Manchester City assistant Alan Mahon is barking orders from the touchline as he takes charge of this fixture in Gareth Taylor's ongoing absence.
Already demanding more from his side as he shouts "pressure!" towards Chloe Kelly. Works a trick as the City forward forces a corner kick.
HITS THE WOODWORK
Manchester City 1-0 Aston Villa
10 minutes played at the Academy Stadium.
Manchester City go close to a second goal as Chloe Kelly hits the top of the right post with a right-foot drive from the edge of the box.
Post update
Manchester City 1-0 Aston Villa
Well, that was close for Villa!
Great chance to level early on as Steph Houghton gives the ball away easily playing out from the back.
Villa square it to Nadine Hanssen on the edge of the box and she leaves Karen Bardsley motionless but the shot creeps just wide of the left post.
Post update
Manchester City 1-0 Aston Villa
Could be a tough afternoon from here for Villa.
City are pressing them deep in their own half as they try to get some time on the ball.
Get Involved
Tweet using #bbcfootball
Well, that was a quick start by Manchester City!
As always you can have your say on any of today's WSL action.
Do you think the meeting later between Chelsea and Manchester United might decide the title? Or can Arsenal and City muscle their way back into the race?
The best way to get involved is by using the #bbcfootball.
We'll try and get as many of your responses into the live.
'It wasn't an easy finish'
Manchester City 1-0 Aston Villa
Jayne Ludlow
Wales manager on BBC Red Button
Too much time on the pitch for City. And those girls in Blue don't need that much time to create things.
You can say it's an easy finish, but I don't think it is. She's actually falling back as she hits it.
Great start for City.
GOAL: Manchester City 1-0 Aston Villa
Lauren Hemp (2 mins)
Video content
Video caption: Hemp applies the finish after superb City moveHemp applies the finish after superb City move
Lightning fast start for Manchester City!
A goal inside the first two minutes after they enjoy loads of time on the ball.
Jill Scott with time to play Chloe Kelly into space down the right who plays a brilliantly-teasing ball across the face of goal for Lauren Hemp to arrive and finish at the back post unmarked.
KICK-OFF
Manchester City 0-0 Aston Villa
And we're off and running for this afternoon's WSL action.
Amy Fearn is our referee at the Academy Stadium as she oversees both sets of players taking the knee before Aston Villa kick-off.
Post update
Manchester City v Aston Villa (12:30 GMT)
The two teams are out on the pitch and exchanging pre-match greetings.
Not long to go until kick-off.
Davies optimistic of Villa's chances
Manchester City v Aston Villa (12:30 GMT)
PA MediaCopyright: PA Media
Aston Villa head coach Gemma Davies has just been speaking to BBC Sport's Kelly Somers before kick-off.
She admits her side have come a long way since a 2-0 defeat by City on the opening weekend of this season.
How it stands
.Copyright: .
As mentioned, we've got a meeting of the top two on the way later this afternoon.
Manchester United head to Chelsea with a three-point lead over the Blues but Emma Hayes' side have the chance to knock them off the summit with a home win, while they also have a game in hand.
Manchester City start the afternoon in fourth and can close the gap on third-placed Arsenal with a win before the Gunners face Reading later.
Boss Taylor absent
Manchester City v Aston Villa (12:30 GMT)
Manchester City manager Gareth Taylor is self-isolating this afternoon as a result of those positive Covid-19 cases in the squad last weekend.
His assistant Alan Mahon takes charge of the team for this fixture.
Turn on and tune in!
Manchester City v Aston Villa (12:30 GMT)
BBC Red Button
We're live from the Academy Stadium for the first of this afternoon's six fixtures on both the BBC Red Button and the BBC Sport website and app and also the BBC iPlayer.
Manchester City entertain Aston Villa as they go in search of a third straight win and points to keep them up with the top three.
Villa will be keen to come away with any sort of result to haul themselves further away from the bottom.
Paul Scott is the man talking you through the action alongside Wales manager Jayne Ludlow.
Team news
Manchester City v Aston Villa (12:30 GMT)
Here's a look at the line-ups for our first fixture...
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
Manchester City return to action after their match against West Ham last Saturday was postponed due to Covid-19 reasons.
Lauren Hemp, Chloe Kelly and Ellen White lead the line for the hosts with Karen Bardsley in goal.
Aston Villa head coach Gem Davies makes four changes to the side which faced Bristol City in the Continental Cup in midweek.
Stine Larsen found the net for Villa in that 2-1 defeat and she once again starts upfront.
Manchester City XI: Bardsley; Beckie, Houghton (capt), Morgan, Bronze, Coombs, Scott, Stanway, Kelly, Hemp, White.
Subs: Taieb, Park, Greenwood, Window, Ravening, Phillips, Davies.
Aston Villa XI: Weiss; Ale, Siems, Haig, Asante, Arthur, Ewers (capt), Hanssen, Hayles, Petzelberger, Larsen.
Birmingham City v Brighton & Hove Albion (14:00 GMT)
Reading v Arsenal (14:00 GMT)
Chelsea v Manchester United (14:30 GMT)
West Ham United v Tottenham Hotspur (15:00 GMT)
Back at full strength
After just the one match survived last weekend, the Women's Super League returns this Sunday with a full programme of fixtures.
There's some tantalising match-ups on the way as well with the top two going head-to-head later plus a London derby where bragging rights will be up for grabs.
Welcome along, we start proceedings up in Manchester in the next 15 minutes.
