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

Another free-kick to City. And the boos intensity has Grealish pulls on his white City shirt on the touchline.

McGinn turns in the free-kick but Mings is unable to connect.

Now then. Villa win a free-kick in the middle of the City half. But instead of playing it directly into the box, the home side pass across the pitch, failing to trouble the danger zone.

 A few boos go around Villa Park as Grealish looks to be readying himself for his grand entrance.

Chukwuemeka is buzzing around trying to force something but with Watkins having drifted out of the box out wide, there are very few options to then aim for.

Villa got picked off on the break in the first half when they committed men forward but they are going to need to take a few more risks here if they want to get something from the game in the final 10 minutes.

Still no substitutes to appear off the City bench. The players who are on the pitch, meanwhile, continue to go about steadily managing the game.

Villa make their third change as the hard-working Nakamba is replaced by fellow midfielder Morgan Sanson.

Villa could be level! 

Buendia threads a slide rule pass into the box to substitute Chukwuemeka who has the goal to aim for. Sadly he also has Ederson to beat and the big goalkeeper stands tall to block. A big, big chance! 

Chance City! Bernardo Silva beats the offside trap down the right wing and whips a cross in. Jesus, with his back to goal, takes one touch to kill the cross before trying to find the net on the turn with his volley. That would have been stylish goal. Instead Jesus shoots wide.

Less than 20 minutes left and no sign of Mr Grealish, yet.

City back with the ball at their feet and in control. Targett's exit has just punctured the Villa momentum somewhat.

Bernardo Silva is so adept at getting himself into pockets of space, this time he picks up a pass from Mahrez near the byline after the latter opted not to cross. City's passing has been very crisp tonight.

Young has gone to left-back since that switch. Villa are capable of taking something out of this game after weathering the early storm.

A groggy looking Targett is getting back to his feet. That's his night done, though, as he walks off to be replaced by the youngster Chukwuemeka. An exciting, attacking move from Gerrard.

Douglas Luiz, with his bleached blond hair, is unable to connect with a cross into the box. Play is stopped with Targett suffering the after-effects of a heavy landing on the turf moments earlier. He could be a touch winded here.

Steven Gerrard will be plenty pleased with what he has seen from his team since the break, with City not being able to reach the heights of the first half. It's been much more even.

The first answer is not a lot as Fernandinho heads clear. But McGinn collects on the right and fires the ball back towards the far post where Watkins cushions it down. Konsa tries to pounce but Ake gets there first to touch out for a corner.

A quick Var check on whether Ake did so illegally... but it's a no. The eventual corner comes to nothing.

Watkins, making a nuisance of himself on the near touchline, draws a foul out of Cancelo. The Villa faithful appreciated that effort. What can Douglas Luiz do with this free-kick?

That's straight off the training ground. Mahrez opts to pick out Jesus on the edge of the box with his corner but the latter's first-time volley goes  just wide after a deflection.

Grealish is decked out in his orange substitute bib stretching on the sidelines. Will Pep Guardiola think about handing him decent minutes against his former team?

City are not a team likely to be put off their stride by conceding a goal. They've set about their business well since the restart, Bernardo Silva and Sterling both making inroads in the box before Zinchenko launches a rocket of a shot over the bar.

It could not have been a better start to the half for the home side, no wonder Prince William is all smiles in the crowd. Villa Park is full of voice again.

Villa back in it!

Ollie Watkins rifles home at the near post to bring the home side back in it right at the start of the second half#PLonPrime #AVLMCI pic.twitter.com/tmmqH59xPA

— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) December 1, 2021

This is not a drill. Man City have conceded from a set-piece for the first time in the Premier League this season. 

Game on. Young applies the pressure to Zinchenko to win a corner. The hosts bring up the reinforcements but it is forward Watkins who applies the finish to Douglas Luiz's corner, with a low half-volley that squeezes in off the near post.

Aston Villa 1 (Watkins 47 mins) Man City 2

It's Villa who get us back underway courtesy of Young's pass.

4 - Bernardo Silva now has four goals in his last seven Premier League appearances for Manchester City - as many as in his previous 55 in the competition. Glorious. pic.twitter.com/wpM5vaze2D

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 1, 2021

The visitors have barely got into top gear but it says much about their dominance that they are two goals up and cruising.

Steven Gerrard will be grateful to get his players back into the dressing room for a debrief. 

WHAT A FINISH