Aston Villa will be aiming to record three consecutive victories in the Premier League on Saturday, but Dean Smith’s side will be faced with a serious test in overcoming Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City at the Etihad.

Back-to-back wins over Norwich and Brighton have lifted Villa to 12th in the league table, but Smith could be wise to switch his starting XI for the visit to the reigning Premier League champions.

For City, they will be looking to build on the impressive dismantling of Atlanta in the Champions League from mid-week, but Guardiola could also rotate his starting XI and utilise the full extent of his squad’s depth for the visit of Villa.

Given City’s home form, having lost just once so far this season, a compromising of Villa’s typical attacking principles may be necessary on Saturday.

The extent to which Smith opts to construct the attacking and defensive dynamics in his starting XI will be central to whether the West Midlands side opt to play for all three points or defend and attempt to continue their unbeaten run in the league. 

Here is our predicted starting XI for Villa’s trip to the Etihad this Saturday.

Smith is unlikely to alter his backline, with Tom Heaton marshalling a defensive unit of Frédéric Guilbert, Bjorn Engels, Tyrone Mings and Matt Targett. The latter put in an extremely impressive display that culminated in scoring the match-winning goal against Brighton last weekend.

It is in midfield where Smith will be faced with a considerable dilemma.

Conor Hourihane has shone since returning to the starting XI, notching a goal and an assist whilst being extremely unlucky to have seen his strike in the victory over Brighton ruled out following consultation with VAR.

The Irishman’s return to Smith’s first-choice XI has coincided with an unbeaten run of three games, yet defensive solidity in midfield will have to take precedence and in that respect, Douglas Luiz is the far more natural option.

A visit to City is likely to mark Villa’s sternest test yet, and therefore Smith is likely to drop Hourihane in order to play two holding midfielders in the form of Marvelous Nakamba alongside Luiz.

Upfront, Wesley Moraes can be expected to retain his starting berth, whilst the attacking trident of Jack Grealish, John McGinn and Anwar El Ghazi look set to try and hurt Guardiola’s side on the counter-attack.