MX23RW : Friday, January 17 03:41:13| >> :600:488647:488647:
Jan 12, 2020 at 4.30pm UK at ​Villa Park
Attendance: 41,823
Aston Villa
1-6
Man CityManchester City
El Ghazi (90' pen.)
FT(HT: 0-4)
Mahrez (18', 24'), Aguero (28', 57', 81'), Jesus (45')

Pep Guardiola hails "incredible" Sergio Aguero as he looks to break Henry record

Pep Guardiola hails
© Reuters
The Manchester City striker needs one more Premier League goal to match the ex-Arsenal man's record for an overseas player.

Sergio Aguero stands on the brink of another milestone as Premier League champions Manchester City head to Aston Villa this weekend.

The prolific Argentina striker needs just one more goal to equal Thierry Henry's record 175 for a foreign player in the competition.

Aguero reached 174 with City's opener in their 2-0 victory over Sheffield United a fortnight ago. He was then rested for the win over Everton on New Year's Day.

Sergio Aguero, centre left, celebrates scoring against Sheffield United
Sergio Aguero, centre left, celebrates scoring against Sheffield United (Martin Rickett/PA)

After also sitting out the midweek Carabao Cup semi-final first-leg win at Manchester United, City's all-time record goalscorer with 246 strikes in all competitions – 15 this season – is poised to return at Villa Park on Sunday.

City manager Pep Guardiola said: "He's a guy in the box with a sense of goal. He can score from everywhere, in all the positions. He's an incredible striker, incredible.

"That he will score more goals than a legend like Thierry Henry is an incredible achievement – many, many goals."

Aguero's Premier League goals, in 254 appearances, have come at a similar rate to those of Henry. The Frenchman played 254 times for Arsenal from 1999-2007 and then returned for a brief loan in 2012, playing four more times and scoring one goal.

Premier League leading overseas goalscorers
Premier League leading overseas goalscorers (PA graphic)

If Aguero moves past Henry, only Frank Lampard (177), Andy Cole (187), Wayne Rooney (208) and Alan Shearer (260) will be ahead of him on the all-time Premier League goalscoring chart.

Guardiola is hoping City can maintain their recent momentum this weekend.

Since the loss to Wolves on December 27 that probably dealt a final blow to their hopes of retaining the title, City have won their last four matches in all competitions.

They face a Villa side who, although in relegation danger, have won two of their last three.

Guardiola said: "You have to play all the teams – sometimes at the top, sometimes the middle and sometimes the bottom. They're a historic club with a fantastic stadium.

"They've changed, in the last games, their set-up and played more five than four at the back, maybe because of the absences with big injuries they've had.

"We'll try to maintain the dynamic we have."

One player Guardiola is wary of is Villa star Jack Grealish, who has impressed this season on his return to the top flight.

"I didn't know him before I came here but he is an exceptional player," Guardiola said.

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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool21201050143661
2Manchester CityMan City22152562253747
3Leicester CityLeicester22143547212645
4Chelsea22123739291039
5Manchester UnitedMan Utd2297636251134
6Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd228862421332
7Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2271053128331
8Tottenham HotspurSpurs228683631530
9Crystal Palace227872024-429
10Arsenal2261062931-228
11Everton2284102532-728
12Southampton2284102739-1228
13Newcastle UnitedNewcastle2275102134-1326
14Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2266102530-524
15Burnley2273122437-1324
16West Ham UnitedWest Ham2164112533-822
17Watford2257102034-1422
18Aston Villa2263132843-1521
19Bournemouth2255122035-1520
20Norwich CityNorwich2235142245-2314

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