Good evening and welcome to LIVE coverage of Manchester City versus Aston Villa at the Etihad Stadium. Manuel Pellegrini's side can go two points clear at the top with a victory. A draw would move them level with Liverpool but their superior goal difference would mean they would only really need to better or match the Reds' result on the last day to be crowned champions. A shock defeat would hand the initiative back to Brendan Rodgers' men.
Premier League / Matchday 29
Etihad Stadium / 07.05.2014
/dnl.eurosport.com/sd/img/match/football-header-bg-mobile.jpg)
/images.sports.gracenote.com/images/lib/basic/sport/football/club/logo/300/4222.png){kind=logo}
/images.sports.gracenote.com/images/lib/basic/sport/football/club/logo/300/4010.png){kind=logo}
- E. Dzeko(64', 72')
- S. Jovetic(89')
- Y. Touré(90+3')
Live
Live Updates
:focal(147x151:149x149)/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2015/03/26/1443759-30872147-310-310.jpg)
Updated 07/05/2014 at 20:53 GMT
21'
Bowery is back on the field after treatment for his bloody nose as Kolarov wins a corner with an early cross that deflects behind the Villa goal.
20'
City go close again. Kolarov fizzes a devilish low ball into the six-yard box that Silva can't quite convert. It bounces off a Villa defender, away from Dzeko and into the grateful arms of Guzan.
19'
Aston Villa have taken just two points from their last seven Barclays Premier League away games (D2 L5).
18'
Play resumes with City inevitably on the attack.
17'
A bloody nose for Bowery after he was caught in an aerial challenge with Javi Garcia.
16'
Villa with just two percent possession in the City half so far. Hard to see an upset tonight, even at this early stage.
15'
Toure whips a cross into the box but it's meat and drink for Guzan.
14'
UPDATE: Sunderland 1-0 WBA. As it stands, the Black Cats would be safe and Norwich would be effectively down.
13'
STAT: Toure needs one more goal to become only the second central midfielder to score 20+ goals in a Premier League season (after Frank Lampard with 22 in 2009-10).
12'
WONDERFUL SAVE. Milner carves Villa open with a reverse pass to Zabaleta who cuts it back from the right for Toure, but the midfielder's low shot is somehow kept out by the trailing leg of Guzan.
11'
STAT: Manchester City have won 15 of their 17 home league matches this season. Their only home defeat was the 1-0 loss to Chelsea in February. The defeat to Chelsea is the only time City have failed to score in the last 67 Premier League home matches.
10'
The pattern of the game has settled with City dictating the play and probing for the opener. Villa look less than secure at the back.
9'
Guzan goes up for it and fumbles... however, the referee hands him a get out of jail free card by awarding a foul by Kompany. Didn't look much in it.
8'
City break down the left again and Ron Vlaar is forced to come across and nip the ball away from Dzeko. Corner ball.
7'
Aguero watching on from the tunnel area. He cuts a frustrated figure. It's been an injury-plagued campaign for him.
6'
STAT: City have scored at least four goals in each of their last three league home matches against Aston Villa.
5'
Early opening for City as Kolarov motors into the area on the left and sizzles in a low cross-shot that Guzan is forced to beat away. Perhaps a cutback would have been a better option there with Dzeko lurking.
4'
Villa attempt to break in the shape of Andreas Weimann but Vincent Kompany gets across to knock it back to Joe Hart.
3'
The rain is hammering down as City enjoy some early possession. Silva goes down on the left edge of the area after a clumsy challenge by Westwood, but referee Michael Oliver is having none of it.
2'
STAT: Man City’s total of 57 home goals in the Premier League is 18 more than the Villans have in total (39).
1'
KICK OFF! Villa get us underway.