Manchester City was in trouble until it wasn’t, riding a breakneck three-goal burst to a 4-1 win over Ipswich Town at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
Erling Haaland scored three goals and Kevin De Bruyne also found the score sheet as Pep Guardiola’s side kept their perfect start to the season going with minimum fuss.
Keyword: minimum. Sammie Szmodics put Ipswich ahead in the seventh minute, but the worry was short-lived as Haaland sandwiched goals around De Bruyne’s marker between the 12th and 16th minutes.
Man City out-attempted Ipswich 14-1 and rang up 3.15 xG to Ipswich’s 0.24, keeping 74% possession in moving onto six points and jumping ahead of Brighton for first place on the Premier League table. Ipswich are 19th with minus-5 goal differential and zero points.
City brushed aside Chelsea 2-0 on the opening weekend and remained without Rodri in this match, but reintroduced Ilkay Gundogan in the second half as John Stones and Jack Grealish also came off the benhc.
Ipswich lost their first game back in the Premier League after a 22-year hiatus ended in defeat and their second saw the steam removed within the game’s first quarter-hour (or so).
Welcome to the Etihad Stadium, Tractor Boys
Ipswich Town had won its last two trips to Manchester City, but Maine Road closed in 2003 and perhaps no club in the world has had a better 21-year run of growth than the Citizens.
An early goal that will be rued by Pep Guardiola was brilliant for the Portman Road crowd, but it soon disappeared as Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland feasted on spoils served up by Savinho via drawn penalty and keeper turnover.
This was all without a moment on the pitch for Phil Foden, Kyle Walker and Nathan Ake on the bench, and Rodri still waiting to be involved in an 18 due to a minor injury.
So, yeah, Ipswich, it could actually be worse and might’ve been. Rico Lewis smashed the cross bar and both De Bruyne and Haaland each had another goal in sight.
Manchester City vs Ipswich Town player ratings
Manchester City vs Ipswich Town player ratings (from fotmob.com)
Manchester City vs Ipswich Town player ratings (from fotmob.com)
Manchester City vs Ipswich Town player ratings (from fotmob.com)
What’s next?
Manchester City go to West Ham at 12:30pm ET Saturday, while Ipswich Town go to AFC Wimbledon in League Cup actio on Tuesday before hosting Fulham at 10am Saturday.
How to watch Manchester City vs Ipswich, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 10am ET, Saturday (August 24)
Venue: Etihad Stadium
TV channel: Peacock
Streaming: Watch live on Peacock
Manchester City vs Ipswich Town live updates — By Nick Mendola
Manchester City vs Ipswich Town final score: 4-1
Sammie Szmodics, 7'; Erling Haaland 12', 16', 88'; Kevin De Bruyne 14'
Manchester City vs Ipswich extended video highlights, recap
Erling Haaland hat trick — Man City 4-1 Ipswich Town (88th minute)
A hammered strike from the Norwegian spins and skips off the turf to beat Muric.
The 23rd hat trick of the 24-year-old’s young career.
Halftime — Man City 3-1 Ipswich Town
It could’ve been 7-2.
City had all nine of the game’s shot attempts after Szmodics put Ipswich in front, and the numbers do look like most would’ve forecasted heading into the game.
Shot: 9-1, City
Big chances: 4-1, City
xG: 2.56-0.23, City
Possession: 74%, City
Haaland! Ipswich is bamboozled — Man City 3-1 Ipswich Town (16th minute)
Well, they’ll always have that moment they were ahead of City in their Premier League return.
The rest of the moments appear to belong to City.
Erling Haaland has juked past Muric to make it 3-1 off a Kevin De Bruyne assist.
Savinho is having a day! De Bruyne puts City ahead — Man City 2-1 Ipswich Town (14th minute)
Ipswich is playing out the back and it goes so wrong.
Savinho tackles former City keeper Arijanet Muric, and he pokes toward Haaland and De Bruyne.
The Norwegian defers to the Belgian, and City are ahead!
Man City penalty — Erling Haaland goal! Man City 1-1 Ipswich Town (12th minute)
Leif Davis and Savinho are battling and Davis seems to go into the Man City player’s leg as they near the end line.
It’s initially shaken off by referee Michael Salisbury but he’s been asking to have another look (and another look and another look).
It’s an unfortunate penalty to give away but there’s definitely real contact even if Savinho was going to have trouble keeping the ball in bounds.
Erling Haaland nails his penalty. 1-1, 12th minute.
Ipswich in front off lightning counter — Man City 0-1 Ipswich Town (7th minute)
Oh my! Sammie Szmodics has put the Tractor Boys ahead of the four-time defending champions!
The first touches of the game for Ben Johnson are in the seventh minute, and they are beautiful as he slots a perfectly-timed through ball onto the path of new purchase Szmodics.
A low shot is partially-blocked by Ederson but still has some speed through his legs and gets over the line. 1-0, Ipswich!
Manchester City lineup
Ederson, Lewis, Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol, Kovacic, De Bruyne (C), Bernardo, Savinho, Doku, Haaland.
Ipswich Town lineup
Muric, Tuanzebe, Woolfenden, Greaves, Davis, Morsy, Luongo, Johnson, Szmodics, Hutchinson, Delap.
Manchester City team news, focus
Kyle Walker, John Stones, Phil Foden and Nathan Ake could all be fit to start, while Rodri is working his way back to full fitness and Mateo Kovacic did a great job to slot in for him. New signing Savinho went down with a knee injury in the win at Chelsea but it seems like he will be fit for this game, while Oscar Bobb remains out for several months with a lower leg injury. Guardiola still has plenty of attacking talents to call upon and Erling Haaland scored the opener at Chelsea and looked full of energy.
Ipswich team news, focus
The Tractor Boys have plenty of injuries to deal with but new signing Sammie Szmodics could start up front, while Kalvin Phillips won’t be available as he’s on loan from City. Ipswich will look to sit back and soak up pressure and hit City on the counter and they did it well in the first half against Liverpool last time out.
OUT: Wes Burns (thigh), Harry Clarke (calf), George Hirst (knee), Nathan Broadhead (thigh), Janoi Donacien (groin), Kalvin Phillips (unable to face parent club) | QUESTIONABLE: Arijanet Muric (calf)
Manchester City vs Ipswich prediction
This feels like it could be a bit of a cricket score. Ipswich were overrun in the second half against Liverpool and the same will happen at City as they’re worn down. Manchester City 4-0 Ipswich.