Phil Foden scored twice and Erling Haaland celebrated his bumper new signing with another goal as Manchester City crushed relegation-threatened Ipswich this afternoon.

City looked back to their best at Portman Road, although Ipswich put up little resistance in a one-sided encounter.

Foden, who also bagged 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 mark.

Foden made it 3-0 before half-time and goals from the impressive Jeremy Doku, Haaland, who signed a nine-and-a-half-year contract on Friday, and James McAtee completed the rout.

Manchester City have five!

Erling Helland’s name is on the scoresheet 📋 pic.twitter.com/tLqFQhHGfM

– Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 19, 2025

It was a fine afternoon for Ipswich, who remain in the relegation zone after suffering their 12th defeat in 22 games since promotion. The size of City’s win saw them move above Newcastle and into fourth place.

City on charge

City’s woeful form before Christmas now seems like a distant memory, though they have made a late recovery to mount a title challenge.

Foden admitted as much in the build-up and it seemed City were playing with an element of freedom as they dictated the hosts from the start.

Haaland should have opened the scoring after 14 minutes but Christian Walton made a fine save following Kovacic’s fine through ball.

Kovacic then fired over as City remained on the front foot and it was no surprise when they went ahead 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 behind Walton.

Kovacic added a second three minutes later, firing powerfully into the bottom corner from the edge of the area.

Another close carbon copy of Foden by the Belgian with his first, the England international headed home a left-footed cross before De Bruyne shot in vain.

Phil Foden doubles his tally 💥

Manchester City are running riot in East Anglia! pic.twitter.com/Bj67biie9f

– Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 19, 2025

The route continued after the break

Ederson saved well from Ben Johnson on a rare Ipswich foray before City added a fourth in their next attack. Doku, whose pace and power had plagued Ipswich all afternoon, cut in from the left and fired past Walton past Dara O’Shea’s leg.

The last thing Ipswich wanted was to lend a helping hand to formidable City but Jack Clarke did just that after 57 minutes.

The winger has struggled to make an impression at Portman Road since his summer move from Sunderland and did little to endear the home supporters to a poor crossfield pass which was intercepted by Doku and he slid into Haaland to slot home.

With the points in the bag, Pep Guardiola withdrew De Bruyne, Haaland and Foden and soon City’s sixth, McAtee, nodded in a delightful pass from Kovacic.