City’s perfect start to the Premier League season ended as Nicolas Jackson scored twice to give Aston Villa a 2-1 victory at Villa Park.
Erling Haaland briefly brought Manchester City level early in the second half, but Jackson struck again eight minutes later as Enzo Maresca’s side suffered their first league defeat of the campaign.
City had won their opening seven matches but fell behind after six minutes when Marc Guéhi failed to control the ball as the visitors attempted to play out from the back. John McGinn seized possession and released Jackson, who cut inside Elliot Anderson before beating Gianluigi Donnarumma.
City responded strongly. Zion Suzuki denied Iliman Ndiaye and Rayan Cherki before Ndiaye struck the post as the visitors pushed for an equaliser. Maresca made two changes at half-time, replacing the booked Guéhi and Cherki with Rico Lewis and Phil Foden, and City were level seven minutes after the restart.
Ndiaye delivered from the right, and Haaland headed home from close range for his ninth Premier League goal of the season. City almost went ahead moments later when Suzuki pushed Josko Gvardiol’s effort on to the crossbar. Villa instead restored their lead on the hour. Substitute Ibrahim Mbaye broke down the right and returned the ball to Jackson, whose first-time effort went underneath Donnarumma.
City continued to press but could not find a second equaliser. Haaland came closest late on when Ian Maatsen cleared his goalbound header. The defeat ends City’s run of seven successive league victories and extends their poor recent record at Villa Park, where they have now lost four consecutive Premier League matches.
City remain top of the table on 21 points, three ahead of Arsenal before their game against Everton later on Saturday. Maresca’s side return to action against Brighton in the Carabao Cup at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday.
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