Here’s your report from Portman Road, which concludes this afternoon’s minute-by-minute. It was a rout, if ever there was one. A case of Tractor Boys against men. Goodnight.
Foden speaks to Sky Sports after the game. “One of our best performances this year,” he says.
On his and City’s return to form, he adds: “Keeping players fit has been key, we’re in better shape and we’re building momentum. It’s good to see me back with a smile on my face and enjoying my football. It’s all seemed to change for me in front of goal, I think I’ve been unlucky before this.”
Foden shrugs and says “you never know what could happen” with regards to City’s outside chances of securing another title.
For the stats heads.
Ipswich (0.80) 0-6 (3.05) Man City
— The xG Philosophy (@xGPhilosophy) January 19, 2025
An update from on the continent:
“10 more years, 10 more years, Erling Haaland,” the City fans chant as the players parade around the turf after the final whistle.
The Norwegian was, in truth, a bit-part in this victory. It was truly an ensemble effort – as Guardiola will surely attest when he’s interviewed.
FT: Ipswich 0-6 Manchester City
Ipswich Town have today been dealt a brutal reminder of how difficult the Premier League can be. Manchester City’s recent slump means they are surely out of the title running this season but they’ve played like reigning champions this afternoon, with Phil Foden, Kevin de Bruyne and Jeremy Doku running riot in East Anglia. It was six and it could have been more.
City will gain huge confidence from this – it seems like they’re back to their best, or somewhere near it – and they jump into fourth place.
Ipswich will hope to quickly forget and move on.
Mercifully, the officials have seen fit to add on just three minutes at the end of this game.
The camera pans to player of the match Phil Foden, who wears a big white smile as he sits in the City dugout.
87 min: Football is much better for the neutrals when there’s some jeopardy involved, isn’t it?
85 min: City continue to pass, pass, pass. Ipswich continue to look at the clock in the vain hope it would tick along a little faster.
82 min: Normal service has resumed and it’s City probing for the next goal. McAtee has really impressed since coming on, getting his first City goal in the process, and he now looks like a genuine option for Guardiola for the rest of the campaign.
80 min: Into the final 10 minutes and this now feels like an exercise as to whether Ipswich can spoil Ederson’s clean sheet. City could well get a seventh or an eighth, but I reckon Guardiola would value a clean sheet even more.
KDB = still the master.
KDB hat trick of assists 🎁 pic.twitter.com/77WhnxoCic
— B/R Football (@brfootball) January 19, 2025
78 min: Ipswich are threatening a goal here. Davis has been good going forward – albeit at a major cost going the other way – while Philogene has shown some tidy footwork since his introduction.
Goals number 4 and 5 for UK viewers here:
"Jérémy Doku, a dancing delight!" 🎙
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 19, 2025
Manchester City have their fourth courtesy of the Belgian winger 🔥 pic.twitter.com/0R36gejBrT
Manchester City have FIVE!
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 19, 2025
Erling Haaland gets his name on the scoresheet 📋 pic.twitter.com/tLqFQhHGfM
75 min: I suspect the final 15 minutes of this contest will be procession-like. Still, the Ipswich fans are finally making a bit of defiant noise in support of their beleaguered side.
Next up for McKenna’s mob? Liverpool away.
73 min: More changes for City, as Kovacic and Akanji are replaced by two more youngsters. One of them is the familiar face of Rico Lewis and the other is the rookie Nico O’Reilly.
Liam Delap is removed for Ipswich. It hasn’t quite been the afternoon he was planning against his former club.
72 min: City are inadvertently doing Manchester United a favour by running in so many goals against their relegation rivals …
70 min: Have Ipswich been naive? Jeremy Boyce has some thoughts on email.
Sorry, but I feared for them and thought they were doomed to failure when they secured their automatic promotion slot. Too high too fast. It’s not the old days (Alf Ramsey) any more. It’s the big hard reality of playing in the big boys’ playground. Altitude sickness? The bends? You can’t come up that quickly from so far down without suffering some effects. Hats off, they’ve tried to carry on playing their nice footie, but…[] they need to get street-wise and sharpish if they’re going to save their season and not suffer a similar fate as many other worthy but ultimately doomed campaigns by other teams in the distant and not-so past.
GOAL! Ipswich 0-6 Manchester City (McAtee, 68)
It’s six! McAtee ghosts into the box and flicks a deft header over Walton after a delightful lofted ball by Kovacic.
Ipswich’s players are starting to argue among themselves.
Updated
67 min: Divin Mubama played a handful of games for West Ham last season before his move to Manchester. But this is his Premier League debut in City colours and well deserved too after a goal against Salford in the FA Cup last weekend.
