The defeat means the champions are six points from leaders Arsenal with Liverpool and Villa ahead in the table after 15 matches. Pep Guardiola says he takes responsibility for the winless run, which has also comprised draws with Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham.
City will welcome back Rodri for their next game against Luton Town after the Spaniard was suspended for the trip to Villa Park for picking up five yellow cards. Jack Grealish also sat out the visit to his former club for the same reason, while Jeremy Doku was ruled out through injury.
Here are City’s next six Premier League fixtures over the festive period and into the new year, a run that is interrupted by this month’s Club World Cup before a ‘mid-season break’ towards the end of January.
Manchester City - 4th (30pts)
Luton Town (A) - December 10
Crystal Palace (H) - December 16
Everton (A) - December 27
Sheffield United (H) - December 30
Newcastle United (A) - January 13
Burnley (H) - January 31
Verdict: There may be concern over City’s recent set of results but the reality is that the big boys with the meatier squads are out of the way over the busy Christmas schedule. The likes of Crystal Palace, Everton and Burnley all have thinner rosters and tired legs could play into City’s favour.
The Blues’ biggest hurdle is the travelling and toll of the Club World Cup in Saudi Arabia. City play Palace three days before their scheduled semi-final with the final three days after that. Fortunately there is a gap of five days until the trip to Goodison Park on December 27, but it’s still not a lot of recovery time.
Arsenal - 1st (36pts)
Aston Villa (A) - December 9
Brighton & Hove Albion (H) - December 17
Liverpool (A) - December 23
West Ham United (H) - December 28
Fulham (A) - December 31
Crystal Palace (H) - January 20
Liverpool - 2nd (34pts)
Crystal Palace (A) - December 9
Manchester United (H) - December 17
Arsenal (H) - December 23
Burnley (A) - December 26
Newcastle United (H) - January 1
Bournemouth (A) - January 21
Aston Villa - 3rd (32pts)
Arsenal (H) - December 9
Brentford (A) - December 17
Sheffield United (H) - December 22
Manchester United (A) - December 26
Burnley (H) - December 30
Everton (A) - January 14
Tottenham - 5th (27pts after 14 games)
West Ham United (H) - December 7
Newcastle United (H) - December 10
Nottingham Forest (A) - December 15
Everton (H) - December 23
Brighton & Hove Albion (A) - December 28
Bournemouth (H) - December 31
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