Live Reporting
Adam Williams and Josef Rindl
All times stated are UK
Post update
Manchester City 1-0 Aston Villa
Manchester City assistant Alan Mahon is barking orders from the touchline as he takes charge of this fixture in Gareth Taylor's ongoing absence.
Already demanding more from his side as he shouts "pressure!" towards Chloe Kelly. Works a trick as the City forward forces a corner kick.
HITS THE WOODWORK
Manchester City 1-0 Aston Villa
10 minutes played at the Academy Stadium.
Manchester City go close to a second goal as Chloe Kelly hits the top of the right post with a right-foot drive from the edge of the box.
Post update
Manchester City 1-0 Aston Villa
Well, that was close for Villa!
Great chance to level early on as Steph Houghton gives the ball away easily playing out from the back.
Villa square it to Nadine Hanssen on the edge of the box and she leaves Karen Bardsley motionless but the shot creeps just wide of the left post.
Post update
Manchester City 1-0 Aston Villa
Could be a tough afternoon from here for Villa.
City are pressing them deep in their own half as they try to get some time on the ball.
Get Involved
Tweet using #bbcfootball
Well, that was a quick start by Manchester City!
As always you can have your say on any of today's WSL action.
Do you think the meeting later between Chelsea and Manchester United might decide the title? Or can Arsenal and City muscle their way back into the race?
The best way to get involved is by using the #bbcfootball.
We'll try and get as many of your responses into the live.
'It wasn't an easy finish'
Manchester City 1-0 Aston Villa
Jayne Ludlow
Wales manager on BBC Red Button
Too much time on the pitch for City. And those girls in Blue don't need that much time to create things.
You can say it's an easy finish, but I don't think it is. She's actually falling back as she hits it.
Great start for City.
GOAL: Manchester City 1-0 Aston Villa
Lauren Hemp (2 mins)
Video content
Lightning fast start for Manchester City!
A goal inside the first two minutes after they enjoy loads of time on the ball.
Jill Scott with time to play Chloe Kelly into space down the right who plays a brilliantly-teasing ball across the face of goal for Lauren Hemp to arrive and finish at the back post unmarked.
KICK-OFF
Manchester City 0-0 Aston Villa
And we're off and running for this afternoon's WSL action.
Amy Fearn is our referee at the Academy Stadium as she oversees both sets of players taking the knee before Aston Villa kick-off.
Post update
Manchester City v Aston Villa (12:30 GMT)
The two teams are out on the pitch and exchanging pre-match greetings.
Not long to go until kick-off.
Davies optimistic of Villa's chances
Manchester City v Aston Villa (12:30 GMT)
Aston Villa head coach Gemma Davies has just been speaking to BBC Sport's Kelly Somers before kick-off.
She admits her side have come a long way since a 2-0 defeat by City on the opening weekend of this season.
How it stands
As mentioned, we've got a meeting of the top two on the way later this afternoon.
Manchester United head to Chelsea with a three-point lead over the Blues but Emma Hayes' side have the chance to knock them off the summit with a home win, while they also have a game in hand.
Manchester City start the afternoon in fourth and can close the gap on third-placed Arsenal with a win before the Gunners face Reading later.
Boss Taylor absent
Manchester City v Aston Villa (12:30 GMT)
Manchester City manager Gareth Taylor is self-isolating this afternoon as a result of those positive Covid-19 cases in the squad last weekend.
His assistant Alan Mahon takes charge of the team for this fixture.
Turn on and tune in!
Manchester City v Aston Villa (12:30 GMT)
BBC Red Button
We're live from the Academy Stadium for the first of this afternoon's six fixtures on both the BBC Red Button and the BBC Sport website and app and also the BBC iPlayer.
Manchester City entertain Aston Villa as they go in search of a third straight win and points to keep them up with the top three.
Villa will be keen to come away with any sort of result to haul themselves further away from the bottom.
Paul Scott is the man talking you through the action alongside Wales manager Jayne Ludlow.
Team news
Manchester City v Aston Villa (12:30 GMT)
Here's a look at the line-ups for our first fixture...
Manchester City return to action after their match against West Ham last Saturday was postponed due to Covid-19 reasons.
Lauren Hemp, Chloe Kelly and Ellen White lead the line for the hosts with Karen Bardsley in goal.
Aston Villa head coach Gem Davies makes four changes to the side which faced Bristol City in the Continental Cup in midweek.
Stine Larsen found the net for Villa in that 2-1 defeat and she once again starts upfront.
Manchester City XI: Bardsley; Beckie, Houghton (capt), Morgan, Bronze, Coombs, Scott, Stanway, Kelly, Hemp, White.
Subs: Taieb, Park, Greenwood, Window, Ravening, Phillips, Davies.
Aston Villa XI: Weiss; Ale, Siems, Haig, Asante, Arthur, Ewers (capt), Hanssen, Hayles, Petzelberger, Larsen.
Subs: Rogers, N'Dow, Folis, West, Syme, McLoughlin, Haywood, Silva, Iwabuchi.
Today's fixtures
All 12 teams are in action this afternoon.
Here's what's on the way:
Back at full strength
After just the one match survived last weekend, the Women's Super League returns this Sunday with a full programme of fixtures.
There's some tantalising match-ups on the way as well with the top two going head-to-head later plus a London derby where bragging rights will be up for grabs.
Welcome along, we start proceedings up in Manchester in the next 15 minutes.