Manchester City vs Ipswich Preview

• City to win by two goals or more
• Haaland to score

Manchester City’s Dominant Start to the Season

New season, same outcome for Manchester City, as the reigning Premier League champions kicked off their campaign with a commanding 2-0 victory against Chelsea on Sunday.

This result sets the stage for City to potentially win their opening two league games for the third consecutive season. Their next challenge comes in the form of newly-promoted Ipswich Town, marking the first league meeting between these two sides since 2001.

Manchester City’s last encounter with Ipswich in the top flight ended in disappointment, with City losing both head-to-head matches and eventually facing relegation.

However, times have changed, and with City currently enjoying a remarkable 30-game unbeaten home league run (W24, D6), a repeat of history seems highly unlikely.

Extending this streak to 31 games appears to be the likely outcome, especially considering Pep Guardiola’s side has beaten eight of the last nine newly-promoted teams to visit the Etihad Stadium by at least two goals.

Ipswich Town’s Premier League Challenge

Ipswich Town’s return to the Premier League has been nothing short of a whirlwind. After suffering a 2-0 defeat to Liverpool last weekend, they might have thought the challenge couldn’t get any tougher.

However, a trip to face the reigning champions quickly dispels that notion. There’s a personal element to this match for Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna, who previously held a coaching role at Manchester City’s fierce rivals, Manchester United.

McKenna will undoubtedly be motivated to cause an upset in this daunting fixture.

This match also marks Ipswich’s first Premier League away game since May 2002. Back then, their relegation campaign concluded with six defeats in their last seven away matches (D1).

However, the Tractor Boys can take some solace from their impressive promotion campaign last season, where they only suffered five away defeats (W12, D6, L5). This statistic offers a glimmer of hope as they prepare for what is arguably the toughest assignment the league has to offer.

Key Players to Watch

Erling Haaland (Manchester City): The Norwegian striker wasted no time making his mark this season, scoring the opener in City’s victory against Chelsea.

Haaland has a knack for finding the back of the net against newly-promoted teams, having scored at least once against all three such sides in his two seasons at City. He will undoubtedly be a major threat to Ipswich’s defence.

Liam Delap (Ipswich Town): Returning to familiar territory, City academy graduate Liam Delap made a permanent switch to Ipswich this summer.

Delap has a knack for scoring crucial goals, with nine of his last ten club goals either breaking the deadlock or levelling the score. He’ll be eager to prove himself against his former club and could be Ipswich’s key to pulling off a shock result.

Conclusion

As Manchester City hosts Ipswich Town at the Etihad Stadium, the match is poised to be an intriguing clash between a team accustomed to dominating the Premier League and a newly-promoted side eager to make their mark.

City’s formidable home record and the attacking prowess of players like Erling Haaland make them clear favourites, but Ipswich, driven by the motivation of their manager and key players, will look to defy the odds.

This fixture promises to be a fascinating encounter, with both teams having plenty to play for early in the season.

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Man City v Ipswich, 2024/25 | Premier League