Aston Villa keeper Shay Given has claimed that former club Manchester City are the "best team in the league" ahead of their clash on Sunday.

Given: Former City stopper

After Manchester United's spirited comeback from three goals down at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, league leaders Manchester City's cushion at the summit of the Premier League was bridged to just two points following their comfortable 3-0 victory over Fulham. With questions being raised over their away form, City face a tough task at Villa Park on Sunday, hoping to pull further away at the top.

Despite City's standing as the Premier League title favourites, Given - who signed for Villa for £3.5million last summer - feels that Sunday's game provides a "huge chance" for Alex McLeish's men to rectify their home form. Speaking to Sky Sports News Radio, Given said: "Of course, it's a huge game for Villa. We've struggled in recent times - at home especially - and it's a big chance for us to put that right.

"It's a huge test as Manchester City are going for the Premier League title and we've got to try and get back to winning ways at Villa Park. It'd be a great game to do that."

After just two points in their last six home games, Villa lie 13th in the Premier League with pressure mounting on former Birmingham manager McLeish, and Given says that the players are all too aware of the current problems at the club.

"We've dropped too many points at home this season, but it's been going okay in recent weeks. Of course we aren't happy with some things, but we've been doing well away from home.

"It's frustrating, because obviously you want to win in front of your home supporters and it's not ideal, but we need to turn it around instead of feeling sorry for ourselves. We've got to be positive.

"Normally most teams will struggle away from home, so it's difficult to pinpoint the problem, but some of the players that the manager has brought in are still bedding in, and because Villa are such a big club with big expectations some players might have been overawed by that - it's one of the main reasons I joined though!

"We need to rise to the challenge of playing in front of our own fans and we need to enjoy it, and we'll just kick on from there."

After enjoying a regular starting berth at City's money-fuelled revolution during the 2009/10 season, Given was dropped in favour of England's number one Joe Hart, resulting in his £3.5million move to Villa Park for regular football in the summer.

"It's all I want to do really, to play regularly. You train every day and you work hard, and all a footballer wants to do is play.

"When that's taken away from you you obviously aren't happy, but it's great to be back out there again at Villa, and I'm really excited about Sunday's game.

"Obviously it'll be good to see the lads at City again. I know they're going for the title but we have our own problems to worry about. We need to try and get a win ourselves."

Speaking on the Premier League title race between the Manchester city rivals, Given lauds the title credentials of the blue side of Manchester, claiming that his former club have the "best squad in the league".

"They've got a very good squad, obviously, I'd say the best in the league. If anybody finishes above them this year then they'll win the league.

"Manchester City are clearly the big favourites to pick up the Premier League."

Although he was replaced by Joe Hart as City's number one at the beginning of the 2010/11 season, Given feels that the 24-year old is a potential future England captain after John Terry was stripped of the armband following allegations of racial abuse against Anton Ferdinand.

"I wouldn't disagree with those championing Hart's cause. I know some managers have a problem with goalkeepers becoming captains but - although I could be slightly biased being a keeper myself - I don't see the issue.

"You look back at Dino Zoff (who captained Italy to World Cup victory in 1982) and even in more recent times you look at (Iker) Casillas at Real Madrid and World and European Champions Spain.

"Joe is a big character as well and he definitely could lead his country one day, be that now or in years to come.

"He'll be around for so many years as well, which would give them a bit of stability, too.

"He's got a real belief in himself and his own ability, and it shows in his performances. He's been playing very good stuff not just this season but in the last couple of seasons. He's been fantastic and he deserves all the credit he's getting."

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