Manchester City's 3–2 win over Ipswich Town on 17 October made Enzo Maresca the first manager in Premier League history to win his first seven league matches in charge of a club. Phil Foden scored once and Erling Haaland twice. City have 21 points from 21 and, after Saturday's games, were six clear of Arsenal at the top. For a club that lost Pep Guardiola in the summer, the transition could hardly have gone better on the domestic front.
Breaking a Shared Record
Six straight wins at the start of a Premier League reign had been done before. The previous record was shared by three managers, including Guardiola himself and Carlo Ancelotti. Maresca matched them with a 3–0 win at Anfield on 11 October, where Haaland, Jérémy Doku and Rayan Cherki scored. The Ipswich game took him clear on his own.
It was not comfortable. Ipswich, promoted last season and now managed by Gary O'Neil, made City work for it, and Haaland had a third goal ruled out for offside. Seven wins, though, is seven wins.
Life After Guardiola
Guardiola resigned at the end of last season, and City appointed Maresca on 29 June 2026. It was a return: Maresca was one of Guardiola's assistants at City before going into management on his own. That background is the most likely explanation for how smooth the handover has been. The squad has not had to learn a completely new way of playing. Patient possession, full-backs moving into midfield and pressing high after losing the ball were all part of the Guardiola years, and they remain.
The one blemish came in Europe: City lost 4–2 to Paris Saint-Germain in Manchester in the Champions League on 14 October. In the league, they have yet to drop a point.
A Cloud Over the Season
City's season is running alongside a serious off-field case. Al Jazeera reported before the Liverpool match that City had been found guilty of serious breaches of Premier League financial rules, and that the club was appealing. Maresca said publicly he expected City to win that appeal. We will report on the outcome when it is decided. For now it has not affected results on the pitch.
The Top of the Table
After Saturday 17 October's games (Arsenal and several others still had a match to play that weekend):
- Manchester City: 21 points from 7 games
- Arsenal: 15 from 6
- Brighton: 13 from 6
- Chelsea: 13 from 7
- Liverpool: 12 from 7
Manager changes were everywhere this summer. Xabi Alonso now runs Chelsea, and Andoni Iraola replaced the sacked Arne Slot at Liverpool. Promoted Hull City and Ipswich are both on nine points, in the top half. Tottenham are bottom with three points from six games.
Our Read
Records for winning streaks at the start of a season tend to say as much about the fixture list as the team. City's seven wins include victories away at Liverpool and Manchester United, so the run has not been built only on easy fixtures. A six-point lead in October is not decisive; title races are usually settled in the spring. But the question at City this summer was whether Guardiola's departure would cause a dip. Seven games in, there is no sign of one.
Frequently Asked Questions
What record did Enzo Maresca set?
He is the first manager to win his first seven Premier League matches in charge of a club.
When did Maresca become Manchester City manager?
He was appointed on 29 June 2026, after Pep Guardiola resigned.
Who scored in City's 3–2 win over Ipswich?
Phil Foden scored once and Erling Haaland twice.
Key Takeaways
- Maresca's City have won all seven league games, a new record for the start of a managerial reign.
- After Saturday's games they led Arsenal by six points, with Arsenal still to play.
- The handover from Guardiola has been smooth on the pitch; the only defeat came against PSG in Europe.
- An appeal against a ruling on financial breaches hangs over the club's season.
Facts are from the sources below. The "Our Read" section is analysis.
