The Norwich free-kick is partially cleared by Villa and it falls to Todd Cantwell. He tries a volley from the edge of the penalty area, but gets it all wrong, it's a poor connection and the volley doesn't even reach the goal.

Norwich with a free-kick to the side of the Villa penalty area after John McGinn slides in on Brandon Williams. McGinn had looked to have taken the ball first.

Chris Bevan
BBC Sport at Etihad Stadium

We're getting a light show before kick-off at Etihad Stadium. Well, more of a dark show.... with flashes every time a member of the City team has his name read out. Jean-Michel Jarre doesn't have much to worry about, to be honest..

Nearly a wonder goal from John McGinn. The Villa midfielder gets the ball 35 yards out and he smashes it goalwards. It's swerving all over the place and home goalkeeper Tim Krul does superbly to tip it over.

Chris Bevan
BBC Sport at Etihad Stadium

Image source, Getty Images

It's very unlike master creator Kevin de Bruyne to reach Christmas without registering a Premier League assist but the Belgian only has tonight and Sunday's game at Newcastle to avoid that unwanted statistic.

The last time it happened, in 2018, De Bruyne's season had been ravaged by serious ligament injury - this campaign has been more of a stop-start affair because of more minor knocks and, last month, a positive Covid-19 test.

The good news for Manchester City is that they are top of the table without him producing anything like his best form. The worry for Leeds must be that he gets his season started properly tonight, on his first league start since the derby win at Old Trafford on 6 November.

It's all Villa in the first few minutes. Ezri Konsa sprints out from the Villa defence and sends it wide to Emiliano Buendia, but the ex-Canary's cross finds a home defender and it is cleared.

Image source, Reuters

A bright start from the visitors and Matty Cash is allowed to charge down the right wing, before a sliding challenge from Brandon Williams sends it behind for a corner.

The set-piece from Douglas Luiz on the right is a poor one though, finding only a Norwich man on the edge of the penalty area and the chance is wasted.

Chris Bevan
BBC Sport at Etihad Stadium

It's a mild night in Manchester and, even better for the fans who are currently pitch-side soaking up the atmosphere as members of Manchester City's 'tunnel club', it is a dry night too.

One of them is actually wearing a t-shirt. At a football match, in Manchester, in December. I'm not kidding.

Image source, BBC Sport

Here we go at Carrow Road. Aston Villa get us under way.

Leeds could become the first side to score at least twice in three successive Premier League matches but not win any of them since West Ham in March/April 2016.

Their 2-1 triumph at City in April was only the second time in 20 attempts they have beaten the side starting the day top of the Premier League table.

It was just 38 days ago that Dean Smith lost his job as Aston Villa manager before getting the Norwich role soon after.

Can Smith guide his new team to a win over his old one, and take the Canaries off the foot of the Premier League in the process?

Manchester City could equal Liverpool's top-flight record of 33 wins in a calendar year, set in 1982, if they win today.

They have scored 499 goals in 206 Premier League games under Pep Guardiola. The fewest matches any team has taken to score 500 under one manager is 234, set by Liverpool under Jurgen Klopp.

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City are winless in four Premier League games against Leeds since a 2-1 home victory under Kevin Keegan in January 2003 (D2, L2).

Leeds, who won the corresponding fixture 2-1 last season, could earn consecutive away league victories against Manchester City for the first time in 34 years.

Mark Lawrenson
BBC football expert

Leeds took four points off Manchester City last season and beat them at Etihad Stadium, but I don't see Marcelo Bielsa's side repeating that feat.

They put in a very decent performance against Chelsea on Saturday and must feel a bit robbed to have lost out to a last-gasp penalty at Stamford Bridge.

But they don't seem to be able to string together two good displays at the moment and I can't see them pushing City so close.

Wolves frustrated City for long periods on Saturday but Leeds are not a team that will go there and play as defensively that. They will be more open, and City will find a way through.

Prediction: 3-0

Hibs are playing Dundee in the Scottish Prem tonight. Check out that live text if you'd like.

Talk Norwich City's Jack Reeve tells The Football News Show what Dean Smith has changed since taking over as manager at Carrow Road.