Phil Foden scored twice and Erling Haaland celebrated his new contract with another goal as Manchester City crushed woeful Ipswich this afternoon.
City looked back to their imposing best at Portman Road, although Ipswich offered little resistance in a one-sided encounter.
Foden, who also grabbed a brace in the 2-2 draw at Brentford in midweek, opened the scoring and Mateo Kovacic doubled City’s advantage on the half-hour.
Foden made it 3-0 before half-time and goals from the impressive Jeremy Doku, Haaland, who signed a nine-and-a-half-year deal on Friday, and James McAtee completed the rout.
Manchester City have FIVE!
Erling Haaland writes his name on the match sheet
pic.twitter.com/tLqFQhHGfM
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 19, 2025
It was a disappointing afternoon for Ipswich, who remain in the relegation zone after suffering their 12th defeat in 22 games since promotion. The magnitude of City’s win saw them leapfrog Newcastle into fourth place.
Toll City
City’s dismal pre-Christmas form now seems a distant memory, although they have left their improvement too late to mount a title challenge.
Foden conceded as much in the build-up and it looked as if City were playing with an element of freedom as they chased the hosts away from goal.
Haaland should have opened the scoring after 14 minutes but Christian Walton made a fine save after Kovacic’s superb through ball.
Kovacic then fired over as City remained on the front foot and it was no surprise when he took the lead after 27 minutes.
Kevin De Bruyne was the architect, taking a pass from Doku and crossing for Foden to control and fire a left-footed volley past Walton.
Kovacic added a second three minutes later, firing powerfully into the bottom corner from the edge of the area.
De Bruyne shot wide before the Belgian set up Foden’s second in an almost carbon copy of his first, the England international slotting home a left-footed cross.
Phil Foden doubles his tally
Manchester City is making riots in East Anglia! pic.twitter.com/Bj67biie9f
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 19, 2025
The match continued after the break
Ederson was saved well by Ben Johnson in a rare Ipswich attack before City added a fourth from their next attack. Doku, whose pace and power had tormented Ipswich all afternoon, cut in from the left and fired in a shot that clipped the leg of Dara O’Shea as it went past Walton.
The last thing Ipswich wanted was to lend a helping hand to a rampant City, but that’s exactly what Jack Clarke did after 57 minutes.
The winger struggled to make an impression at Portman Road following his summer move from Sunderland and did little to endear himself to the home fans with a poor crossfield pass cut out by Doku and slipped past Haaland to slot home.
With the points in the bag, Pep Guardiola withdrew De Bruyne, Haaland and Foden and one of the substitutes promptly came on for City’s sixth, McAtee nodding off Kovacic.