There’s no doubt Guardiola is thinking about the upcoming Champions League clash at Paris Saint-Germain with those changes. City are in a precarious position in the new-look European group phase. So too are PSG, which should make for a cracking game between two of football’s oil states superpowers.
64 min: City have made a triple change.
Off come Foden, Haaland and De Bruyne, with Grealish, James McAtee and Divin Mubama on.
For Ipswich, Clarke, Cajuste and Godfrey are removed, with Philogene, Luongo and Tuanzebe – the latter a former Manchester United man, of course – introduced.
A more competitive game involving Manchester United and Manchester City today will surely come in the WSL. Follow it here.
62 min: A corner to Ipswich. Can they get any respite here?
No, it’s easily cleared by City.
61 min: Both teams are preparing changes and they cannot come soon enough for the home side, whose players look either shellshocked or just pain fatigued. Football is a game of the head as much as the body and when the mind lapses, everything else goes too.
Poor old Jack Clarke. He hid his face with his shirt after making that mistake. Ipswich have given a couple of really soft goals away today.
Haaland and De Bruyne both see shots go close as City chase a sixth and the home side are at sixes and sevens… the scoreline could surpass those numbers. It could be a cricket score.
GOAL! Ipswich 0-5 Manchester City (Haaland, 57)
Clarke gives it away cheaply and there indeed is the goal for Haaland. It had to come! Doku selflessly fed the striker and he was never ever going to miss, lifting it slightly to ensure Walton was beaten.
Updated
54 min: Haaland chases down Godfrey and earns his team a corner. The Norwegian has been deprived of chances so far this afternoon … that might not last long, though.
53 min: Gundogan tries to thread one through for De Bruyne, who is forced slightly wide and can’t work a crossing angle. City keep it alive though and they’re penning Ipswich in here.
51 min: Have Ipswich been naive or is this just City strutting their best football again? The classic (and correct) answer is… a bit of both, for me Clive.
GOAL! Ipswich 0-4 Manchester City (Doku, 49)
But then, quick as a flash, Doku sprints down the left and arrows home a fourth! He jinked through a couple of defenders and his shot was deflected, ever so slightly, past Walton and into the corner. Game, set, match.
Updated
49 min: You might presume it would be all about damage limitation for Ipswich after that first half, but the bravery and boldness in possession continues – and leads to a decent chance for Ben Johnson after it’s worked to the right wing-back. Ederson saves his low shot.
47 min: There’s been 32 goals and counting this Premier League weekend, with a game and a half to play. Everyone loves goals.
46 min: Straight away, City are on the front foot, with De Bruyne storming down the inside-left channel. He’s been somewhere near his best again today – he shows little sign of slowing down.
We’re back under way for the second half. I have no idea what score we’ll end up on this afternoon.
Can anyone think of an Ed Sheeran song to sum up that Ipswich first half? I’m sure Kieran McKenna has done some Thinking Out Loud in the dressing room at half-time.
Phil Foden doubles his tally 💥
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 19, 2025
Manchester City are running riot in East Anglia! pic.twitter.com/Bj67biie9f
Who has got Phil Foden in their Fantasy Football team? Nope, me neither. A few might be transferring him in after this. In full flight, he’s some footballer.
HALF TIME
Ipswich 0-3 Manchester City at the break. Eeesh, that wasn’t quite the close encounter that some were predicting, was it? City look to have regained much of their old attacking swagger, while Ipswich have lacked authority and organisation at the back. They’ve been shred to ribbons by the brilliant Phil Foden.
A huge gulf in class, in all truth.
We’re now into one minute of first half added time. City are hunting for more goals.
44 min: City are threatening a fourth before half-time … it really could get brutal for the home side if they continue in this vein. Foden cannot find Haaland as another attack opens up and the Ipswich back five parts.
GOAL! Ipswich 0-3 Manchester City (Foden, 42)
Goodness me that was just so easy. De Bruyne to Foden, 3-0. City at their slickest.
That’s three goal involvements for Foden already this afternoon – and four goals in his last one-and-a-half matches.
Updated
39 min: Is this now a formality, or can Ipswich still make it interesting? After City saw a 2-0 lead at Brentford evaporate in midweek, a goal might make them nervous.
37 min: Gvardiol robs Hutchinson of possession and then storms forward and sweeps it to the other flank for Foden, who in turn finds De Bruyne on the edge of the area. The shot is just over from the Belgian.
Phil Foden + 1G +1A
Ipswich are cut apart as Phil Foden scores on his 200th start for Manchester City! pic.twitter.com/KSigHXQA2h
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 19, 2025
Mateo Kovačić drills it in to double Manchester City's lead ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/5VsZgzljL1
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 19, 2025
34 min: A few grumbles reverberate around Portman Road, largely directed at the referee, Samuel Barrott, who has let a couple of potential City fouls slide. This Ipswich crowd won’t turn on their own players or manager, that’s for sure.
