FootyChatter.com

By DANIEL DAVIS and JACK GAUGHAN AT PORTMAN ROAD Published: 02: 00 AEDT, 20 January 2025 | Updated: 05: 55 AEDT, 20 January 2025 59 View comments Follow Mail Sport's live blog for the latest live, score, team news and updates as Ipswich Town host Manchester City at Portman Road. By Dan Davis Here's how the Premier League games today played out. .. By Dan Davis Pep Guardiola, Man City boss, speaking to Sky Sports: By Dan Davis Phil Foden, Man City forward, speaking to Sky Sports: By Dan Davis Phil Foden, Man City forward, speaking to Sky Sports: By Dan Davis Out of nowhere, City are back in the Champions League spots. I wouldn't be surprised if they finished second this season either. Job done for Pep Guardiola. Let's get some full-time reaction. By Dan Davis JACK GAUGHAN: What maybe became lost in the hoopla around Erling Haaland's new mind-bending contract is that the little guy behind him will be here for all that too. Haaland and Phil Foden, together for another nine years. Nine more years of this, of Manchester City's two true Galacticos in the post-Kevin De Bruyne era. It's a frightening thought and suggests that the likelihood of another of these seasons, when City fall way behind and simply cannot catch up, diminishes significantly. Click the link below to read the full piece from Portman Road. By Dan Davis Kieran Mc Kenna and his Ipswich players looked genuinely touched after being clapped off the pitch despite the result. To be fair to them, the home crowd were superb tonight. By Dan Davis That was the biggest win of the Premier League season so far, and boy did it feel like it. It was men vs boys for most of that. These games won't define Ipswich's campaign, of course, but Kieran Mc Kenna will look to tighten them up for their trip to Anfield. By Dan Davis Finally, the hosts are put out of their misery. City were back to their flowing, incisive best and scored no less than SIX goals to move back into the top four. Crisis? What crisis? Much more like it from Pep Guardiola's champions. By Dan Davis We're into three minutes of additional time. By Dan Davis Ipswich are chasing shadows out there. Not long left to go now. By Dan Davis City are expertly keeping hold of the ball. This has been a complete performance from them, the first in quite a while. Pep Guardiola will rightly be delighted. By Dan Davis It's still very much a packed house at Portman Road. We have around 10 minutes left, including stoppage time, I think. Time for another goal or two? By Dan Davis One very slight blot on City's copybook tonight. Matheus Nunes has been booked for bringing down Leif Davis. By Dan Davis City are just keeping hold of the ball and working the space. These final stages will feel like an eternity for Ipswich. By Dan Davis I've just read that Ipswich have made just eight tackles tonight. That's dire. City have been classy but it's been too easy for them at times, as I'm sure Kieran Mc Kenna will admit post-match. By Dan Davis More changes for both sides. Mateo Kovacic has been replaced by Rico Lewis and Manuel Akanji has made way for youngster Nico O'Reilly. Omari Hutchinson and Liam Delap are off for the hosts. By Dan Davis I appear to have put my foot in it again. This is a grim watch. Mateo Kovacic clipped a beautiful ball over the top of the static Ipswich backline and James Mc Atee looped in a deft header. It's SIX for the champions. Ouch. More to come as well I reckon. By Dan Davis It's all about limiting that goal difference deficit now for Ipswich. That could prove decisive in the relegation scrap come May. City aren't done yet, though. They want more. By Dan Davis Both sides have made a host of changes. Jack Grealish, James Mc Atee and Divin Mubama are on for City, with Phil Foden, Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland making way. For Ipswich, Jaden Philogene is on for his debut. Massimo Luongo and Axel Tuanzebe have also been thrown into the fray. Jack Clarke, Jens Cajuste and Ben Godfrey are off. By Dan Davis Omari Hutchinson cracked a shot-cum-cross toward goal and Ederson caught it, albeit over the byline. Corner to the hosts. I have to say, fair play to the home crowd. Portman Road is still absolutely packed despite the scoreline. By Dan Davis Another big chance for Erling Haaland! It's so messy now. The hosts were guilty of squandering possession cheaply again and Haaland forced a smart stop from Christian Walton. Kevin De Bruyne latched on to the rebound but his powerful strike from close range deflected up onto the roof of the net. By Dan Davis Erling Haaland gets in on the act! I was literally about to say that he'd been quite quiet tonight, aside from his chance in the first half. Well, commentator's curse and all that. It's awful from Ipswich again. Jack Clarke played the ball straight to Jeremy Doku and he in turn teed up Haaland for a simple finish. Only nine-and-a-half more years for defenders to deal with that. By Dan Davis 'City's staying up, ' chant the away supporters. They're doing a bit more than that! Ipswich have been put to the sword tonight. By Dan Davis The cameras have just cut to a very glum-looking Ed Sheeran. It doesn't get any easier for Ipswich this month either. Next up? Liverpool at Anfield. By Dan Davis We have a drubbing on our hands, folks. Jeremy Doku took matters into his own hands, dancing into the penalty area on the right and burying in via a deflection. Woeful defending. By Dan Davis SAVE! That was a good chance for Ipswich. Liam Delap did very well to open up the field and Ben Johnson found himself scampering into the box on the