Manchester City claimed immediate action from the Premier League on Sunday night with a sensational 6-0 win away at Ipswich.
Josep Guardiola’s side may have had their last gasp away to Brentford earlier this week, but City showed no signs of a hangover in Norfolk.
Red-hot Phil Foden scored the opener midway through the first half and the floodgates quickly opened as Sunday’s guests rushed towards Champions League qualification.
City added another just three minutes later with Mateo Kovacic’s sharp shot from the edge of the box, and Foden assisted for City’s third goal two minutes before half-time.
Erling Haaland, who had just signed a new nine-and-a-half-year contract in midweek, scored his 17th Premier League goal of the season just before time expired.
There was still time for substitute James McAtee to get on the scoresheet, thanks to a stunning looping header from Kovacic’s smart cross.
As for Ipswich, who have slipped back into the relegation zone, the Tractor Boys also continue to show some glaring defensive issues.
On a night when Manchester City cemented their place in the race for the top four, we brought you the key stories from Portman Road.
City find route back to Champions League qualification
Manchester City may have suffered another late collapse away to Brentford on Tuesday night when they had to settle for a 2-2 stalemate, but the Sky Blues responded immediately. I headed to Norfolk in search of it.
Sunday’s guests were at their best here, extending their FA Cup adventure on January 11 with a resounding 8-0 win over League Two Salford.
Avoiding what could have been a banana peel at Portman Road, Guardiola’s side are unbeaten in their last five games in all competitions, enjoying their longest unbeaten run since late October.
Man City started the new year with a 4-1 win over West Ham and embarked on a free scoring spree in the final third.
The Sky Blues ended 2024 with a 2-0 win away at relegation-battling Leicester, having scored 22 goals in their last five games unbeaten.
Ipswich are facing a really tough battle.
Ipswich may have ended 2024 with a famous 2-0 win over Chelsea, but Kieran McKenna’s side have failed to build on that performance.
Despite suffering a disappointing 2-0 loss to Brighton earlier in the week, the former Manchester United manager was bracing himself for another tough test.
Ipswich, who have slipped back into the relegation zone and were completely beaten on Sunday night, continue to gain an unwanted reputation for their flagrant struggles at home.
Sunday’s hosts, who now have a much narrower goal difference and currently have the fourth-worst defensive record, have lost five of their last six Premier League games in Norfolk.
Their morale has likely taken a potential dip here, and things won’t be that easy for Ipswich, who head to runway leaders Liverpool next weekend.
Foden talks about the recent uproar
Record-breaker Haaland may have scored in his last four Premier League appearances, but it was Foden who once again stole all the headlines.
The defending champions appear to have hit a much-needed turning point last month, with much of their recent success owed to players from their superstar academy.
The England international, who scored twice in a row in the Premier League on Sunday evening, has certainly given his all since the start of the new year.
Adding two more goals against Brentford earlier this week means Foden has now scored five goals in his last three Premier League games alone.
It is clear that Foden will take on a leading role in the second half of the season, having finished second to Haaland in City’s goalscoring list this season and has enjoyed his most productive period of the season.
Match report
Ipswich: Walton, Johnson, Godfrey, O’Shea, Burgess, Davis, Clarke, Morsy, Cajuste, Hutchinson, Delap.
Subs: Tuanzebe, Philogene, Luongo, Hurst, Taylor.
Manchester City: Ederson, Nunez, Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol, Gundogan, Kovacic, Foden, De Bruyne, Doc, Haaland.
Subs: O’Reilly, Lewis, Grealish, McAtee, Mbama.
Goals: Foden (27′, 42′), Kovacic (30′), Doc (49′), Haaland (57′), McAtee (69′)
Yellow card: Nunes
Red card: N/A
Referee: Sam Barrott
