How Enzo Maresca's Manchester City made a perfect start — and why Villa Park is their biggest test yet
Seven Premier League games, seven wins and a three-point lead. We look at what has changed since Pep Guardiola left, the numbers behind City's run — and the weaknesses Aston Villa will try to exploit.
When Pep Guardiola's final game ended in a 2-1 home defeat to Aston Villa last May, few expected his successor to start this well. Enzo Maresca has won all seven of his first Premier League games, the first manager in the competition's history to do so. City go to Villa Park today three points clear of Arsenal.
The numbers behind the run
| Premier League record | P7 W7 D0 L0 |
| Lead at the top | 3 points over Arsenal |
| Goals conceded | 7 |
| Erling Haaland | 12 goals in 10 games (8 in the league) |
City's seven straight wins match the opening runs of Chelsea in 2005-06 and Liverpool in 2019-20. Both of those teams went on to win the title.
What Maresca has changed
1. A new midfield. City spent heavily on Enzo Fernández, Elliot Anderson and Ayyoub Bouaddi. Maresca's sides have always been built on control through the middle, and this trio gives him players who can both keep the ball and win it back.
2. Haaland is fresher and freer. Haaland has 12 goals in 10 appearances. Maresca rested him for the 5-1 Champions League win over AEK Athens — Phil Foden scored a hat-trick instead — and says the striker is now "the only one 100 per cent available" for Villa. Maresca has also said Haaland, Foden and Rayan Cherki "can play all together".
3. Rotation that works. Kovačić, Nunes and O'Reilly were rested in midweek with minor problems, and City still scored five. The squad depth is allowing Maresca to protect key players in a crowded schedule.
The weaknesses
City are not invincible.
- They concede. Seven league goals in seven games is more than Arsenal or Brighton have let in, and they have looked open against counter-attacks.
- Europe has been harder. City lost 4-2 at home to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, a reminder that elite opponents can hurt them on the break.
- Injuries. Antoine Semenyo is out for around eight weeks with a knee injury.
Why Villa Park is different
Unai Emery's Villa have become City's bogey team. City have lost their last three trips to Villa Park and four of their last six league meetings. Villa won both games last season, including Guardiola's farewell. Villa have still not won at home in the league this season, but they are unbeaten in their last six games in all competitions and have a perfect Champions League record.
If any side is equipped to stop City, it is one that defends compactly and breaks quickly — exactly how Villa have beaten them before. Our full Aston Villa v Manchester City preview has the team news.
The verdict
City's start is real: a new midfield, a fit Haaland and a squad deep enough to rotate. But a defence that concedes a goal a game will always give opponents hope, and today brings the toughest away trip they have faced so far. See the Premier League table and the Golden Boot race.
FAQ
Have Manchester City won every game this season? They have won all seven Premier League games. They lost 4-2 at home to PSG in the Champions League.
Who is Manchester City's manager? Enzo Maresca, who replaced Pep Guardiola in the summer of 2026.
How many goals has Haaland scored this season? 12 in 10 appearances in all competitions, including 8 in the Premier League.
