Another player missing out today, despite seeming to be rediscovering some of the form that saw him win the PFA Player of the Year a couple of seasons ago, is Phil Foden.

Last season he struggled but Enzo Maresca seems to be getting the best out of him.

"I have sat down with Phil two or three times, especially at the beginning, to show him how important he is," said Maresca.

"In the past few years he was not good enough for different reasons. But when you have more players like Phil, you are a better team."

Whatever the Italian has done, it's working. But if he's to have an impact today it will be from the bench.

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No side has had fewer shots on target than Aston Villa in the Premier League this season (22), with their average of 3.1 per game their second-lowest on record (since 2003-04) in a campaign, after 2015-16 (2.9).

But, having failed to win any of their first four Premier League games this season (D1 L3), Villa have now won two of their last three (D1).

However, they are winless in all three home games so far (D1 L2), last having a longer run at the start of a campaign in 2015-16 (9).

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

When Aston Villa walked out to face Viking in the Champions League, a giant tifo emblazoned with the message 'We've Conquered Before. We're Prepared For More' dropped down from Villa Park's famous Holte End.

At the same time, Villa manager Unai Emery was striding along the touchline to a standing ovation as he took the acclaim from supporters.

Emery celebrates the fourth anniversary of his appointment from Villarreal in today's match, his arrival a transformative moment for one of the great old footballing institutions.

He has written his name into Villa Park history, adding to a track record there and at other clubs that marks him down as one of the game's elite operators.

And it was reflected in every moment against Viking with an emphatic 3-1 victory.

Noel Sliney
BBC Sport

"Here's to you, Unai Emery, the Villa loves you more than you will know." The popular terrace chant will be especially heartfelt today as it marks the four-year anniversary of the Spanish manager's transformative appointment.

Emery is feted at Villa Park, and for good reason. Aston Villa were 16th, one point above the relegation zone, when he officially took charge a week after his unveiling. They rallied to qualify for Europe that season, have twice come fourth in his three full campaigns and won 115 of 208 games – including last season's Europa League final to end a 30-year wait for a major trophy.

The serenading of Emery by Villa's supporters will also reflect their desperation for him to stay amid renewed links with Manchester United this week. For his part, Emery has been invigorated by the challenge of rebuilding Villa's team this season, and also recognises that the level of control he enjoys at the club is unlikely to be granted elsewhere.

Nonetheless, it's clear why a fallen giant like United might be interested; Emery's 51.4% Premier League win percentage over the past four years puts him in elite company.

Team news thoughts, then? Erling Haaland is back despite hobbling off last week with what looked like a nasty injury. City fans will be pleased to see that it was nothing serious.

Phil Foden on the bench despite his midweek antics but Rayan Cherki keeps his place. He is just a joy to watch isn't he? The Frenchman has been directly involved in six goals (3 goals, 3 assists) in his last seven Premier League away games.

Villa fans, pleased to see the return of Johan Manzambi?

Let us know your thoughts and predictions in all the usual ways.

Aston Villa have hit a bit of form and seem to be getting back to the level they were at last season.

They had another good win in the Champions League this week, but then you would expect them to beat Viking pretty comfortably.

Unai Emery's side played well against Newcastle last week too but I thought Newcastle were a bit too gung-ho, and paid the price. Manchester City are a lot more streetwise.

City are going to slip up eventually this season but the fact they have lost on their past three visits to Villa Park actually makes me think it will be different this time.

Erling Haaland is fit too, which will obviously help. With all the heat on the club at the moment, it could just turn out to be one of those seasons where they continue on this incredible run.

Sutton's prediction: 1-2

We've already had one match this weekend with Ipswich hosting Nottingham Forest last night. That match ended 1-1 and lifted Forest out of the relegation zone while Ipswich are up to ninth.

Manchester City are already carving out a lead at the top of the table but Aston Villa could boost themselves up the rankings with victory today.

Image source, BBC Sport

Four matches to get our teeth into today...

Image source, BBC Sport

Shamoon Hafez
Football reporter at Villa Park

Both sides make four changes following their Champions League exploits in midweek.

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery restores Johan Manzambi to the starting line-up, with Matty Cash, Ian Maatsen and Boubacar Kamara also coming in.

Emiliano Buendia, Tyrone Mings, Ross Barkley and Ibrahim Mbaye make way.

Aston Villa XI: Suzuki, Cash, Lindelof, Torres, Maatsen, McGinn, Kamara, Gomes, Alysson, Manzambi, Jackson.

The big team news for Manchester City sees the return to the starting line-up for star striker Erling Haaland, who was on the bench against AEK Athens.

Iliman Ndiaye, Jeremy Doku and Marc Guehi all come in to the starting line-up.

Tuesday's hat-trick hero Phil Foden, Floyd Samba, Allan and Rico Lewis make way.

Man City XI: Donnarumma, Khusanov, Dias, Guehi, Gvardiol, Anderson, Fernandez, Ndiaye, Doku, Cherki, Haaland.

Four Premier League games today starting with Manchester City's trip to Aston Villa.

Can City maintain their flawless start to the season? Will Villa finally get three points at home?

Only four games today but there's some crackers with a London derby at 17:30 too.

Let's do this.

What a miserable old week of weather it's been. Time to cheer ourselves up with some footie...

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