Good afternoon! Welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of Aston Villa vs. Manchester City. It's top against bottom and the result seems secure for Manchester City before the match has even begun, but Villa will be looking to impress new manager Remi Garde in his first match in charge.

Aston Villa are, quite simply, in a rut. Bottom of the league and already six points off safety, Villa have lost their last seven matches. However, new manager Remi Garde will be looking to bring some fresh impetus into this side. Can he pull off a sensational win in his first match in charge?

First of all, let's have a look at the team news, starting with the home team...

ASTON VILLA XI: Guzan; Hutton, Richards, Clark, Amavi; Gana, Veretout, Sanchez, Gil; Ayew, Sinclair

ASTON VILLA SUBS: Bunn, Bacuna, Lescott, Richardson, N'Zogbia, Gestede, Grealish

So there we have it - Garde's first Aston Villa starting eleven. Micah Richards comes into the starting lineup to face his former club with Jordan Amavi also making a start. It's six changes in total for Villa, with Jordan Ayew and Scott Sinclair leading the attack. Garde clearly realises changes are needed to this Villa side.

MANCHESTER CITY XI: Hart; Sagna, Kompany, Otamendi, Kolarov; Fernando, Fernandinho; De Bruyne, Toure, Sterling; Bony

MANCHESTER CITY SUBS: Caballero, Demichelis, Mangala, Clichy, Delph, Navas, Iheanacho

Just one change for the City team which beat Sevilla on Wednesday with Kevin De Bruyne coming in for Jesus Navas. The main news for City comes from the bench, with Fabian Delph returning to the matchday squad for the first time since August. He's visiting his former club and could make an appearance after injury has kept him out of the team this season.

Manuel Pellegrini certainly isn't underestimating Aston Villa today. He thinks there will be a reaction to Garde's appointment:

"There are no easy games in the Premier League," Pellegrini said on Friday.

"Villa have a new manager and the motivation not to be relegated. When you have a new manager, you have a reaction. He is a young but experienced manager who was at an important club, Lyon."

And to take a look at Garde's managerial record for a moment, a steady 51% win rate while in charge of Lyon between 2010 and 2014 shows some promise. He won the Coupe de France and Trophee des Champions in 2012, but was unable to clinch the French league title after Lyon's dominance in the previous decade.

He does have experience in England though. A 31-game spell as part of a French revolution at Arsenal in the late 1990s saw him pick up a 1997-98 Premier League winner's medal. He was linked to a role as Director of Football at the Emirates in 2007 which never materialised.

Garde certainly knows he's come into a tough job, and it comes no tougher than an opening match against the league leaders. Here's his view on the changes he has made to the team:

I'm very proud but I'll be more proud if we win.

"I just picked the team which I thought was the best. It doesn't matter which country they're from. There's still 27 [matches] to go so there will be a chance for every player."

We've had the views from the managers, but Sports Mole correspondents Pascal Lemesre and Barney Corkhill have been discussing their views on the match.

HEAD TO HEAD: Sorry Villa fans. There's even more grim reading for you when it comes to the head to head. Villa have won just one of the last 10 matches between the teams, with the league leaders triumphing eight times.

Their last meeting at Villa Park - a 2-0 win for City.

City certainly look likely to recreate that victory today, and a win would put them three points above Arsenal for a few hours at least.

The Gunners face rivals Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates this afternoon which could prove crucial.

For Villa, any points picked up today will be viewed as a bonus. A draw would see them remain bottom, but move five points off safety. An unlikely win would consign Sunderland to the foot of the table, and move Villa three points behind 17th-placed Newcastle United.

PREDICTION! We're just 15 minutes away from kickoff, so time for a prediction. I think there will be some positive signs for Garde's Villa but ultimately City have too much for them, and a 3-1 City win could be on the cards.

City were really impressive against Sevilla on Wednesday but they've been inconsistent when returning to action the following weekend. One win, one draw and one loss after playing in Europe could give some hope to the Villa fans.

Warm ups done, players in the tunnel, the wait is nearly over.

The players come out to a Remembrance Day guard of honour from members of the military, and we will, of course, have a minute's silence before kick off.

KICKOFF! There we have it. The Last Post rings out at Villa Park and both teams gather their thoughts before kickoff. Ayew and Veretout get the match underway.

