Two days after securing Erling Haaland with a groundbreaking new contract, Manchester City now face a chance to correct mistakes in the Premier League when they travel to Ipswich Town on Sunday afternoon.
The defending champions allowed a 2-0 lead to slip in a thrilling 2-2 draw with Brentford earlier in the week, while The Tractor Boys couldn’t replicate Brentford’s resilience in their home defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion.
- Tournament: English Premier League
- Date: Sunday, January 19
- Kick-off Time: 04:30 PM GMT
- Venue: Portman Road, Ipswich, Suffolk.
Ipswich Town vs Manchester City Preview
Manchester City experienced a sudden setback early in the 2024-25 season as Pep Guardiola’s team faced unexpected defeats. These dropped points have dented their hopes of winning five consecutive titles, but they still need to win this match, as further losses could endanger their top-four chances.
The Tractor Boys have just suffered a defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion, which left them in 18th place. The team has struggled throughout the season, and unless they improve quickly, they risk relegation. With only 16 points from 21 games, they’ll face one of the toughest teams in Europe. A draw would be acceptable, but they should aim for a win given Manchester City’s recent inconsistency.
Ipswich Town Team News
The Tractor Boys will be missing several players due to injury, including Chaplin, Ogbene, Tuanzebe, Szmodics, and Hutchinson. Phillips is also ineligible for this match.
Manchester City Team News
Rodri, Dias, Stones, and Bobb will all miss this match due to injury, which will certainly make Pep Guardiola think carefully about his lineup.
Ipswich Town vs Manchester City Predicted Lineups
Ips Town Predicted Lineup (3-4-2-1)
Goalkeeper: Walton
Defenders: O’Shea, Greaves, Woolfenden
Midfielders: Johnson, Morsy, Cajuste, Davis; Clarke, Broadhead
Forwards: Delap
Manchester City Predicted Lineup (4-2-3-1)
Goalkeeper: Ortega
Defenders: Lewis, Akanji, Ake, Gvardiol
Midfielders: Silva, Kovacic; Foden, De Bruyne, Savinho
Attackers: Haaland
Ipswich Town vs Manchester City Head-to-Head Record
The Tractor Boys and Manchester City have faced each other 67 times. Ipswich Town have won 28 of these encounters, while Manchester City have come out on top 24 times. The remaining 15 matches ended in a draw. The teams met in August last year after a 22-year gap.
| Score | Date | Competition |
|---|---|---|
| Manchester City 4-1 Ipswich Town | August 24, 2024 | EPL |
| Ipswich Town 1-4 Manchester City | January 27, 2002 | FA Cup |
| Ipswich Town 2-1 Manchester City | May 7, 2021 | EPL |
| Manchester City 1-2 Ipswich Town | December 19, 2000 | League Cup |
| Manchester City 2-3 Ipswich Town | November 25, 2000 | EPL |
Key Players to Watch in Ipswich Town vs Manchester City
Liam Delap (Ipswich Town)
Delap has contributed to 50% of Ips Town’s goals in the 2024-25 Premier League, with eight goals and two assists in 20 matches. His xG stands at 8.47.
The 21-year-old striker has already scored against teams like Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea, and now he’ll be eager to face his former club. Delap will be looking to add another big name to his list of goalscoring victims.
Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
Haaland has just signed a huge 9.5-year contract extension with Manchester City. This match will be his first since that new deal. He has scored 16 goals and provided one assist in the 2024-25 Premier League, making him one of the league’s top scorers. Haaland ranks second on the scoring chart, just behind Mohamed Salah of Liverpool. His xG is an impressive 18.37.
Playing against one of the weaker teams in the league, Haaland might have the perfect opportunity to score a hat-trick and move to the top of the goal-scoring list, overtaking Salah.
Ipswich Town vs Manchester City Prediction
Manchester City are the clear favorites and are expected to win comfortably, given their stronger squad and better form. The Tractor Boys may put up some resistance at home, but they’re unlikely to hold out for long.
Predicted Score: Ipswich Town 1-3 Manchester City.
Where to Watch Ipswich Town vs Manchester City Live?
| Country | Where to watch |
|---|---|
| USA | NBC platforms |
| UK | Sky Sports |
