Steven Gerrard was on the pressure point at Villa after winning only one of their opening five matches in the Premier League. The Villans fell to their fourth season's defeat during the week against Arsenal as Gabriel Martinelli's late goal condemned the Midlands outfit to a 2-1 defeat. The club was in dire need of a response, but the one side you do not want to see when you need a victory is Manchester City. It required to take a special effort from Gerrard and his team. Even a draw against them is an excellent result for everyone unless you are not a supporter of the Navy blues.

🅢🅞🅤🅡🅒🅔

Villa made only one change to their side from their defeat to Arsenal. Douglas Luiz came into the side after scoring against the Gunners as he replaced Buendia. He started behind the front two to press the visitors, although it seemed Gerrard deployed a four-man midfield.

ASTON VILLA XI (4-3-3): Emiliano Martinez; Matty Cash, Ezri Konsa, Tyrone Mings, Lucas Digne; Jacob Ramsey, Boubacar Kamara, John McGinn; Douglas Luiz, Ollie Watkins, Leon Bailey.

SUBS: Danny Ings, Emiliano Buendia, Calum Chambers, Ludwig Augustinsson, Ashley Young, Jan Bednarek, Philippe Coutinho, Robin Olsen, Cameron Archer.

This is your Aston Villa team to face Manchester City. 👊#AVLMCI pic.twitter.com/b7EYtvwwEz

— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) September 3, 2022

Manchester City have been firing on all cylinders in the final third after putting six goals past Nottingham Forest during the week. Erling Haaland scored his second hat-trick in a row to take his tally to nine Premier League goals for the campaign. City looked more dangerous than ever in the final third but still needed to churn out the results to keep pace with Arsenal and Tottenham at the top of the table. Luckily Arsenal dropped points against struggling Manchester United. The way United are going, it’s possible that we may even enjoy a Manchester derby brawl for trophy hunt.

Wise words 💬@okx pic.twitter.com/7rByugnOfi

— Manchester City (@ManCity) September 2, 2022

City also made one change to their side from their win over Forest. Alvarez was the man to make way for De Bruyne, despite scoring twice in the thumping 6-0 triumph.

MANCHESTER CITY XI (4-2-3-1): Ederson; Kyle Walker, John Stones, Ruben Dias, Joao Cancelo; Ilkay Gundogan, Rodri; Bernardo Silva, Kevin De Bruyne, Phil Foden; Erling Haaland.

SUBS: Nathan Ake, Jack Grealish, Stefan Ortega, Julian Alvarez, Sergio Gomez, Riyad Mahrez, Cole Palmer, Rico Lewis, Josh Wilson-Esbrand.

🔵 TEAM NEWS 🔵

XI | Ederson, Walker, Dias, Stones, Cancelo, Rodrigo, Gundogan (C), De Bruyne, Bernardo, Foden, Haaland

SUBS | Ortega Moreno, Ake, Grealish, Alvarez, Gomez, Mahrez, Palmer, Lewis, Wilson-Esbrand#ManCity | @HaysWorldwide pic.twitter.com/kgMUtweBtA

— Manchester City (@ManCity) September 3, 2022

City settled into their rhythm but didn’t manage to test Martinez yet. Villa needed to try to disrupt the visitors' possession game. They were already suffering; to make it worse, Cash was struggling for the home side. He received treatment on the pitch but didn’t look overly comfortable with his left hamstring. The injury to Cash halted the rhythm that City had built up, which did help the home side for now, although the full-back was a key player for the Villans. Young entered the action for the home side to replace Cash at right-back and ended it by being the man of the match.

Ashley Young understood the assignment. pic.twitter.com/c5lzuRN5mm

— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) September 4, 2022

It's time to select your #AVLMCI Man of the Match, presented by Castore. ⭐

— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) September 3, 2022

It's goalless at the break between Aston Villa and Manchester City at Villa Park. It was a half of few chances, and Villa arguably had the best opening when Ollie Watkins' strike was deflected narrowly wide of the post. The visitors were restricted in their attempts at goal as Kevin De Bruyne fired wide, while Ilkay Gundogan was unable to steer his effort on target from close range.

Steven Gerrard was delighted with his side's performance as they've given City very little in the final third, especially Erling Haaland. The visitors were trying to settle into their passing game at the start of the second half. Villa had to hold their discipline again.

It’s not as easy as it sounds to stop someone like Haaland. The hunger he has makes him the heir to Ronaldo’s throne. GOALLLLLLLLLLLLL! HAALAND BROKE THE DEADLOCK!!!!!! 1-0 CITY!!!!! Haaland notched his 10th goal of the season with a predatory finish at the back post. De Bruyne was the architect with a brilliant cross from the right flank that soars over Martinez. Haaland produced the pure poacher's strike with a simple tap-in yet so challenging to pull unless it’s someone like him.

Double figures 🙌@ErlingHaaland 1️⃣0️⃣ pic.twitter.com/pD4E2f2sfb

— Manchester City (@ManCity) September 3, 2022

Haaland has scored ten goals in his first six Premier League appearances for Manchester City, the joint-fastest player reached ten goals in the competition's history alongside Mick Quinn back in December 1992.

Ten in Six. pic.twitter.com/nY0Zyx6Fyf

— Manchester City (@ManCity) September 4, 2022

Haaland is just the fifth player to score in their first three Premier League away appearances after Peter Beardsley, Jürgen Klinsmann, Francesco Baiano, and Alen Boksic.

Villa were not ready to pack their bag empty. A point was much needed. Martinez's inspiring saves are useless if they can’t articulate something from this game. GOALLLLLLL!!! BAILEY LEVELED WITH A GREAT FINISH!!!!!!!! 1-1!! Ramsey carried the ball forward and this time nailed his final touch, allowing Bailey to sweep his left-footed strike into the top-left corner. Ramsey was alive to the loose ball in the final third and surged into the box. He spotted the run of Bailey, who got ahead of Cancelo and beat Ederson with a brilliant effort. Game on!!!

What a finish. 🔥@JacobRamsey28 🤝 @LeonBailey pic.twitter.com/zNQTytFhCt

— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) September 3, 2022

Bailey ended a run of 1021 minutes without a Premier League goal. His last came in September 2021 against Everton. He was more than happy as it’s a crucial goal for them.

Three BIG @EmiMartinezz1 saves. 👏 pic.twitter.com/23j2ENAag1

— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) September 4, 2022

The game was very much balanced, with seven minutes to play. Gerrard would have snapped your hand if you offered this scoreline at this stage of the game before kick-off. The smile on Gerrard's face didn’t fade as city surrendered against the flying Argentine. The game ended in a draw—a much-needed point for the Villans. A massive boost for them, while city were not thrilled about it as they were hungry to grab everything on their way.

HIGHLIGHTS

After this enormous morale dose, Villa are next in action against Leicester City in a massive match on the road next week. City are in Champions League action on Tuesday away to Sevilla.

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