Manchester City will aim to maintain their perfect start to the Premier League season when they visit Aston Villa, who will be hoping to end their poor home run and continue their recent good form.

City have won both their league matches since being found guilty of more than 100 alleged breaches of Premier League rules.

They also returned to winning ways in Europe with a convincing 5-1 victory over AEK Athens in midweek.

However, the club’s possible punishment remains a major talking point off the pitch, even as Enzo Maresca’s men continue to impress on it.

City are chasing a place in the history books as they seek to become only the eighth English top-flight team to win their first eight matches of a season.

They have also been impressive away from home, winning all four of their competitive matches on the road this season and keeping clean sheets in their last three.

But Aston Villa could prove a difficult opponent, having improved in recent weeks under Unai Emery.

Villa extended their unbeaten run to six matches in all competitions with a 3-1 victory over Viking in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday.

Despite their improvement, Villa are still searching for their first Premier League home win this season, having drawn one and lost two at Villa Park.

They will, however, draw confidence from their recent record against City.

Villa have won four of their last six Premier League meetings with the champions, losing the other two.

City have also lost their last two league matches against Villa and could suffer three consecutive defeats to them in the competition for the first time since the 1960s.

Emery’s side have also done well against teams at the top of the table, remaining unbeaten in their last three home league matches against the league leaders.

Villa midfielder Emi Buendia will be one to watch after scoring in the midweek victory.

Three of his last four Premier League goals came after the 75th minute, including the winner when Villa last defeated the league leaders at home.