Manchester City put behind them the disappointment of capitulating against Brentford in midweek to inflict a heavy 6-0 defeat on Ipswich Town.
The champions were absolutely incredible from the first whistle, putting together an impressive performance that will undoubtedly make many wonder how they ever lost six Premier League games in eight at one stage.
Two goals by Phil Foden and a low rocket by Mateo Kovačić led City to 3-0 at halftime, and in the second half they kept their foot on the gas and added to their score through Jeremy Doku, Erling Haaland and James McAtee.
How the match unfolded
City hit the ground running almost immediately, striking the ball with ease against their relegation-threatened opponents.
It didn’t take long for Erling Haaland to make a superb save from Ipswich goalkeeper Christian Walton, although the Norwegian will be frustrated that he put his effort into the hands of the 29-year-old.
Omari Hutchinson fired over from a rare Ipswich forward, but they then fell behind as Phil Foden continued his recent hot streak in front of goal. Jeremy Doku and Kevin De Bruyne were the architects, before Foden’s slick foot allowed him to slot the ball home.
Mateo Kovačić fired high over the bar before he succeeded two minutes later – the Croatian drilled brilliantly into the bottom corner after more good work from Doku and Foden.
The game ended as a contest when Foden made it three from close range, curling first-time under Walton’s body from De Bruyne’s cross, but City continued to charge forward after the break.
The brilliant Doku made it four, with a gentle deflection off Dar O’Shea, before once again turning provider, this time for Haaland, who celebrated his new contract for nine and a half years with a clipped end.
Substitute James McAtee made it six after being left unmarked in the Ipswich box, heading over the stranded Walton.
See the player ratings for Ipswich 0-6 Man City here.
It was always a question of when, not if, Manchester City it would make everything click and take apart someone other than League 2 Salford City.
A 4-1 win over West Ham United earlier in the year suggested, on paper at least, that the champions were then starting to find their magic formula, but truth be told they weren’t really that good against the Hammers despite scoring four goals. .
However, you sensed that something big was on the horizon, and it turned out that the chance to destroy Ipswich in front of Ed Sheeran was what City had been waiting for.
They were untouchable here. In races from the first minute, they strolled forward to their heart’s content, playing fast but neat, intricate football, and never allowing the home crowd to become a factor in the game. Indeed, there was an eerie silence for most of the afternoon as both sets of fans just soaked up what was a mesmerizing display of attacking football.
Foden spent the first six games of the 2024/25 season watching City from the bench, much to the disappointment of many Fantasy Premier League players. The 24-year-old then 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 coincided with the return of Foden’s sharpness, particularly in front of goal. Shooter of only one Premier League goal before the turn of the year, Foden now has five in his last three strikes. His first half demeanor here wasn’t flashy, just a result of being smart and knowing where to be at the right time.
Along with Foden shining on the right, there was another beacon of sunshine operating down the left: the electrifyingly fast Jeremy Doku. His performance in 8-0 defeat of Salford City in the FA Cup was perhaps a warning from the Belgian that quality displays will be more and more frequent, and not in attacks.
Ben Johnson didn’t really have a clue how to deal with Doku, who either charged down the byline with ease or cut inside as if the former West Ham defender wasn’t there, and it surprised no one when he tapped City’s ball home. the fourth shortly after the break.
When City play like this it’s hard to see why they could spend close to £70m on sign Eintracht Frankfurt striker Omar Marmoush.
The Egyptian has enjoyed a successful season in Germany, scoring 15 times and assisting a further 10 in 17 Bundesliga appearances, and will no doubt provide a break for Erling Haaland, who cannot be expected to play every week.
But a player of Marmoush’s quality, when City have Haaland, Foden, Doku, Savinho, Jack Grealish, Kevin De Bruyne and Bernard Silva tormenting opposition defences? That’s just greedy, Jeremy.
Ipswich understandably bowed their heads 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 should not dwell on such a performance, simply because it is not a reflection of their standing at this level. It would be a stretch to suggest that City had returned to their absolute Pep Guardiola heights, but they certainly weren’t a million miles away in East Anglia. Many teams would have given up in this situation, let alone a side that enjoyed back-to-back promotions.
Retaining City and springing forward on the counter was Ipswich’s game plan and it was absolutely the right thing to do. They had their moments too, with Liam Delap repeatedly showing his ability to collect the ball and rush forward at pace, but he simply has to accept that City generally operate on a completely different planet.
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