Ipswich now have the proverbial mountain to climb. This hasn’t been vintage City under Pep Guardiola, but it’s been far more like the team that have dominated the Premier League in recent years. Ipswich will rue a couple of major lapses in concentration.
“Down with United,” is the new taunt from City to both Ipswich and their hometown rivals.
GOAL! Ipswich 0-2 Manchester City (Kovacic, 30)
Bang, bang, one, two! Kovacic thumps it into the bottom corner.
Ipswich stood off City, allowing Foden to work the extra pass to the Croatian, who was waiting on the edge of the area ready to drill it home. Emphatic stuff.
Updated
29 min: That’s a big blow for Ipswich, who had been holding their own. City made a good couple of minutes’ possession count. Foden is certainly back in form for his club now, after a very slow start to the season.
GOAL! Ipswich 0-1 Manchester City (Foden, 27)
Foden turns it in after a patient City move!
It had been another period of probing for City with Doku seeing plenty of the ball and drawing markers, releasing De Bruyne. The Belgian’s cross found Foden who guided it into the bottom corner on the spin.
Updated
25 min: O’Shea then rises highest from the corner – also from the left – but his header is simple enough for Ederson to save. A couple of really decent chances for Ipswich pass by.
24 min: Davis sets it back for Hutchinson from the free-kick and the winger’s left-footed shot is clipped away for a corner. It wasn’t a million miles away.
22 min: Tell you what, Ipswich can play some zippy stuff when the mood takes them. Clarke looks razor-sharp in the inside left zone and Delap is hustling and harrying the City defence – he wins another free-kick.
20 min: Gundogan almost collects Foden’s shot, trying to take it into his stride and spin goalwards … and he wasn’t far away from doing so.
“10 more years, 10 more years, Erling Haaland,” is the latest ditty from the City supporters.
19 min: Leif Davis wastes a good position after racing down the Ipswich left, his cross too close to Ederson, who catches. Doku then earns City a corner.
Match reports from earlier FYI:
17 min: Ipswich are getting a bit sloppy and it’s yielding chances for the visitors. This time it falls for Kovacic, who leans back too much and sweeps his effort over the crossbar. Warning signs for the hosts!
16 min: Great save from Walton! Haaland was released by Kovacic and was one v one, but the Ipswich keeper came out and stood tall to beat it away. He then saves from Doku’s effort following the resulting corner.
15 min: “Who the f*ck are Man United?” is the chant from City’s travelling contingent in the corner of Portman Road.
Answer: The 13th best team in the league.
13 min: It feels like a pattern has already been established in this game and it goes like this:
City edge forward with some neat and tidy passing and try to break down Ipswich; Ipswich sit on the edge of their area; then the hosts break into space down the flanks looking for a fast counter.
11 min: My thoughts on David’s email below are that Haaland’s big bumper contract is a statement from intent from a club coming under fire re financial fair play. Nothing to see here! Of course, we’ll soon discover whether that’s the case or not. Tying Haaland down long-term is not something a club would do if they believed they’ll have relegation forced upon them, or even a hefty points deduction. Or is it all just smoke and mirrors?
8 min: Jack Clarke’s dancing feet get Ipswich away and moving through the middle, with Delap then trying to cut inside only for City to rush bodies back to block. Haaland then steams away on the break but City are stalled. End to end!
Some thoughts and questions from reader David Wall on Erling Haaland’s mega-deal:
Does Haaland’s new contract make it more difficult for Liverpool to re-sign Salah? As the outstanding forward in the league at the moment Salah might justifiably ask for equivalence with the top earner in the league (and not just the top earner at Liverpool). Of course, he won’t expect a similar length of contract but he might be asking Liverpool to stretch to half a million a week as a sign they really value him. You’d think Liverpool could never agree to that. Is announcing Haaland’s contract now, as opposed to the end of the season, a bit of mischief from City, or is it just a happy side effect that it might harm their rivals for next season?
6 min: Nunes is actually playing as a right-back (ish), with Josko Gvardiol in his usual left-back role. The former runs out of grass trying to latch on to a De Bruyne through-ball.
5 min: Ipswich are a team brimming with big lads and you suspect they’ll be backing themselves from set pieces today.
It’s now City’s turn to pass it around, with Ipswich seemingly unafraid to press high.
3 min: Ipswich get some early joy down their right, where Godfrey and Hutchinson combine and turn Nunes around. A sloppy mistake from the Portuguese then allows the hosts a corner.
2 min: The home side knock it around with a good degree of confidence in the opening minute or so, before Delap wins the first free-kick of the game. Good strength from him.