far side. His shot was low and hard, but Ederson got down well to save. By Dan Davis PEEP! Off we go again at Portman Road. No changes for either side. By Dan Davis As it stands, City are back in the top four. Of course, more goals would push them further ahead of Newcastle, who have dropped back down into fifth place. By Dan Davis Mark Schwarzer, former Fulham goalkeeper, speaking to the BBC: By Dan Davis By Dan Davis By Dan Davis By Dan Davis This is much more like it from City, who are cruising to three points. Ipswich have been all at sea inside their own half but the champions have been ruthless in exploiting these chinks in the armour. Phil Foden has his second successive brace and Mateo Kovacic also got in on the act with a low drive into the bottom corner. How many can they rack up before the final whistle? By Dan Davis There's only one minute to be added. By Dan Davis Ipswich definitely need half-time. Every time City get the ball, they're racing back to sit in around their own box and spaces are opening up. What can Kieran Mc Kenna say during the break, though? There's no shame in being outclassed by this side. By Dan Davis City's slickers are well and truly back. Gorgeous goal. The champions won the ball back and sprang away on the counter, with Kevin De Bruyne being threaded down the left. He then fired in a low cross for Phil Foden, who kept his composure to tuck his second of the night beyond Christian Walton. Game, set and match, methinks. By Dan Davis I can hear one particular Ipswich supporter shouting for his side to 'get it away' every time the ball goes near their box. He's also told Pep Guardiola to sit down and have a cup of tea. Lovely. By Dan Davis Ipswich look like a rabbit in the headlights now. They dropped off far too deep inside their own half and that opened up space for Kevin De Bruyne to chance his arm. He caught it well but the ball arrowed over the top. By Dan Davis Matheus Nunes arched a searching cross into the area after patient play but it was too close to Christian Walton. City are purring out there. By Dan Davis 'You're going down with United, ' sing the City supporters. They're having a grand old time at Portman Road now. It's a long, long way back for Ipswich. By Dan Davis It's a quickfire double for the champions! BANG. Pick that one out. Phil Foden drifted inside from the left channel and teed up Mateo Kovacic, who absolutely leathered into the bottom corner. This is that lethal streak we're so used to seeing from City. Brutal. By Dan Davis Ipswich looked to respond from the restart. Liam Delap ran straight at the heart of City's backline but his low drive was hit straight at Ederson, who gobbled it up. By Dan Davis We have our breakthrough and it was delightfully clinical from City. Jeremy Doku and Kevin De Bruyne linked up down the left and the latter clipped a deft cross toward Phil Foden. Surrounded by six defenders, Foden was afforded time and space to take a touch before tucking neatly into the corner. From Ipswich's perspective, it's a soft one to let in. By Dan Davis Another big chance comes and goes. Leif Davis' corner was devilish but Dara O'Shea's header from 10 yards was directed straight at Ederson. Should have done better. By Dan Davis WOW! Inches away from Omari Hutchinson! Leif Davis worked the free-kick short to the edge of the box, where Hutchinson ran in and smacked in a powerful strike. It looked to be heading in but deflected over the crossbar. By Dan Davis That was brilliant work from Liam Delap. He's a real handful. The striker got past Matheus Nunes down the touchline and won a free-kick after being bundled over by Mateo Kovacic. Free-kick in a promising position, this. .. By Dan Davis Confidence is flowing through Phil Foden and he pulled the trigger from 35 yards, although his strike hit Ilkay Gundogan. That deflection took the sting out and Christian Walton held on. By Dan Davis Leif Davis picked up the ball down the left channel and arched a cross into the box, searching for the towering Liam Delap. The delivery was a little too close to Ederson, who caught with ease. By Dan Davis City are starting to move through the gears now. They pressed well and won the ball back, with Kevin De Bruyne flicking back to Mateo Kovacic on the edge of the box. Leaning back, he smacked his strike over the crossbar. By Dan Davis BIG SAVE! You would have bet your house on Erling Haaland scoring. The champions took their time inside Ipswich's half before a switch to the near side unlocked the door, with Haaland released in behind. He just had Christian Walton to beat but the goalkeeper stood tall and parried away. It wasn't the best effort, to be fair. Can Ipswich ride out the pressure? By Dan Davis City have looked to up the tempo slightly in possession but so far, the hosts are standing their ground brilliantly. It's a tactical battle at the moment, albeit one lacking in entertainment. By Dan Davis Ipswich have been impressive so far and both of the shots in this game have come from them. Kieran Mc Kenna will be pleased. You do feel, though, that it's just a matter of time before City settle. By Dan Davis Good chance for Liam Delap against his former club! Ipswich broke through City's press brilliantly through Jack Clarke, and he smuggled the ball into Liam Delap's feet down the channel. The striker made his way into the box and cut inside, but his low effort was well blocked by Ruben Dias, who stood his ground. By Dan Davis Matheus Nunes looked to combine with Kevin De Bruyne but the latter's pass in behind was slightly too powerful. Nunes did get there but the