Aston Villa vs Manchester City live, Premier League: score and latest updates

Aston Villa 0 Man City 2 (Bernardo Silva 43 mins)

City's defenders might not have had too much to do tonight but they are calmness personified to play themselves out of danger when Villa try to press. A couple of 'ole's from the City fans who appreciate what they are watching.

Midfielder Nakamba dances his way out of the City press but before he can catch his breath, City are coming back at him and his team.

City's wide players have been doing the business tonight, whether its Sterling down the left or Mahrez on the right. The latter wins another corner, floating it in towards the lurking Dias.

But it's not a case of London buses, as the defender only heads off target.

 Not the most enjoyable of Villa Park returns for Prince William so far.

It goes from bad to worse for Villa as Bailey drops to the floor after chasing Mahrez back when City counter. That looks like a thigh strain.

The medical staff are on before Bailey walks off shaking his head. Here's comes Ashley Young, who gets boos from the City fans, presumably for his United connections.

Not the most obvious of goalscorers but City have their breakthrough.

Sterling does the leg work down the left, getting the better of Cash far too easily and driving to the byline. His cut-back to the top of the box looks to have dented momentum but, with Villa's defence on the turn, Dias steps forward to drive into the bottom right corner.

Aston Villa 0 Man City 1 (Dias 27 mins)

Definitely more attacking threat from Villa who have grown in confidence on the counter. They are slowly edging their way back into this game.

For all City's possession, Villa are holding their positions fairly well. 

Cash puts in a timely tackle on Sterling, and then scampers up the right touchline to join in the counter attack. The space opens up in front of him but he cannot pick out Watkins in the box. Better from the home side.

Villa float in a free-kick from the far touchline, which Konsa gets highest to but his header is weak and loopy and Ederson easily gathers.

City forced into some rare defensive action as Ake has to step in to clear in his own area ahead of the lurking Watkins. The hosts getting some welcome ball time.

I've lost count of the amount of times City have almost strolled into the Villa area. So far the end product has been missing, but it seems unlikely the hosts will be able to keep them at bay for long.

Another nervous moment for Cash as Jesus goes to ground after a clumsy tackle from the Villa man. Mike Dean is unmoved. City, remember, have not had a penalty awarded in their favour in the Premier League this season.

Sterling looks up for this tonight. He's causing Cash all sorts of problems down the left, turning him inside and out but his subsequent cross is just to high for Bernardo Silva and Jesus.

Watkins does great work to hold the ball up on the half-way line, referee Mike Dean plays advantage when Mings goes down, and Watkins races on to the return pass into the City half.

Watch out! Villa make it into the penalty box where Bailey's shot is blocked by a City defender. There's something for the home fans to cheer finally.

Just the small matter of 85 per cent possession for City so far. It's like a keep-ball exercise for the visitors. Saying that, Gerrard's two wins have so far come with the possession count sitting in the 30s for his team, so all is not lost...

Sterling takes the corner from the left, it's headed down but Rodri cannot connect. But once again the City wave begins to crash over the Villa defence.

The hosts are certainly having to weather the storm here.

Gerrard is shouting instructions on the touchline, no doubt frustrated by this edgy start from his team. They've barely got out of their own half.

Now its Cancelo, again playing in Mahrez down the right channel. He floats in a cross and McGinn takes no chances, conceding another corner...

Fernandinho nicks the ball in midfield and quick as a flash City are on the attack. Jesus rides two tackles but his eventual shot is blocked by Mings.

City recycle the ball and go again, this time Rodri forcing Martinez to tip over. McGinn blocks the first corner, Mahrez sends in another but then Villa can clear their lines properly.

It's Manchester City on the front foot, as Mahrez feeds Cancelo down the right and the latter draws a near-post save from Martinez. The resulting corner just evades Ake, who had trotted up from the back for the set-piece.

We are moments away from kick-off. 

The effort and application and how they've tried to listen to our ideas on how we want to play [has been impressive]. They've delivered in the two games but we know this is an acid test tonight.

I'm new to this in terms of Jack [Grealish] and Villa's relationship.  I hope he gets a good reception. It depends on if he comes on and how he behaves. He's done an awful lot for this football club. 

They've got great players in the attacking final third. Since the new manager has come in they've done really well. He's a legend of the Premier League. It's going to be really exciting to face his team. It's going to be a difficult game.

And that's all we got from Phil Foden, speaking in a pre-recorded via on Amazon Prime. Short and sweet from the England attacker.

The players are warming out on the Villa Park pitch, which means Grealish is out there again, in City colours. It was a largely warm reception for the £100m man.

Some news coming out of Vicarage Road with the game suspended after 10 minutes, with what is believed to be a medical issue in the crowd. The players have been taken off the pitch for now. You can follow updates here via Jake Goodwill.

