Villa need to double-up to trouble Man City

Adrian Clarke looks at key tactical points and players who can be decisive in Matchweek 6.

Aston Villa

Aston Villa have issues to solve at both ends of the pitch as they prepare to host Manchester City on Saturday. 

AVL

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Steven Gerrard's side are struggling to create quality chances, while in defence a lack of stability is hindering their ability to keep clean sheets.

A significantly improved display will be required to ensure they are competitive against the champions. 

Improved service

Ollie Watkins is a proven top-flight striker but he has cut a frustrated figure during the early stages of 2022/23. 

The England international, who has 26 Premier League goals to his name, has registered just six shots in five outings. 

He scored after running on to a long ball that was flicked on for him at Crystal Palace but, that aside, Watkins has struggled to make an impact. The service into him has not been good enough. 

Villa have lacked sharpness and penetration inside the opposition half and have failed to stretch the opposition consistently enough. 

Only AFC Bournemouth have carved out fewer "big chances".

Villa's lack of cutting edge

In home matches Gerrard has preferred to play two up front, so it will be fascinating to see whether Danny Ings - who has scored one of Villa's four goals this season - is selected to partner Watkins against a City side averaging 3.8 goals per match. 

Ings' goal v Everton

If they are brave enough to start with a strike pairing there will be an onus on Lucas Digne, Matty Cash and Leon Bailey to supply ammunition from wide areas. 

Despite Villa’s slow start to the campaign those three players have supplied a steady stream of deliveries across their five matches to date. 

Even though Gerrard's side have scored only three open-play goals and created very little, they have produced the third-highest number of crosses. 

When such a high volume of balls is sent into the penalty area from the flanks it does make sense to at least consider a two-pronged attack. 

Villa's crossing strength

At the other end of the pitch, Villa are still chasing their first clean sheet of the campaign. 

Only three teams, AFC Bournemouth, Nottingham Forest and Brentford, have conceded more than their 27 shots on target. 

Injuries, illness, and chequered form has led to Gerrard chopping and changing his central-defensive partnership in all five matches so far, using four separate pairings. 

Indeed the club have clearly sought to address this issue with the deadline-day signings of Jan Bednarek and Leander Dendoncker from Southampton and Wolverhampton Wanderers respectively. 

Both these new arrivals will be assessed, but if fit, whether they can mitigate against the ominous threat posed by Erling Haaland and co remains to be seen. 

Villa's centre-back partnerships

In the wake of a disappointing 2-1 loss at Arsenal, who won the shot count 22-4 on Wednesday evening, Villa must get back to basics and work harder to disrupt Pep Guardiola's side in all three departments.

They have enough talent to make this a difficult test for Man City, but a major upturn in performance levels, on and off the ball, is an absolute must if they are to avoid a fifth defeat out of six matches.

Also in this series

Part 1: Dynamic Iwobi can help Everton keep Liverpool out
Part 3: Antony's skills can put Arsenal in a spin