2024-08-24 21:20:03
Manchester City welcome Ipswich Town to the Etihad Stadium on Saturday as Pep Guardiola’s side aim to keep their perfect start to the season going with minimum fuss.
WATCH MANCHESTER CITY v IPSWICH LIVE
City brushed aside Chelsea 2-0 on the opening weekend and with several key players set to return for this game against Ipswich, normal service has resumed for Guardiola’s side who are going for a fifth-straight Premier League title and the duo of Kevin de Bruyne and Erling Haaland look fired up for more success.
Ipswich fought hard in the first half at home against Liverpool on opening weekend, but their first game back in the Premier League after a 22-year hiatus ended in defeat as they ran out of steam. Kieran McKenna’s side have been handed a ridiculously tough start to life back in the big time and a solid defensive display against City is their main aim.
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 live score: 3-1
Sammie Szmodics, 7′; Erling Haaland 12′, 15′; Kevin De Bruyne 14′
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 (15th 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!
De Bruyne powers Man City in front of Ipswich Town
A mistake at the back leaves Ipswich Town vulnerable, and Kevin De Bruyne doesn’t hesitate to give Manchester City a 2-1 lead at the Etihad.
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.
Haaland’s penalty puts City level v. Ipswich Town
Erling Haaland makes no mistake from the penalty spot as he puts Manchester City back on level terms against Ipswich Town early in the first half at the Etihad.
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!
Szmodics gives Ipswich Town dream start v. City
The Tractor Boys are in dream land thanks to Sammie Szmodics’ shock opener against Manchester City at the Etihad.
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.
