Manchester City are one win away, but it’s a way from equalling Liverpool’s record of winning eight consecutive matches to start a Premier League season. The Cityzens are away at Aston Villa in Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off as they look to continue their winning streak and also equal Liverpool’s seven-year record.

The post-Pep Guardiola era of Manchester City is going smoothly under his successor, Enzo Maresca, and the Cityzens are showing no sign of weakness on the pitch despite facing 114 of 115 Premier League financial charges.

Enzo Maresca’s men go into the tie high on confidence after taking apart AEK Athens 5-1 on Tuesday night at the Etihad to bounce back from the 4-2 loss against Paris Saint-Germain on matchday 2.

However, Man City are up against a side currently unbeaten in their last seven matches in all competitions with six wins and a draw.

Elsewhere, another episode of Manchester United’s miserable start to the season unfolded on Wednesday night in the Champions League.

The Red Devils were condemned to a humiliating 4-1 defeat to Como, which extended their winless run in all competitions to seven matches.

Michael Carrick’s men welcome Bournemouth to Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon with the hope of getting their second league win of the season.

Brighton’s eight-match unbeaten run faces a stern test against Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday; Arsenal are at home to Everton while Chelsea take on Tottenham in the London derby in Saturday’s late kick-off.

Aston Villa v Manchester City

Venue: Villa Park, Birmingham
Kick-off: 12.30 p.m. (Saturday)

Manchester City’s quest to extend their winning start to the season faces another tricky test as they travel to Birmingham City to face Aston Villa at Villa Park. City take on an in-form Villa side who come into the tie on the back of a 3-1 win over Vikings in the Champions League and a slim win over Newcastle United last week at Saint James’s Park.

The Cityzens are also on a brilliant winning streak but are stepping into a territory they haven’t won since 2021. City have lost on their last three visits to Villa Park. Enzo Maresca’s last visit to Villa Park as a manager ended in defeat as well – a 2-1 loss on February 22, 2025, when he was at Chelsea.

Aston Villa seem to have ended their early-season struggle with their newfound form but are still yet to win a Premier League match at home this season, with two losses and a draw.

Meanwhile, Enzo Maresca’s men have won all matches on the road this season and will look to get maximum points on Saturday afternoon to equal Liverpool’s record.

Manchester United v Bournemouth

Venue: Old Trafford, Manchester
Kick-off: 3 p.m. (Sunday)

Following the loss to Como on Wednesday night, Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes criticised the tactical approach of Michael Carrick and the coaching staff but stylishly deflected on whether or not the coach got his tactics wrong.

The Red Devils haven’t won a game since the 4-0 win over Sabah in their opening Champions League night last month and have gone on to lose four of their last seven matches in competitions.

Michael Carrick’s side are desperate for a win, but they face a familiar foe, Bournemouth, who are on a three-game winning run with three clean sheets in the process after the heavy 5-1 loss to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge two weeks ago.

The Cherries are undefeated against the Red Devils in their last two meetings and will fancy their chances against a porous defence that has conceded 19 goals this season.

Arsenal v Everton

Venue: Emirates Stadium, London
Kick-off: 3 p.m. (Saturday)

For an Everton side that lost for the time this season last week, bouncing back against Arsenal at the Emirates on Saturday afternoon is no doubt a difficult task.

The Toffees have not won away from home in the Premier League in their last eight attempts (three losses and five draws), which makes the tie against the Gunners even harder.

Arsenal are on an eight-game winning run at home in all competitions and will look to extend the run to nine at the end of 90 minutes.

The Gunners have since recovered well from the loss to Brighton before the international break, with four wins and a draw, which came in the Champions League against Bayern in Munich on Tuesday.

Arsenal are favourites to pick up maximum points as they look to keep the gap Man City have over them at three at the top of the table, but Everton are one of the bogey teams in the league.

Liverpool v Brighton

Venue: Anfield, Merseyside
Kick-off: 3 p.m

Brighton are arguably the most in-form Premier League team right now. The Seagulls are unbeaten in eight matches with six wins and two draws.

But the brilliant run faces another test as Fabian Hurzeler takes his men to a Liverpool side that seems to be taking shape with three wins in a row.

The Reds gave fans at Anfield a treat on Wednesday as they came from behind to beat Villarreal 4-3 in the Champions League while Brighton were held to a stalemate in the Conference League at Jablonec.

While Brighton are in good form, their previous visits to Anfield are a cause for worry. The Seagulls have lost their last four matches there.

This fixture is one that has seen a couple of goals, with 20 scored in the last eight meetings.

Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur

Venue: Stamford Bridge, London.
Kick-off: 5.30 p.m. (Saturday)

Tottenham would have wished for a mid-table team this weekend to build momentum, especially after getting their first Premier League win of the season on Monday against Coventry. However, Spurs have Chelsea to contend with in the London Derby at Stamford Bridge.

The Blues have had a decent start to the season with five wins, two losses and a draw, which came against Hull City, while Tottenham ended their poor start with the 3-1 win on Monday.

Chelsea go into the game as favourites after back-to-back wins in the league and previous engagements against Tottenham Hotspur.

The Blues are on a run of seven consecutive wins over Tottenham and are unbeaten at home in their last six matches with five wins and a draw.

Roberto De Zerbi said he was delighted after the win over Coventry as they left the relegation zone, but a far greater test awaits against a side who have lost just once in their last 16 London Derbies at Stamford Bridge with 11 wins and four draws.