ball had already gone behind. By Dan Davis City were eventually able to clear their lines from the set-piece. It's been a good start from the hosts, who have been lively. By Dan Davis A poor header from Matheus Nunes handed Ipswich an early corner. Cameron Burgess met the delivery but Ruben Dias did enough to get the final touch. The ball then went behind for another corner. By Jack Gaughan At Portman Road By Dan Davis PEEP! After a touching moment's applause for the late, great Denis Law, who sadly passed away on Friday, we're off. The last time City played here in the Premier League, they were relegated! So much has changed since that day in 2001. By Dan Davis Here come the teams! The music is pumping and we're ready. Let's get this show on the road. By Dan Davis We're almost ready to go under the lights at Portman Road! Any score predictions? Drop them in the comments. I'm looking forward to this one. By Dan Davis Ipswich were thrashed 4-1 in the reverse fixture at the Etihad in August but Kieran Mc Kenna believes his side have improved since then. He has, however, also warned his players to be prepared to fight. By Dan Davis That's a painful result for Ipswich. Everton rode out waves of late pressure to beat Tottenham 3-2 at Goodison Park, moving them four points clear of the drop zone. If the Tractor Boys avoid defeat, however, they will jump above Wolves, who play at Chelsea tomorrow night. City will move fifth with a win and potentially fourth, but the champions will need a three-goal victory to do that. By Jack Gaughan At Portman Road By Jack Gaughan At Portman Road By Dan Davis There's a sense of anticipation around Portman Road. Ipswich are massive underdogs for this one but just imagine that they pull off a shock. It may well define the rest of their season. Supporters are flocking into the ground, clad in coats and woolly hats. We'll be underway in around 40 minutes. By Dan Davis Manchester City captain Kyle Walker is once again absent this evening and is expected to seal a move to AC Milan. Mail Sport previously reported that the Serie A side will table a two-and-a-half-year deal for the experienced full back. Further talks between the two sides were held on Friday. By Dan Davis Pep Guardiola has insisted he would never forgive himself if he walked away from Manchester City at their lowest ebb since he took charge. By Dan Davis JACK GAUGHAN: Avanti West Coast, Coach E. An empty table, seat on the aisle. Phone charger plugged in, cable strewn across the desk. Slouched ever so slightly. Content, a bit bored. Destination: London Euston, a Friday afternoon in late May. Before Liam Delap became this thing, this new shiny striker, this new great hulking hope. The throwback from nowhere. The sort of player who once piqued your interest in the sport when it wasn't all inverted wingers and false nines. Muscling, devil-may-care. The sort who now has observers saying the quiet bit out loud. Harry Kane 2. 0? Well, maybe. Let's see, it'll be fun to find out. You can read the full piece with a Mail+ subscription below! By Dan Davis Oh look, it's Ed Sheeran. The music sensation, and part owner of Ipswich, had a quick chat with Jack Grealish and several other City players when they arrived. He'll be in the stands again for this evening's game. By Dan Davis Erling Haaland was a potential doubt for this evening, having picked up a knock during City's 2-2 draw with Brentford on Tuesday. When asked about his talisman's fitness on Friday, Guardiola said: By Dan Davis City have made four changes at Portman Road. Ruben Dias is back in the side after missing the last seven games through injury while Ederson, Ilkay Gundogan and Jeremy Doku start. There is no Nathan Ake in the squad. By Dan Davis New signing Jaden Philogene has been named among the substitutes while Sam Morsy comes in, with Kalvin Phillips ineligible to play. Liam Delap, formerly of City, of course, leads Ipswich's frontline. By Dan Davis Manchester City come into this one in eighth place but just four points behind Newcastle in fourth spot. That seems hard to believe considering their rollercoaster run of form but their Champions League mission is well and truly on. Ipswich, meanwhile, are 18th but only inside the relegation zone on goal difference. An unlikely win today would be huge for them. Right, let's get the team news. By Dan Davis There are three Premier League games currently underway, all of which kicked off at 2pm. If you support Tottenham, look away now. .. By Dan Davis Even Pep Guardiola needed a double take after being told the length of Erling Haaland's eye-watering new contract. Here's what he had to say. .. By Dan Davis Of course, the biggest news out of the City camp this week was Erling Haaland's staggering contract extension which runs until 2034. That's right, he put pen to paper on a nine-and-a-half-year deal and will make over £200million should he stay until it expires. It's the Premier League's biggest-ever contract and the release clauses contained in his previous deals have been thrown out. Imagine earning that much money. Must be nice. By Dan Davis Hello, all! We go again. Welcome along to our live coverage of the final game on Super Sunday with Ipswich hosting Manchester City at Portman Road. On paper, this one should only go one way. But, as we've seen all too often this season, City look a very different beast at the moment. Kick-off is at 16: 30 and we'll have all the team news and build-up. Let's get this show on the road, shall we? Published by Associated Newspapers Ltd Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group