Bernardo Silva 8, Raheem Sterling 5; Matt Targett 9, Ross Barkley 6 - Manchester City v Aston Villa player ratings

City's 2-0 win tempered by injuries to playmaker Kevin De Bruyne and defender Kyle Walker

MANCHESTER CITY RATINGS: Ederson 7 – Looked comfortable all game and was well positioned when Douglas Luiz hit a zinger from distance, Villa’s best chance. He dived to his right to punch the ball away. Getty Images

Kyle Walker 5 – A yellow card and then an early departure for Walker, who was substituted with a thigh injury after 28 minutes. Not a good night. PA

John Stones 7 – Solid at the back and swashbuckling when coming out of defence with the ball at his feet, the John Stones renaissance continues. Another clean sheet, another win: job done. Reuters

Ruben Dias 8 – Superb again. He made an incredible clearance to deny a tap-in at the far post after Ollie Watkins had sent a delicious cross across the six-yard box from the left. Reuters

Joao Cancelo 7 – The Spaniard had acres of space on the left throughout and was a constant menace with his crossing. He came close to scoring in the second half, having swapped to the right to replace Walker, when he cut onto his left foot and struck the bar with a fierce drive. PA

Rodri 7 – Once again was efficient with the dirty work, and it was his dispossession of Mings that allowed Silva a shooting chance to score. Getty Images

Ilkay Gundogan 7 – Continued his fine form and scored one and could have had more. He saw a header saved by Martinez and then should have bundled home following a melee in the area, but finally got his goal when he converted from the spot. Reuters

Kevin De Bruyne 7 – His usual imperious self, probing and pulling the strings. He was dictating much of the play from the centre but was forced off early with what looked like a reoccurrence of his ankle injury. Getty Images

Bernardo Silva 8 – Silva has slowly been creeping back to his best and having had a number of chances to score, he finally netted his first of the season in the league with an unstoppable drive. AFP

Phil Foden 8 – An electric performance from Foden, who saw a multitude of crosses and teasing balls flash across the face of goal. He had several shots blocked too. Did everything but score. AP Photo

Raheem Sterling 5 – Substituted after a poor performance. City were superb going forward, but Sterling was wasteful. AP Photo

SUB: Oleksandr Zinchenko (Walker, 28) 7 – Looked solid when he came on. Didn’t do a lot wrong and had a good tussle with Traore. Reuters

Gabriel Jesus (De Bruyne, 59) 6 – The game looked to be crying out for a proper No 9, but he looked rusty and not at the same pace as his teammates. Reuters

Riyadh Mahrez (Sterling, 72) N/A – Joined City’s attack but his final ball let him down on occasion. PA

ASTON VILLA RATINGS: Emiliano Martinez 8 – Made a phenomenal save early on to deny Bernardo Silva after the Villa defence failed to clear a corner, and then repeated his heroics to deny Gundogan. Had little chance to stop Silva’s thunderbolt, or the penalty, but between them saved low to his right to deny City another. AFP

Matty Cash 6 – Made several key blocks, firstly from John Stones after Martinez had saved at close range to deny Silva, and then from Foden on the stroke of half-time. However, he gave a penalty away when Jesus’s header struck his arm. Reuters

Ezri Konsa 8 – Konsa has developed a brilliant partnership with Tyrone Mings and though the Villa defence was stretched at times, Konsa was a colossus for the visitors. Superb. EPA

Tyrone Mings 7 – Was usually in the right place at the right time, though he was punished on the one occasion he made a mistake. Before Rodri dispossessed him, he’d been superb in the middle, making a number of key interceptions and blocks. Reuters

Matt Targett 9 – Made a key interception to deny Kevin de Bruyne after Foden had cut the ball back, and he didn’t really put a foot wrong all evening. Kept Raheem Sterling quiet all game. Was substituted before the first goal went in. PA

John McGinn 6 – He was good at utilising the space on both flanks, but he also miscued on several occasions. He had an incredible chance to score but fluffed his lines on the edge of the six-yard box. AFP

Douglas Luiz 7 – Hit a stunning half volley from about 25 yards but his effort was pushed away by Ederson. Was everywhere on the pitch but was sometimes profligate with his passing. PA

Bertrand Traore 7 – Always looked dangerous on the right. He had a good chance in the first six minutes but held onto to the ball too long. He had better luck in the second half when, after a delightful touch that sent Kevin de Bruyne into next week, he cut his shot straight at Ederson. AFP

Ross Barkley 6 – Looked a bit rusty at times and didn’t always find the right ball, but he but was dangerous on the counter attack too. He had a couple of efforts on goal, too but couldn’t find a way past Ederson. PA

Jack Grealish 8 – Attacked with intent all game and contributed to a pulsating game. Always looked dangerous and sometimes created chances out of nothing. On one occasion, when crowded out by several defenders, he still managed to find a way to tee up McGinn. AP Photo

Ollie Watkins 7 – Another positive performance. Was good on the ball, dangerous on the left and brilliant linking the play. His final ball wasn’t always good enough tonight, but a constant threat, nonetheless. Reuters

SUB: Anwar El Ghazi (Traore, 68) 6 – Could probably consider himself unlucky to be dropped to the bench and looks solid when he came on. PA

SUBS: Jacob Ramsey (Barkley, 68) 7 – The youngster looked lively when he came on and will have boosted his chances of getting more game time; Neil Taylor (Targett, 75) N/A – Villa’s defence wasn’t quite as solid when Taylor come on, and City took full advantage. AFP

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola's delight at their 2-0 win over Aston Villa on Wednesday was tempered by injuries to playmaker Kevin De Bruyne and defender Kyle Walker.

Belgian De Bruyne looked to have sustained a leg muscle injury and was replaced on the hour mark at the Etihad Stadium, while full back Kyle Walker went off in the first half after a collision with Villa's Jack Grealish.

"I haven't spoken to the doctor," Guardiola told a news conference. "If Kyle asks to be out, it is because something happened. Hopefully it is just a kick."

Guardiola said De Bruyne's injury could be a result of a packed schedule.

"Kevin put his hand on his leg, so I have the feeling it will be something muscular," the Spanish coach said.

"It is normal, these things happen with this amount of games."

City have won six straight league games and are two points behind leaders Manchester United, who have played a game more.