It was a result that leaves Arsenal top of the table ahead of their game against Manchester United on Sunday.
With 19 goals in five games before this trip to Villa Park, City already look unstoppable and are setting a frightening pace.
Liverpool’s failure to beat rivals Everton earlier on Saturday will have provided further encouragement and it only took one look at Guardiola’s bench to underline the ridiculous array of options at their disposal.
Jack Grealish also returned from injury, returning to his old club for only the second time since his record £100m move last August.
Grealish received a warmer reception this time around, and it is Gerrard who is under scrutiny from a growing number of supporters.
Villa have managed just three league wins since March – two of which came against relegated Burnley and Norwich – and the natives are growing increasingly restless.
As former managers Steve Bruce and David O’Leary will testify, once Villa fans turn, it’s very difficult to win them back.
While the results have been poor, the constant turnover in his squad and lack of identity have also increased the pressure on one of English football’s most iconic figures.
After Arsenal’s defeat on Wednesday, Gerrard admitted he would have to “be from another planet” not to feel the pressure.
City were operating in a different stratosphere early on and cut Villa down every time they advanced into the opposition half.
Kevin De Bruyne was rested for the 6-0 gallop over Nottingham Forest on Wednesday and was remembered here, patiently orchestrating the game before flashes of individual brilliance.
Villa didn’t help themselves by repeatedly giving the ball away in panic, but confidence began to grow as they managed to contain City.
Gerrard’s tactics have also been questioned, but here he seemed to find a solution that nullified Haaland’s threat.
As City struggled to convert their pressure into genuine scoring chances, the mood among the home fans was improving.
Villa created their first chance in the 38th minute, with Ollie Watkins’ low shot deflected wide after Ashley Young, on for the injured Matty Cash, started the play by dispossessing De Bruyne.
The introduction of Young clearly improved the home team and his experience was instrumental in transforming the meaning of the game at the end of the first half.
Five minutes into the second half, however, the momentum swung back to City after an outrageous moment of magic from De Bruyne.
Taking the ball from Bernardo Silva on the right, the Belgian launched an exquisite cross that Emiliano Martínez arched to give Haaland a simple finish from two meters.
Haaland had been virtually anonymous in the first half, touching the ball just ten times, but here was another piece of evidence that gives Guardiola’s side an extra dimension.
While De Bruyne’s cross was sensational, it still needed Haaland’s movement and predatory instincts to find space.
Villa responded quickly, with Jacob Ramsey advancing on goal, but a poor touch allowed Ederson, the City keeper, to come off his line and smother the ball.
City were still hungry for more goals and Martinez denied Haaland from close range after eluding Tyrone Mings.
De Bruyne lifted a 20-yard free-kick onto the top of the bar before Martinez dived to his left to keep Haaland from finding the corner.
16 minutes from the end they were made to pay for those wasted opportunities, with a draw that at that time was against the course of the game.
It came from Bailey, who swept the ball home from inside the box after Ramsey’s cross.
The game was now absorbing, flowing from end to end, and although Martínez saved from Phil Foden it was Villa who finished the stronger of the two teams.
Ederson had to be alert three minutes into added time to snuff out the danger when Watkin’s low cross went close to finding Philippe Coutinho, a Villa substitute.
Ahead of next weekend’s trip to Leicester City, this much-improved display will have given Gerrard the confidence that he can get this team up the table.