Manchester City have won their first seven league matches, and that alone puts Enzo Maresca in a place no debutant coach has reached before in Premier League history. Pep Guardiola's best opening run in England was six consecutive wins, so Maresca has already gone one better. City also remain top after a start built on 19 league goals and only 7 conceded.
Haaland's role in the start
Erling Haaland has been part of that surge as well. He has scored 7 goals in 7 Premier League rounds, and his output has matched City's perfect rhythm in the league. The numbers fit the eye test too. City beat Ipswich 3-2 in the Premier League, and Haaland's finishing kept another tight game moving in City's direction.
The margin City have built
The early gap is not just about one striker or one good week. City already have 19 league goals, which is a strong attacking return for a team that has also kept the goals against figure down to 7. Arsenal sit second and Chelsea are fourth, but neither side has matched City's perfect start. This is the kind of run that makes every dropped point for rivals feel heavier than usual.
City's next league match will tell us whether the streak keeps rolling, but the headline is already set. Maresca has matched no debutant coach in the competition's history, and Guardiola's six-win benchmark is now behind him.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 2 outlets. How we work →