Fourteen of Aston Villa’s 18 Premier League goals this season have come in the second half of games (78%), with six of those strikes coming in the final 10 minutes – including three of their four so far under Steven Gerrard.

This via our Midlands reporter John Percy....

Prince William is at Villa Park tonight, and Steven Gerrard will be hoping the future king can inspire his players towards another stirring victory.

The Duke of Cambridge is, of course, a Villa fan and is in attendance for the first time this season as his club attempt to halt Pep Guardiola's relentless run of results.

Prince William was at Villa's Carabao Cup tie at Chelsea earlier this season and has made his first visit to the club's home tonight, with Gerrard seeking his third successive win.

It is unclear at this stage whether the Prince plans to boo Jack Grealish, who returns for the first time since his £100 million move to Manchester City in August.

Amid reports that Prince William is in town to watch his beloved Villa, it is worth taking a look at Steven Gerrard's brilliant start to life in charge of Aston Villa.

His new club have won both of their Premier League games under him so far – in the club’s history, no manager has won either their first three top-flight games, or first three games in all competitions in charge of the Villans.

A visit of the reigning champions is, however, sure to be a tough test.

Aston Villa: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Targett, McGinn, Nakamba, Douglas Luiz, Buendia, Watkins, Bailey. Subs: Sanson, Steer, Tuanzebe, Young, El Ghazi, Hause, Carney Chukwuemeka, Davis, Jacob Ramsey.

Man City: Ederson, Joao Cancelo, Dias, Ake, Zinchenko, Fernandinho, Rodri, Bernardo Silva, Gabriel Jesus, Mahrez, Sterling.
Subs: Grealish, Steffen, Carson, Foden, Mbete-Tabu, Palmer, McAtee, Lavia, Wilson-Esbrand.

Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral)

Emiliano Buendia is recalled to the starting XI as is Douglas Luiz

Manchester City have won each of their last 15 Premier League games played on a Wednesday, scoring 36 goals and conceding just six.

Only Liverpool (21 on Saturdays between 2018 and 2020) and Man City themselves (17 on Saturdays between 2017 and 2018) have had longer winning runs on a specific day of the week in the competition.

Tonight represents the first chance for Jack Grealish to return to Villa Park since his summer transfer to Manchester City for a cool £100m.

He scored 32 goals and provided 43 assists in 213 appearances for his boyhood club but he will need to pass a fitness test to get the nod tonight. We shall find out very shortly if he has, indeed, succeeded in convincing Pep Guardiola and the medical team to give him a run out. 

In the meantime, you can read this cracking exclusive interview with Grealish, done by our very own John Percy, where he talks about his emotional departure from Villa Park and settling into life in Manchester.

For those keen weather followers among you...

 Don't worry, actual team news to follow very shortly...

Steven Gerrard insists Jack Grealish's potential return to Villa Park as a Manchester City player will not distract their attempt to upset the Premier League champions.

Grealish left his boyhood club Aston Villa in August to join City for a £100million British-record transfer fee.

The England international, 26, joined Villa as a six-year-old and made over 200 first-team appearances for them after making his debut at the age of 18.

Grealish has been sidelined since this month's international break after picking up a knock on England duty and faces a fitness test before Wednesday's clash at Villa Park.

Villa boss Gerrard: "I don't think we will be distracted by it because we've got such a big task to focus on - the strengths of the team we're facing and what we have to do in terms of the game.

"Jack very much deserves a warm welcome and I have no doubt he'll get that. This is his club and it will be when his career is over, because he was here as a little boy and he has come through the academy.

"The club have benefited a lot from what Jack has given and we very much wish him well moving forward for the remainder of his career. Obviously not for 90 minutes tomorrow."

Drawing parallels with his own illustrious playing career, Gerrard said he empathised with Grealish over his summer move to City.

Gerrard almost joined Chelsea, then the Premier League champions, in 2005 but eventually decided to stay at hometown club Liverpool.

He said: "I can totally feel what he's been through because I've been there myself when you have that opportunity to move on from your club.

"He's very much got everyone's respect and love here. I'm new to it, but I'll certainly pay my respects as well and wish him well."

Gerrard has hit the ground running at Villa since moving from Scottish Premiership champions Rangers, masterminding league wins over Brighton and Crystal Palace.

But City present the biggest hurdle yet and, in manager Pep Guardiola, a familiar playing adversary. Guardiola, then a Barcelona player, refused to shake Gerrard's hand after Liverpool had knocked the Catalan club out of the 2001 UEFA Cup.

"I forgive him for it because I was very young," Gerrard said. "I was a bit of an upstart and I was probably in his face too soon after the final whistle.

"It is an emotional game. But I'm sure he'll be ready for a handshake and a cuddle before the game. It was a long time ago but I'm the lucky one that has had the opportunity to compete against him as a player. I remember chasing his shadow for the majority of the game, that was the first memory."

PA