Manchester City continued their push for Champions League football with a 6-0 Premier League slaughter of Ipswich Town on Sunday afternoon at Portman Road.
The hosts had opportunities of their own in the first half when the score was 0-0, forcing reinstated goalkeeper Ederson to make saves, but a superb showing from Phil Foden ensured that City took a three-goal lead heading into the interval, with the Englishman scoring twice and registering an assist for Mateo Kovacic.
Jeremy Doku, Erling Haaland and James McAtee would go on to score second-half goals and help give the visitors just their second away victory in their last 11 on the road.
The result leaves City in fourth place with 38 points, and they are interestingly only six points from both third-placed Nottingham Forest and second-placed Arsenal.
Ipswich stay in 18th place with just 16 points after 22 matchweeks, though they are at least level on points with 17th-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers.
SPORTS MOLE'S VERDICT
© Iconsport
City have now won four of their last five games and are unbeaten in six fixtures, and their showing on Sunday highlighted that the team still possesses world-class quality.
Pep Guardiola's side are too far behind league-leaders Liverpool to mount a title challenge, but they have put themselves in a good position to qualify for the Champions League.
Meanwhile, Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna should not be disheartened by his side's performance given they came up against the champions.
However, McKenna's team have won just one of their 12 Premier League games at home, and they will have to improve upon that record if they are to avoid relegation.
IPSWICH TOWN VS. MANCHESTER CITY HIGHLIGHTS
Phil Foden goal vs. Ipswich Town (27th min, Ipswich Town 0-1 Manchester City)
Ipswich are cut apart as Phil Foden scores on his 200th start for Manchester City! pic.twitter.com/KSigHXQA2h
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 19, 2025
Foden switches from right to left to Doku, who drives closer to the box and passes to Kevin De Bruyne before the Belgian lobs a cross to Foden, who controls, swivels and strikes home in a crowded penalty area.
That was more like the old City!
Mateo Kovacic goal vs. Ipswich Town (30th min, Ipswich Town 0-2 Manchester City)
Mateo Kovačić drills it in to double Manchester City's lead ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/5VsZgzljL1
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 19, 2025
Doku has possession on the left of Ipswich's box and cuts back to the edge of the penalty area to Foden, who squares across to Kovacic before the midfielder runs onto the pass and drives a low effort past goalkeeper Christian Walton.
Two quick-fire goals!
Phil Foden goal vs. Ipswich Town (42nd min, Ipswich Town 0-3 Manchester City)
Phil Foden doubles his tally 💥
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 19, 2025
Manchester City are running riot in East Anglia! pic.twitter.com/Bj67biie9f
De Bruyne intercepts a loose pass on the near the halfway line, and City manage to release Doku down the left flank before the winger passes to his underlapping Belgian teammate, who cuts back across goal for Foden to tap into the net.
Game over!
Jeremy Doku goal vs. Ipswich Town (49th min, Ipswich Town 0-4 Manchester City)
"Jérémy Doku, a dancing delight!" 🎙
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 19, 2025
Manchester City have their fourth courtesy of the Belgian winger 🔥 pic.twitter.com/0R36gejBrT
De Bruyne passes out wide to Doku on the left flank, and the winger carries the ball at pace, shimmying past Ipswich defenders before striking in the right of the net from inside the box via a deflection off of goalkeeper Walton.
An incredible solo goal!
Erling Haaland goal vs. Ipswich Town (57th min, Ipswich Town 0-5 Manchester City)
Manchester City have FIVE!
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 19, 2025
Erling Haaland gets his name on the scoresheet 📋 pic.twitter.com/tLqFQhHGfM
Doku once again races through on goal after latching onto a loose pass in midfield by Ipswich, and as he charges down the left, Haaland rushes through the centre and scores after the winger squares the ball to him near the penalty spot.
He was never going to leave the pitch without scoring!
69th min: Ipswich Town 0-6 Manchester City (James McAtee)
© Iconsport
Kovacic floats a cross from the centre-left of the final third into the box, and James McAtee times his run perfectly, nodding over Walton from close range.
Even the substitutes are scoring!
MAN OF THE MATCH - JEREMY DOKU
© Iconsport
Jeremy Doku was a constant threat down the left flank, driving at Ipswich's defence and tormenting left-back Leif Davis numerous times.
The winger was involved in almost every City attack and managed to score once and register an assist, but his impact went beyond direct goal involvements.
IPSWICH TOWN VS. MANCHESTER CITY MATCH STATS
Possession: Ipswich Town 32%-68% Manchester City
Shots: Ipswich Town 8-17 Manchester City
Shots on target: Ipswich Town 4-9 Manchester City
Corners: Ipswich Town 4-7 Manchester City
Fouls: Ipswich Town 4-7 Manchester City
BEST STATS
Most PL games with multiple assists:
— StatMuse FC (@statmusefc) January 19, 2025
17 — Kevin De Bruyne
17 — Ryan Giggs pic.twitter.com/daPhEjerac
Most times a manager has seen his side score 6+ goals in a Premier League game in the competition's history:
— Squawka (@Squawka) January 19, 2025
◎ 14 - Sir Alex Ferguson
◎ 13 - Arsene Wenger
◉ 13 - Pep Guardiola
Pep is coming for another Fergie record. 👀 pic.twitter.com/SzS2fqL0uR
James McAtee has scored a goal on each of his last 4 shots on target.
— StatMuse FC (@statmusefc) January 19, 2025
Efficient. pic.twitter.com/dr8T9u0tYM
WHAT NEXT?
Ipswich's next game could hardly be more difficult given they travel to Anfield on January 25 to play Liverpool in the Premier League, before hosting Southampton on February 1.
City travel to Paris on Wednesday to take on Paris Saint-Germain in a crucial Champions League game and will then hope to beat Chelsea at home when they return to league action on January 25.
Lewis Nolan
