Maresca matches Guardiola’s best start at City and targets Premier League record

Manchester City made a major statement at Anfield with a 0-3 win over Liverpool, one of their closest rivals in the title race. The result leaves Enzo Maresca’s side with six straight victories from the opening six Premier League matchdays, matching the best starts Pep Guardiola recorded in the City dugout during the 2016-17 and 2023-24 campaigns.

• City won 0-3 at Anfield and have a perfect record in the Premier League.
• Maresca has matched Guardiola’s run of six wins at the start of a season.
• A win over Ipswich Town would make him the first manager in league history with seven wins from seven.
• City lead the table by three points over Arsenal.

City take Anfield and keep their perfect Premier League run alive

The win at Liverpool’s ground was far from ordinary. Anfield is one of the most demanding venues in English football, and leaving with a 0-3 scoreline strengthens Manchester City’s case to retain the crown. Maresca’s team controlled the game with authority and collected a sixth win from six league fixtures, a flawless start that keeps them top of the table.

Despite the legal noise surrounding the club, performances on the pitch have not suffered. The Sky Blues have managed to shut out everything happening off the field and respond every weekend with convincing results against their main challengers.

Maresca matches Guardiola’s best starts in the City dugout

With six consecutive wins, Enzo Maresca has joined a very exclusive club. Only Pep Guardiola, twice, Carlo Ancelotti at Chelsea and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer after taking charge of Manchester United in December 2018 had previously managed six victories from the start of a Premier League tenure.

The Italian coach has achieved in a few weeks what takes others entire seasons. His City operate as a solid unit, sharp in attack and hard to break down at the back, and the numbers back it up: 18 points from a possible 18 and a three-point cushion over Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal.

The historic record Maresca can set against Ipswich Town

The next matchday could turn Maresca into a unique manager in Premier League history. If Manchester City take all three points against Ipswich Town at the Etihad Stadium, the Italian would become the first coach to begin a spell in the competition with seven consecutive wins.

The game is set for Saturday, October 17, and looks like a golden opportunity to extend a run that is already part of English football history. City start as clear favourites against a newly promoted side, although the Premier League rarely hands out free points.

From Community Shield doubts to the top of the Premier League

The journey did not start in the best way. A 3-0 defeat to Arsenal in the Community Shield raised doubts among City supporters, who were uncertain about the change in the dugout. Time and results, however, have cleared up any concerns.

That Wembley setback has turned into a meaningless accident. In the Premier League, the team have responded with a perfect run of wins that makes them solid leaders and restores confidence in a squad used to challenging for everything.

What is at stake for Manchester City in the coming weeks

Beyond the record, every matchday matters in a league as competitive as the English top flight. City currently hold a three-point advantage over Arsenal, a valuable cushion but not a decisive one at this stage of the season.

Keeping the streak alive against Ipswich Town would not only put Maresca in the record books: it would also strengthen their lead and send a clear message to the rest of the title contenders. The Etihad is getting ready for what could be an unforgettable afternoon.