Villa attack early on and a cross is aimed towards Veretout but Kompany clears. A very positive start for Villa.

Kolarov attacks down the left for City and drills a cross across the six-yard box. The ball evades Guzan but noone is on the end of it to knock the ball into the net.

Villa are enjoying a good spell of possession. City break but Richards nicks the ball from Bony and is bundled over by Kolarov inside the centre circle.

Villa are really patient in possession, passing the ball well. Amavi breaks out from defence before sending a cross into the area but Otamendi rises highest to head clear.

Sterling and Kolarov combine but when Sterling tries to return the ball to the Serbian on the left by-line Hutton slides in to clear the ball out for a throw.

Villa build an attack, with Gil playing a central role. He plays the ball to Hutton on the right but there isn't space for the cross. They try again down the left but Sinclair makes no headway.

SHOT! The home side keep hold of the ball well though and the ball finds its way to Gueye who shoots wide of the left post from 20 yards.

CHANCE! Sterling cuts in from the left side before playing in Kolarov. His shot is low towards the left post but Guzan gets down to tip the ball wide.

SHOT! From the corner, the ball falls to Fernando but his shot goes high and wide of the far post.

Sterling again makes good progress but Richards slides in to stop his progress. Kolarov's throw is played all the way back to Kompany.

CHANCE! De Bruyne plays a nice one-two with Fernando but Clark makes the block to put the ball behind. The corner is cleared but only as far as Sterling who plays an inviting cross into the area but Guzan claims the ball well.

Amavi has been impressive so far and goes round Sagna to build an attack. The ball is played across to Hutton on the right but his cross fails to beat the first man.

SUBSTITUTION: Bony comes off after picking up a knock earlier in the match and Navas replaces him. Presumably Sterling will move into a more central role with Navas playing down the wing.

Navas is in the thick of it immediately, retrieving the ball on the right, but his low cross is stopped by Clark and the ball goes behind for a goal kick after a deflection off Sterling.

City win a free kick and Kolarov crosses to Kompany. The Belgian is crowded out by two Villa players though, and eventually loses control as the ball rolls behind for a goal kick.

Both teams failing to make any headway at the moment as they exchange possession in the midfield.

City are just settling the match down now, playing at their tempo with Villa seemingly happy to sit back for now. Kolarov hunts for space down the left but doesn't find any and a ball is launched into the box with Richards heads clear.

City win a corner as Gil challenges Sagna, but De Bruyne's ball evades everybody and Villa break. The ball is played long to Gil but he doesn't have the pace to beat Kolarov and Fernandinho.

PENALTY APPEAL! Toure expertly plays a through ball to Sterling who strides into the area. He's challenged by Clark and goes down, but the referee says no penalty. He could have easily given that one.

Gil has been really impressive and wins a free kick on the edge of the area when he's fouled by Otamendi. Gil's lining up to take this...

It is Gil but he gets it all wrong and the ball flies over the crossbar.

De Bruyne breaks down the right before launching a deep cross to Sterling. It goes a foot past the striker who gathers, and plays the ball to Fernandinho, but the Brazilian can't get any purchase on the shot and Guzan easily gathers.

City build again, but Sterling fouls Gil on the right. Clark, meanwhile, is down in the penalty area but no treatment required for him.

There will be one minute of stoppage time.

Remi Garde will certainly be happy with that! Massive improvements have been made from Monday's defeat against Spurs and they do deserve to be level at Villa Park.

City were dealt a blow in the 24th minute when Bony limped off, and they've struggled to create many chances. Sterling's penalty appeal was turned down by Craig Pawson and that could prove crucial if Villa are to earn a point today.

This man, Carles Gil, has proved crucial for Villa so far and has been involved with every attack. He was mainly used from the bench by Tim Sherwood but Garde will have other ideas for him if he carries on in the second half.

STAT WATCH: City had just three attempts on goal in the first half. That's their lowest this season and they really need to up their game in the second half.

KICKOFF! De Bruyne and Sterling get the second half underway.

Manchester City are on the attack early on but Navas is stopped in his tracks by Amavi who is able to clear.

Villa win a throw on the right after Ayew threatens Otamedi. It's whelled all the way to the left hand side and Amavi plays a good chipped ball in to Sinclair. He's tackled by Otamendi and City gather.

De Bruyne has a chance from a free kick on the right by-line after Fernandinho is felled by Gueye. This is a good opportunity for City.

