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Manchester City overcame the disappointment of their midweek capitulation to Brentford to inflict a punishing 6-0 defeat on Ipswich Town.
The champions were absolutely outstanding from the first whistle, putting together a statement performance that will no doubt leave many wondering how on earth they lost six Premier League games in eight at one stage.
Two goals from Phil Foden and a low Mateo Kovacic rocket put City 3-0 up and cruising into half-time, and they kept their foot on the gas to add to their tally in the second half through Jeremy Docu, Erling Haaland and James McAtee. .
How the game unfolded
City hit their stride almost immediately, stroking the ball around with ease against their relegation-threatened opponents.
It didn’t take long for Erling Haaland to pull off a brilliant save from Ipswich goalkeeper Christian Walton, although the Norwegian would have been disappointed to have his effort in the 29-year-old’s grasp.
Omri Hutchinson fired a rare foray past Ipswich, but they fell behind as Phil Foden continued his recent hot streak in front of goal. Jeremy Doku and Kevin De Bruyne were the architects, before some neat footwork from Foden allowed him to stab the ball home.
Mateo Kovacic had an effort high over the bar before trying two minutes later – the Croatian drilling brilliantly into the bottom corner after good work from Doku and Foden.
The game ended as a contest when Foden made it three from close range, a first-time shot from De Bruyne’s center under Walton’s body, but City continued to push forward after the interval.
The brilliant Doku made it four through a slight deflection off Dara O’Shea, before once again turning provider, this time for Haaland, who celebrated. A new contract of nine and a half years With a clipped finish.
Substitute James McAtee made it six after Ipswich was left unmarked in the penalty area, looping a header over the stranded Walton.
Check out the player ratings from Ipswich 0-6 Man City here.
It was always a question of when, not if, Manchester City League Two Salford City wasn’t going to rip somebody off by clicking everything.
A 4-1 win over West Ham United earlier in the year suggested, at least on paper, that the champions were beginning to find their magic formula at that point, but in truth they weren’t really that good against the Hammers despite scoring four. .
However, you sensed that something bigger was on the horizon, and it turned out that Ed Sheeran was waiting for City to pulverize Ipswich.
Here they were untouchable. In the race from minute to minute, they moved at will, played fast but neat intricate football, and never let the home crowd factor into the game. Indeed, there was an eerie silence for most of the afternoon as both sets of supporters simply absorbed the mesmerizing display of attacking football.
Foden spent the first half-dozen games of the 2024/25 season watching City from the bench, much to the dismay of many fantasy Premier League players. The 24-year-old spent the next three months struggling to make an impression as City inexplicably forgot how to play football.
So it is perhaps no coincidence that City’s gradual rise in form has returned with Foden’s sharpness, particularly in front of goal. Only one scorer Premier League A goal before the turn of the year, Foden now has five in his last three outings. His first-half brace here wasn’t spectacular, just a result of being street smart and knowing exactly where to be at the right time.
While Foden shone on the right, there was another beacon of sunshine on the left: the lightning-quick Jeremy Doku. His performance in 8-0 FA Cup mauling of Salford City Perhaps the Belgian’s warning was that quality performances would become more and more frequent rather than coming in fits and starts.
Ben Johnson really had no idea how to handle Doku, who either charged down the byline with ease or cut the former West Ham defender as if he wasn’t there, and it was no surprise to anyone when he fired home City. . A fourth immediately after the interval.
When City play like this, it’s hard to understand why they would be spending £70m sign Eintracht Frankfurt striker Omar Marmoush.
The Egyptian has enjoyed a breakout season in Germany, scoring 15 times and assisting 10 more in 17 Bundesliga appearances, and will no doubt relieve Erling Haaland, who cannot be expected to play every week.
But a player of Marmosh’s quality, troubling opposition defenses when City have Haaland, Foden, Doku, Savinho, Jack Grealish, Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva? That’s just greedy, Jeremy.
Ipswich Heads were understandably bowed towards the end of the first half at Portman Road, knowing they were completely outclassed and, in all likelihood, already out of the game.
But Kieran McKenna’s side need not dwell on such a performance, as it is not a reflection of their position at this level. It would be hyperbole to suggest City are back to their absolute peak Pep Guardiola levels, but they certainly weren’t a million miles away in East Anglia. Many teams would have folded in this situation, let alone a side that has enjoyed back-to-back promotions.
Containing City and going on the counter was Ipswich’s game plan and it was absolutely the right thing to do. They have had their moments too, with Liam Delap showing an ability to collect the ball and drive forward at pace on more than one occasion, but generally City have to admit they operate on an entirely different planet.
