StephenthePoet: What do Fred and Wan-Bissaka need to do to get replaced by more talented players showing better form? Ole's sentimental loyalty does not foster a hungry squad with healthy competition for places.

Dakporticpower: I'm the no. 1 defender of Solskjaer but even I cannot explain this obsession he has with starting Fred and McTominay in a double pivot. Playing 2 pivot at home to Villa is a negative move in my book.

Want more preview content to get you in the mood for today's Premier League action?

Then feast your eyes upon this from 12:00 BST.

What do you make of those line-ups then? Looks like Pep Guardiola hasn't tried to overthink his Manchester City side. Why doesn't he just do the same for City's big European games?!

Anyway, that argument's for another day. Today's about a big game between two sides sure to be challenging for the title come May.

Who will win it? Our vote is now live so click on the icon to the right to pick your Premier League champion for 2021-22.

Manchester United are unchanged from the side that won at West Ham last Sunday.

Edinson Cavani has recovered from a muscle strain and makes the bench.

Will he get to play with Cristiano Ronaldo for the first time?

Man Utd XI: De Gea, Wan Bissaka, Varane, Maguire, Shaw, McTominay, Fred, Greenwood, Bruno Fernandes, Pogba, Ronaldo.

Subs: Lindelof, Martial, Lingard, Dalot, Cavani, Heaton, Sancho, Matic, Van de Beek.

Image source, BBC Sport

One change for Aston Villa from the side that started the 3-0 win over Everton last Saturday.

Axel Tuanzebe, who is on loan from Manchester United, is ineligible against his parent club so Kortney Hause makes his first Premier League start of the season.

Former United player Ashley Young is on the bench.

Aston Villa: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Hause, Mings, Targett, Jacob Ramsey, Douglas Luiz, McGinn, Ings, Watkins.

Subs: Buendia, Steer, Traore, Young, Nakamba, El Ghazi, Carney Chukwuemeka, Archer, Bogarde.

Image source, BBC Sport

Thomas Tuchel makes four changes to the Chelsea team that beat Tottenham Hotspur 3-0 in their last league outing.

Edouard Mendy returns in goal after recovering from a hip problem, while Reece James, N’Golo Kante and Timo Werner are all recalled.

Kepa Arrizabalaga, Thiago Silva and Kai Havertz drop to the bench, but Mason Mount misses out through injury.

Chelsea XI: Mendy, James, Christensen, Rudiger, Azpilicueta, Jorginho, Kovacic, Alonso, Kante, Werner, Lukaku

Subs: Arrizabalaga, Silva, Loftus-Cheek, Chalobah, Saul, Hudson-Odoi, Chilwell, Ziyech, Havertz

Image source, BBC Sport

Manchester City also make four changes to the side that drew 0-0 with Southampton in the Premier League last weekend.

Kevin de Bruyne and Phil Foden both start, as do Rodri and Aymeric Laporte. Nathan Ake, Raheem Sterling and Fernandinho are among the substitutes, with Ilkay Gundogan missing out entirely.

Man City XI: Ederson, Walker, Ruben Dias, Laporte, Cancelo, De Bruyne, Rodri, Bernardo Silva, Foden, Gabriel Jesus, Grealish

Subs: Steffen, Stones, Ake, Sterling, Torres, Fernandinho, Mahrez, Palmer, Lavia

Image source, BBC Sport

Bill Rice
BBC Radio Manchester

While Manchester United have suffered defeats in Europe and the Carabao Cup, they are still unbeaten five games into a Premier League season for just the second time in the last 10 years.

They also have a remarkable record against today's opponents, having won a Premier League record 37 games against Aston Villa.

Dean Smith's side in comparison have won only one of their last 43 against United in all competitions, and have mustered only 3 victories in 52 Premier League meetings.

Villa's only victory at Old Trafford in their last 34 visits was a 1-0 win in December 2009.

If that wasn't bad enough - Cristiano Ronaldo - who has already netted against two of his favourite opponents in Newcastle and West Ham - has scored more Premier League goals against Aston Villa than any other opponent, a record he will be trying to extend today beyond the 8 goals he netted against them in his first spell in England.

Chris Bevan
BBC Sport

He is already one of only two managers to have got the better of Pep Guardiola in three successive matches - so how telling will it be if Thomas Tuchel can rack up four wins in a row when Chelsea host Manchester City on Saturday?

The Chelsea boss never beat Guardiola when they both worked in Germany but followed in Jurgen Klopp's footsteps soon after arriving at Stamford Bridge when he racked up a trio of wins in three different competitions in the space of six weeks at the end of last season.

Tuchel's last triumph, in the Champions League final, was by far the most significant of those successes, and came after some so-called over-thinking by his opposite number saw him tinker with the tactics that had just delivered his latest Premier League title.

