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Last updated on 12 minutes ago.From the section Premier League
Bernardo Silva scored one of the goals of the season to help Manchester City beat Aston Villa and inflict Steven Gerrard's first Premier League defeat as a manager.
It was a fourth league win in a row for Pep Guardiola's side, one that keeps them second in the table, one point behind leaders Chelsea.
Silva showed world-class technique to side-foot volley Gabriel Jesus' dropping cross into the roof of the net from just inside the area, after City ripped their hosts open with a rapid break.
That sublime strike doubled the visitors' advantage before half-time, with Ruben Dias the unlikely source of their opener when he curled into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.
Villa have renewed resolve since Gerrard's arrival though, and Ollie Watkins replied immediately after the interval with a neat strike from a well-worked corner routine.
But the hosts were unable to find a leveller and Gerrard, having won his opening two games in charge, was handed his first loss in the Villa dugout.
Jack Grealish was brought on as a late substitute to make his first return to Villa Park since a £100m summer move, greeted by a mixture of boos and applause from the home crowd that once adored him.
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Aston Villa
Squad number1Player nameMartínez
Squad number2Player nameCash
Squad number4Player nameKonsa
Squad number5Player nameMings
Squad number3Player nameTargett
Squad number7Player nameMcGinn
Squad number19Player nameNakamba
Squad number6Player nameDouglas Luiz
Squad number31Player nameBailey
Squad number11Player nameWatkins
Squad number10Player nameBuendía
Squad number8Player nameSanson
Squad number18Player nameYoung
Squad number33Player nameChukwuemeka
Manchester City
Squad number31Player nameEderson
Squad number27Player nameJoão Cancelo
Squad number3Player nameRúben Dias
Squad number6Player nameAké
Squad number11Player nameZinchenko
Squad number16Player nameRodri
Squad number25Player nameFernandinho
Squad number20Player nameBernardo Silva
Squad number26Player nameMahrez
Squad number9Player nameGabriel Jesus
Squad number7Player nameSterling
Squad number10Player nameGrealish
Line-ups
Aston Villa
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Martínez
- 2Cash
- 4Konsa
- 5Mings
- 3TargettSubstituted forChukwuemekaat 67'minutes
- 7McGinn
- 19NakambaSubstituted forSansonat 77'minutes
- 6Douglas Luiz
- 31BaileySubstituted forYoungat 31'minutes
- 11Watkins
- 10Buendía
Substitutes
- 8Sanson
- 12Steer
- 16Tuanzebe
- 18Young
- 21El Ghazi
- 30Hause
- 33Chukwuemeka
- 39Davis
- 41J Ramsey
Man City
Formation 4-3-3
- 31Ederson
- 27Cancelo
- 3Rúben Dias
- 6Aké
- 11Zinchenko
- 16Rodri
- 25Fernandinho
- 20Bernardo Silva
- 26Mahrez
- 9Gabriel JesusSubstituted forGrealishat 87'minutes
- 7Sterling
Substitutes
- 10Grealish
- 13Steffen
- 33Carson
- 47Foden
- 79Mbete
- 80Palmer
- 87McAtee
- 90Lavia
- 97Wilson-Esbrand
Referee:Mike Dean
Attendance:41,400
Live Text
Match ends, Aston Villa 1, Manchester City 2.
Second Half ends, Aston Villa 1, Manchester City 2.
Foul by Rodri (Manchester City).
John McGinn (Aston Villa) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Attempt saved. Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Bernardo Silva (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Morgan Sanson (Aston Villa).
Substitution, Manchester City. Jack Grealish replaces Gabriel Jesus.
Attempt missed. Tyrone Mings (Aston Villa) header from the left side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Douglas Luiz following a set piece situation.
Foul by Raheem Sterling (Manchester City).
John McGinn (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Attempt missed. Tyrone Mings (Aston Villa) header from the left side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by John McGinn following a set piece situation.
Foul by Fernandinho (Manchester City).
Morgan Sanson (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Hand ball by Rodri (Manchester City).
Substitution, Aston Villa. Morgan Sanson replaces Marvelous Nakamba.
Ederson (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Tyrone Mings (Aston Villa).
Corner, Aston Villa. Conceded by Ederson.
Attempt saved. Carney Chukwuemeka (Aston Villa) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Emiliano Buendía with a through ball.
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