encounter, with Emmanuel Adebayor available after serving a three-match ban.
The Togo international is likely to lead the line, although it remains to be seen whether Hughes opts for a two or three-man set-up in attack.
Adebayor could be supported by Carlos Tevez and Craig Bellamy, but the City boss could also go with two up front and play the attack-minded Martin Petrov or the ever-threatening Bellamy on the left wing.
No comments:
Post a Comment