Dion Dublin
Former England striker on Football Focus

Grealish being back in is a shrewd move. He will go back in, be relaxed and there is less pressure on him like there was at Villa.

I just feel that Villa at home is a tall order for City, in the way they are at the moment.

Alan Shearer
Former England striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

Manchester City are not getting any sympathy.

Football is a business, you have to go out and win a game.

When you look at Man City's bench - when you're talking £50-to-60m players - you are not going to get any sympathy from anyone.

Steph Houghton
Former Manchester City and England captain on Football Focus

For any Manchester City fan at the moment you are just like, 'what is going on?'

They have been so successful.

Quite the atmosphere at a damp Villa Park considering it's a 12:30 start.

Flames shoot into the air from the sidelines and the music has been turned up to 10 as kick-off approaches.

Villa fans are already in good voice.

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter at Villa Park

Image source, Reuters

"It is not about magic or epic speeches," writes Aston Villa boss Unai Emery in his programme notes. "It's a matter of being responsible and consistent in the habits and the quality of the day work day-by-day."

Three wins from their last 11 Premier League games has seen their challenge to return to the Champions League next season stutter, with Villa seventh and just two points above Newcastle in 12th.

Victory will see them back in the top five but what Villa wouldn't give for a bit of magic to beat City this afternoon.

Alan Shearer
Former England striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

On Ollie Watkins and Jhon Duran...

I think it's a healthy situation.

Unai Emery can use them against each other. I imagine Emery is saying, "You have got your opportunity go out and show me."

For your ego when you're not scoring it hurts, but when you're scoring there is no better feeling in the world.

If Duran keeps on scoring the manager cannot leave him out.

Aston Villa

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery, speaking to TNT Sports: "It is time to use our players, keeping the quality, the skill and the capacity to exploit.

"With those three [Youri Tielemans, Boubacar Kamara and Amadou Onana] in the middle they can try to dominate."

On Aston Villa's centre forward options: "The last match Jhon Duran is improving, he is scoring goals and getting better tactically with how we want to setup the players on the field.

"With Ollie [Watkins] on the bench we have two good possibilities."

A TV camera zooms in along a line of Aston Villa fans who cheer and wave. One young fans lifts up a Villa shirt with 'Grealish' on the back of it.

Three years after leaving, Jack is still loved in these parts.

Joleon Lescott
Former Man City and Wolves defender on TNT Sports

Image source, Getty Images

I am sure Man City are working on every detail, but it's not as easy as that.

It is never one thing, it's a combination of things.

I don't think one positive result if they get it today will transform their confidence levels.

There are a couple of members of the Josko Gvardiol and Mateo Kovacic fan club at Villa Park. They've turned up in Croatia shirts.

Meanwhile, former Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is here. He's been chatting on the sidelines with Pep Guardiola.

Image source, Getty Images

Ally McCoist
Former Rangers striker on TNT Sports

Man City have got to try find a victory from somewhere.

It has been well documented, and I cannot remember in my lifetime when a top team has had a dip in form quite like it.

We are talking one win in 11.

I cannot remember a fall off like it.

Manchester City

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City defender Manuel Akanji, speaking to TNT Sports: "With the many games we have there is always another opportunity. We come here and will try to get the three points.

"A few more training sessions in a time like this is good. We can speak about the things we can improve. We are determined and nobody likes losing. We really want to turn this around and I hope we can do that today."

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter at Villa Park

Image source, Getty Images

Pep Guardiola has spoken about Manchester City's bad 40 days but they face a team they have dominated in recent years.

Villa's record against City is awful with their only victory in their last 17 games coming a year ago, Leon Bailey's winner earning the points.

That was City's last defeat - as they went on to win a fourth straight title - before losing the FA Cup final to Manchester United in May.

Now there is a crisis at City, in relative terms, heading to Villa Park with the hosts struggling as well.

It is three wins in 12 games in all competitions for Aston Villa following last week's late loss at Nottingham Forest.

Yet victory would move them above City and into fifth, another sign of how badly Guardiola's side have fallen if they can be caught by another out-of-form side.

Manchester City

Pep Guardiola on Manchester City's poor run of form: "We've had 40 bad days of results. Comparing it to eight years of incredible results, yes it's bad, absolutely. The results speak for themselves.

"This is the reality, we are not winning games and we have to. It doesn't matter the circumstances. But I know the moment we get a good result the team will come back.

"This is what we are trying to do."

Martin O'Neill
Former Aston Villa manager on BBC Radio 4's Today programme

Absolutely not. This is more important for him than ever before.

Maybe the time to walk away is when you have just clinched another Champions League.

I don't think it's in his DNA [to walk away] for a start and I don't think it's on his mind.

Freddie Pye
Man City fan writer

Pep Guardiola has been hugely let down by those he calls 'friends' in senior positions at Manchester City through a lack of satisfactory recruitment.

Should they not invest at the first opportunity to rebuild in 2025, it would be the most disrespectful act they could hand the Premier League's only unsackable coach.

Who could blame him from walking away next summer should he feel he is not being backed in the market by those who have previously tested his genius coaching capabilities to the max?