KICK OFF
After a minute’s silence applause in memory of Denis Law, we get under way.
City, all in burgundy, kick us off. There’s plenty of noise from the stands on what feels like a pretty big occasion for the town of Ipswich.
Guardiola is well wrapped up in a fluffy scarf on the touchline. It’s a chilly old day in East Anglia.
Updated
McKenna has changed three of his usual back five, including giving Ben Godfrey – on loan from Atalanta – a debut for this one.
We’re ready to rock and roll at a packed-out Portman Road.
An email has dropped from the well-named Kieran McKintosh:
That scene from A New Hope where Vader and Obi-Wan fight and Vader says: ‘When I left you, I was but the learner. Now I am the master’ comes to mind ahead of this match. Ipswich, thrashed 4-1 at the Etihad, now look a lot more like giving City a run for their money. Especially with Delap, the Prem’s answer to Luke Skywalker, having a point to prove.
I also enjoyed this from Peter Oh, who said: “It’s the +-=÷× £$€¥¢ derby!”
Guardiola tells the TV cameras that “it doesn’t matter how we do it”, he is just desperate to pick up three points today. That’s a far cry from the football philosopher we used to know, isn’t it?
The return of Rúben Dias to the defence is a definite boon for City, while it will be interesting to see the makeup of the rest of the back four (or three?). Matheus Nunes at left-back? Ilkay Gündogan dropping deep? We’ll see.
The match reports from those 2pm games will be rolling in soon, but at Portman Road kickoff is drawing ever closer. It feels like the battle of the classic big men this afternoon with Liam Delap gunning to prove a point against his former employers, while Erling Haaland will be keen to lay a marker down and justify that new 65-year contract City have given him.
Full time results:
Everton 3-2 Tottenham
Manchester United 1-3 Brighton
Nottingham Forest 3-2 Southampton
One regular day of Barclay’s, that’s all I ask for …
It’s bizarre to take a look at the Premier League table and see Manchester City in eighth.
The only consolation for City fans is that United (who are losing again – shock!) are marooned down in 13th. City could climb to fifth today, maybe even fourth if they secure a hefty win.
Since 2022, Jaden Philogene has been loaned from Aston Villa to Stoke, loaned from Aston Villa to Cardiff, sold by Aston Villa to Hull, resigned by Aston Villa and then sold by Aston Villa to Ipswich. He’s on the bench and could make his debut for Kieran McKenna’s side today after completing a January transfer to East Anglia.
Good video, this. Philo-gene etc etc.
It’s time to dance. 🕺 pic.twitter.com/iiBVQaS5wF
— IPSWICH TOWN (@IpswichTown) January 15, 2025
Lovely stuff, this. Jonny Liew on Liam Delap.
While Ipswich versus Man City may have seemed like it could be the league’s biggest mismatch at the outset of the campaign, the two teams are just a point apart in the current form table.
The Tractor Boys seem to have found their feet somewhat of late, while City’s struggles are far from over, despite going unbeaten in their past four in all competitions. Pep Guardiola’s side ought to be big favourites this afternoon, of course, but they might not have everything their own way.
Confirmed team news
Ipswich: Walton; Godfrey, O’Shea, Burgess; Johnson, Cajuste, Morsy, Davis; Hutchinson, Clarke, Delap.
Subs: Muric, Burns, Taylor, Townsend, Luongo, Hirst, Broadhead, Tuanzebe, Philogene.
Manchester City: Ederson; Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol, Nunes; Kovacic, Gundogan, De Bruyne; Doku, Haaland, Foden.
Subs: Ortega, Grealish, Bernardo, Savinho, Mubama, Alleyne, O’Reilly, Lewis, McAtee.
Updated
Well, there’s been no shortage of action in the earlier games. In a surprise to nobody, Brighton scored early at Manchester United and Nottingham Forest stormed into the lead against suffering Southampton … while Everton’s three-goal haul in 45 minutes at home is much more of a shocker – especially for Spurs.
Follow it all with Rob Smyth.
Preamble
Welcome! Manchester City have taken an upturn in recent weeks after being absolutely ruddy awful for a surprisingly long time. They’ve been boosted by Erling Haaland signing his life away this week and the fact lots of players are lined up to join the club.
Ipswich are in the drop-zone but have surprised some of the big hitters and beat Chelsea at Portman Road last month. Kieran McKenna must have taken some influence from Pep Guardiola, judging by his style of play and will be eager to test him against the Catalan once more. The same can be said of Liam Delap who looks like a cracking No 9 and was moulded in the City academy before being sold of to the Tractor Boys.
Here’s to a cracker this afternoon!
Kick-off: 4.30pm GMT