CHANCE! It's Kolarov who swings it in towards Guzan and the goalkeeper can only parry it into danger. Clark is first to react though and clears the ball downfield.

SAVE! Navas drives down the right and supplies a perfect cross to Sterling. His header from six yards is saved at point-blank range by Guzan. What a save!

Replays show that the ball actually bounced off Guzan's head. Great positioning, how did Sterling not hit the back of the net there?

City are piling on the pressure now, and it's another low cross by Navas. This time Richards makes the block.

The league leaders go again, this time down the right, but Hutton makes a good block tackle and wins a throw.

The Villa defenders are absorbing the pressure well here. Amavi makes the first block from a cross before Sinclair slides in to deflect the follow-up behind. De Bruyne's corner is headed well over the bar by Toure.

Sterling and Toure combine but Hutton cuts the ball out, before De Bruyne's cross is blocked by Richards.

Amavi clears the ball behind and Navas delivers the corner, but CLark rises highest to clear.

SUBSTITUTION: N'Zogbia comes on for Gil. The central midfielder impressed in the first half but has been largely anonymous after the break.

CHANCE! What a miss! Navas delivers a low cross across the six-yard box and De Bruyne reaches it but stumbles and the ball goes wide of the right post. A let off there for Villa.

SHOT! Sterling wastes another opportunity when he boots the ball over the bar from 20 yards.

Villa make a rare foray forward as Hutton hits a long ball to Ayew. The striker wins a throw on the right by-line and build possession in the attacking third. N'Zogbia is onside from Hutton's through ball but his cross is cleared behind by Kompany.

SUBSTITUTION: Villa make a defensive substitution as Bacuna replaces Sinclair.

The assistant referee raises his flag at a City throw in, seemingly due to a foul throw from Sagna. That doesn't seem to be the case though and it's another let off for Villa.

The hosts attack down the left and win a corner as Amavi plays the ball off Kompany. Veretout delivers but Kompany clears the ball long.

Another free kick goes to waste as Kolarov overhits it. Villa break immediately and Bacuna plays in Ayew, but Hart is quick off his mark to reach the ball first.

SUBSTITUTION: Boos ring out across Villa Park as Fabian Delph comes off the bench in place of Toure. He joined City just days after pledging his allegiance to Aston Villa.

SHOT! Kolarov takes a shot from a tight angle but it doesn't scare Guzan and flies over the bar.

CHANCE! Navas beats Amavi and plays the ball to Sterling. With De Bruyne advancing into the area, Sterling tries a backheel flick but the ball goes behind De Bruyne. Over-elaborate from Sterling when a simple pass would have put De Bruyne through on goal.

SUBSTITUTIONS: Gestede replaces Ayew for Villa, while teenage sensation Iheanacho comes on for Sterling.

N'Zogbia is struggling with a head injury here as Sagna hits him with his arm. It's completely unintentional but N'Zogbia looks in some discomfort.

Gestede's throw back to Hart isn't controlled well and the ball goes behind for a corner. City are furious but Villa flood the box.

CHANCE! Veretout delivers the corner which beats the first man and Gestede lifts it over the bar. That would have been controversial if it had hit the back of the net.

Manchester City corner now as Amavi pokes the ball behind. Navas plays it in and it's eventually away by Hutton.

There will be four minutes of stoppage time. Not the best news for Villa and their supporters.

CROSSBAR! What drama! Iheanacho's cross is perfect for Kompany who smashes his header against the crossbar. Delph gets to the deflection first and rifles it narrowly past the right post.

Iheanacho combines with Sagna whose cross is caught by Guzan - a bit of respite for Villa, who need to hold on for just a minute longer.

CHANCES! The cross is aimed towards Fernandinho, but Guzan claws it away. It only goes as far as Kolarov though, and Richards makes a block. Richards has been a brick wall against his former club this afternoon.

Garde will be delighted! An excellent draw and Villa somehow kept the ball out of their net. Villa remain bottom but that's a bonus point for them, and they're now five points off safety.

For City, they move a point clear of Arsenal, but with the Gunners kicking off against Tottenham shortly it's a great chance for them to move two points clear at the top.

That's all from me today, after a captivating goalless draw. I'll leave you with Sports Mole's full report of the match and point you towards the company of Shane Callaghan who will take you through that crucial North London derby here.