Ex-Chelsea striker leads Villa upset, City falters in Premier League

Manchester City arrived at Villa Park in Birmingham on Saturday (24) intent on preserving a perfect Premier League record, but ex‑Chelsea forward Nicolas Jackson, formerly of Bayern Munich, netted a brace to hand Aston Villa a 2‑1 victory. The win marked Villa’s third success in four league games and pushed them closer to continental qualification.

Jackson’s decisive impact

Jackson opened the scoring after six minutes when Marc Guéhi mishandled a ball, allowing the striker to cut inside and fire a high shot that left goalkeeper Gianluigi Donarumma with no chance. He doubled Villa’s lead fifteen minutes into added time, receiving a pass inside the area and blasting a shot that the City keeper could not stop. The Senegalese forward has now scored eight goals in thirteen matches this season.

City’s missed opportunity

Enzo Maresca’s side lost the chance to maintain a gap over second‑placed Arsenal, who still have a league game against Everton at the Emirates Stadium in London. Marc Guéhi’s early error contributed to the first goal, and Norwegian striker Erling Haaland equalised at the 52‑minute mark, his sixteenth league goal in fifteen appearances. Until the defeat City had kept a 100 percent winning record in the Premier League.

Villa’s rise in the table

Unai Emery’s Aston Villa made a significant jump in the standings, moving closer to the continental‑qualification zone after securing their third win in the last four matches. The victory lifted Villa to eleven points, placing them provisionally in sixth place.

Jackson leads City to crucial win over Aston Villa

Both clubs return to action on Saturday (31). Manchester City host Brighton at the Etihad Stadium at noon, while Aston Villa welcome Fulham at 17:00 in the same venue.

City’s line‑up featured Ruben Dias in defence, with Matheus Nunes sidelined through injury. For Villa, Ian Maatsen started on the wing, adding to the team’s attacking options. Haaland, who had made no attempts in the first half, found the net after the break following a cross from Iliman Ndiaye.

£65m upgrade sees Jackson eclipse Watkins at Villa

The result underlines Villa’s upward momentum and marks City’s first slip in a season that began with seven straight victories.