Pep Guardiola’s major English top-flight landmark moment – Stat Preview: Manchester City vs Aston Villa (Premier League)

Manchester City will look to get back to winning ways on Sunday afternoon, after a disappointing defeat away to Spurs last week, and capitalise on Arsenal dropping points.

Pep Guardiola’s side currently sit second in the table, six points behind league leaders Arsenal. However, City have the opportunity to close the gap to just three points following the Gunners’ draw to Brentford.

Manchester City will certainly need to maintain their winning home streak if there is a chance of retaining the Premier League title, such has been the impressive nature of Arsenal’s performances so far this season.

Unai Emery’s Aston Villa team currently sit 11^th in the table and will also be looking to bounce back from defeat having lost 4-2 to Leicester City last weekend.

Ahead of the clash at the Etihad Stadium, here are the all-important statistics to look out for!

Manchester City

• Manchester City have lost four Premier League games this season – more than they did across the whole of the 2021/22 campaign.
• Manchester City have lost three of their last six matches across all competitions – as many as in their previous 27 games.
• Erling Haaland has scored a staggering 25 goals so far in the Premier League for Manchester City.
• Erling Haaland has scored 18 of his 25 Premier League goals at the Etihad Stadium – just two shy of equaling the Premier League record for home goals in a single campaign, set by Cristiano Ronaldo and Fernando Torres in 2007/08.

Aston Villa

• Aston Villa have won all three of their Premier League away games under manager Unai Emery, with John Gregory the only manager in Aston Villa’s history to win their first four away matches.
• Only Manchester United and Arsenal have picked up more points than Aston Villa’s 16 since the appointment of Unai Emery.
• Ollie Watkins has scored five goals in his five previous meetings against Manchester City.
• Unai Emery is yet to beat Pep Guardiola as a manager, drawing four and losing eight.
• Aston Villa have only won one of their last 29 away games against Premier League reigning champions, with their only victory in 2009 against Manchester United.

Previous Meetings

• Manchester City have won their last 12 home matches against Aston Villa in the Premier League, the last being the emphatic title-winning 3-2 victory against the Villains on the last day of the 2021/22 season.
• This fixture has seen an average of 2.5 goals in 11 of their last 12 home matches in all competitions.
• Pep Guardiola’s side have scored at least two goals in their last 12 home matches against Villa in all competitions.
• Manchester City’s biggest win against Aston Villa was in November 2012, securing a 5-0 win at the Etihad Stadium, with the likes of Sergio Aguero and Carlos Tevez scoring a brace apiece.
• After a 1-1 draw in September 2022, Aston Villa could avoid defeat against Manchester City in both league meetings for the first time since the 2000/01 season.

Potential Landmarks

• Sunday afternoon’s match will mark Pep Guardiola’s 250th in the competition as Manchester City manager, winning an impressive 183 matches.
• Kyle Walker is just one appearance from his 150th for Manchester City in the Premier League.
• Riyad Mahrez is closing in on 50 goals for Manchester City in the Premier League.
• Riyad Mahrez is just two goals away from 75 for Manchester City across all competitions.