Haaland '100% available' for Man City after midweek rest

Enzo Maresca has confirmed Erling Haaland is "100% available" for Manchester City's trip to Aston Villa in the Premier League.

Haaland was an unused substitute as City brushed aside AEK Athens 5-1 in midweek, with Phil Foden the biggest threat in his absence as he netted a hat-trick.

But the Norwegian will be back to help City try to continue their perfect start in the Premier League, having won all seven of their games so far after a 3-2 victory over Ipswich Town last time out.

Mateo Kovacic, Matheus Nunes, and Nico O'Reilly are the other injury doubts, and Maresca was less sure if the trio would be available for Saturday.

"Erling is the only one 100% available. And the other three, we need to wait for [Thursday's] training session," Maresca said.

Despite having a maximum of 21 points and sitting three points clear at the top of the table at this stage, Maresca still believes there is room for improvement.

"We can attack and defend better," he said.

"In the past three games, we had the best defence in the league before our game started, but then we conceded goals. I am always looking for how we can improve.

"Sometimes we forget it has been just three or four months since we started. I was here before, but it is a completely new project.

"We only started months ago, but that's why I'm sure we can improve."

As for Villa, they come into this match after extending their 100% start in the Champions League, beating Viking 3-1 on Wednesday.

And having failed to win any of their first four Premier League games this season (D1 L3), Villa have now won two of their last three (D1).

However, the Villans are winless in all three home games so far (D1 L2), last having a longer run at the start of a campaign in 2015-16 (nine).

Unai Emery was thrilled with Villa's performance against Viking, and he is determined to keep pushing to get the best out of his team.

"We are approaching each match as an objective to get better and to be consistent in Europe and in the league," he said after the win over Viking.

"We are trying to be very demanding in how we are preparing and responding on the field. We must feel strong and confident to do our best. There is still work to do."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Aston Villa – Johan Manzambi

Manzambi has been involved in a goal in each of his three Premier League starts, scoring two and assisting two.

No Villa player has ever had a goal involvement in each of their first four starts in the competition before, but he is a fitness doubt for Villa after missing the win over Viking.

Manchester City – Erling Haaland

Haaland scored in his first Premier League appearance against Villa, but he has not scored in any of his last four against them.

This season, as well as scoring the most goals (eight), the Norwegian has had the most shots (27) and shots on target (13) of any player in the top flight, while he ranks second for big chances (12) and touches in the opposition box (40).

MATCH PREDICTION: MANCHESTER CITY WIN

Villa have won four of their last six Premier League games against City, as many as in their previous 35 against them (D5 L26).

Villa are also unbeaten in their last three top-flight home games against sides starting the day top of the table, beating Arsenal 1-0 in December 2023 and 2-1 in December 2025, and drawing 2-2 with Liverpool in February 2025.

And City have lost their last two league games against Villa, last losing three in a row between August 1962 and September 1966.

However, City's 100% record means the Opta supercomputer is backing them to win.

City could become the eighth side to win each of their first eight games of an English top-flight season, after Everton in 1894-95 (first eight), Sheffield United in 1903-04 (eight), Tottenham in 1960-61 (11), Manchester United in 1985-86 (10), Liverpool in 1990-91 (eight), Chelsea in 2005-06 (nine), and Liverpool in 2019-20 (eight).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Aston Villa – 31.7%

Draw – 25.3%

Manchester City – 43%