So, what has Guardiola got up his sleeve this time? We're about to find out his starting XI for starters...

Chelsea

Last season's Champions League final saw Thomas Tuchel extend his impressive record against Manchester City, with that his side's third straight win.

But Tuchel says today's game is not about his rivalry with City boss Pep Guardiola.

"I have the highest respect for Pep," said the German, who expects a "50/50" contest at Stamford Bridge.

Asked whether he was a better coach than Guardiola, Tuchel added: "This question does not even exist for me and I can't answer it. It's a question for you guys and you can endlessly debate.

"I am a huge admirer for the impact he had from his first day of his professional coaching - the impact at Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester City. He has my biggest respect.

"There is no reason to ask myself if I am a better coach. I do the best I can, I am in a place I am very happy, and I am a better coach today than yesterday."

Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea's last meeting with Manchester City? Well, it was the small matter of the Champions League final, of course, in Porto on 29 May.

Wasn't a great game for the neutrals but Chelsea fans didn't care one jot as a Kai Havertz goal just before half-time was enough for them to become European champions for the second time.

What can we expect this time round? It's far too early in the season to be a title decider. If Chelsea win, City have plenty of time to claw it back.

But given the start Chelsea have made, City will be keen to stop them building any more momentum, especially with the run of league fixtures Thomas Tuchel's men have coming up.

With less at stake than in last season's European showpiece, will there be more goalmouth action at Stamford Bridge today? Here's hoping!

Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy has recovered from a hip problem and will start on Saturday, head coach Thomas Tuchel has confirmed.

Christian Pulisic remains out and Mason Mount is absent with a minor injury.

Manchester City will recall the majority of the players rested for their Carabao Cup win versus Wycombe.

Rodri, Aymeric Laporte and John Stones, who have been sidelined by injuries recently, will be monitored after resuming training.

Nathan Ake could return after being granted compassionate leave in midweek. Oleksandr Zinchenko and Ilkay Gundogan also missed Tuesday's game because of fitness concerns, so their availability is in doubt.

We'll have the actual teams at 11:30 folks.

Mark Lawrenson
BBC football expert

Manchester United are still not quite right for me. They are going to win a load of games this season, but there will be times where they unexpectedly come unstuck.

The big question for me is can United win without playing well? I know they won at West Ham last week, but they got away with that one really because of the penalty save at the end. Then they changed their whole team when they lost to the same opposition in the Carabao Cup in midweek, but so did the Hammers.

Aston Villa beat Everton comfortably last time out and, before that, they showed against Chelsea how they can make life difficult for the top sides. United should still win this one, but it might not be straightforward. Lawro's prediction: 2-0.

Friction's prediction: 2-1. Villa made some good signings over the summer but I think Bruno Fernandes is going to be on form for United, and Cristiano Ronaldo is going to enjoy himself too.

Image source, Getty Images

Mark Lawrenson
BBC football expert

Mark Lawrenson's guest for this week's Premier League predictions is legendary drum and bass DJ and producer Friction, an Arsenal fan whose new single I Need To Feel is out now.

The last time Manchester City went to Stamford Bridge, in January, they took Chelsea apart with three goals in the first 35 minutes, but that was before Thomas Tuchel took over and this is a very different Chelsea side now.

The games between the big four - these two, plus Liverpool and Manchester United - are going to be so important this season. It seems pretty obvious they will end up clear of the rest, but in what order? These meetings, and their mini-league, will decide that.

Chelsea are going very well and brushed Spurs aside in the second half on Sunday but I can't see this being an open game, because neither manager will want to lose it. Lawro's prediction: 1-1.

Friction's prediction: 1-1. I'd definitely prefer City to win it, from the London point of view, but this is going to be an amazing game, an absolute cracker. City are capable of playing the most amazing football, but Chelsea just keep on getting stronger.

Still time to make some changes to your fantasy football teams. After some inspiration or reassurance? Our man Alistair Bruce-Ball is here to help.

And in this week's tips he's suggesting playing his wildcard to switch two big names who are involved in today's early games. I bet you can guess who.

• Chelsea v Manchester City (12:30)
• Manchester United v Aston Villa (12:30)
• Everton v Norwich City
• Leeds United v West Ham
• Leicester City v Burnley
• Watford v Newcastle United
• Brentford v Liverpool (17:30)

Are you not interested in the golf? Not that bothered about tonight's boxing?

Well you've come to the right place then because we've got another bumper Saturday of Premier League football coming up and do we have a couple of belters to kick things off.

Chelsea are hosting the defending champions Manchester City while Manchester United's home game with Aston Villa has also been brought forward to 12:30 BST.

Then we've got four games from 15:00 before Liverpool wrap up the day at Brentford. I can't wait!