Premier League: Citizens Aim to Make Life Difficult for Ipswich Town

Manchester City vs Ipswich Town

The defending four-time Premier League champions will play their first home game of the campaign as they host newly-promoted Ipswich Town at the Etihad Stadium this Saturday.

Erling Haaland and the rest of the Sky Blues are aiming for two wins in a row after a dominant display against Chelsea in their season opener.

Meanwhile, the Tractor Boys played well enough to hold Liverpool goalless in the first half of their match, but eventually fell apart in the end.

Can Manchester City deal Ipswich Town a resounding beating? Or will the Suffolk-based club surprise everyone?

Allow this SBOTOP writer to help you figure things out.

 

Talking Points

Man City are deadly despite what Pep says

Some of you may have seen the video of Pep Guardiola being interviewed about his motivation to win yet another championship in the English top flight.

“The motivation to win another Premier League title is not there. For me it’s not there … It will be there in the last month,” he said in a press conference ahead of their match against Chelsea.

To some, that could mean the Sky Blues aren’t taking some of the fixtures as seriously as everyone does and that they might catch the team napping and escape with valuable points.

Well, as things unfolded at Stamford Bridge, City’s apparent disinterest is extremely far from the truth.

Man City toyed with Chelsea and made it seem like the latter were some sort of a low-tier club that had no right sharing the pitch with them.

They weren’t even at full strength. Rodri missed the game, whilst Phil Foden, Kyle Walker, John Stones and Jack Grealish were left on the bench (Foden was subbed on in the second half).

Still, there was a gulf in class between the two, as seen by how much more composed and comfortable City were on the ball.

In fact, had they converted their chances in the first half, their 0-2 victory could’ve been more. Much more.

 

The Tractor Boys may have to brace themselves

It’s never an easy life for Championship squads that are promoted to the Premier League. They go straight back from where they came, most often than not, as the gap in talent and skill—and purchasing power—is just too big to close.

And Ipswich Town just learned about that lesson against Liverpool.

Ushering a return to the pinnacle of English football for the first time since 2002, the Tractor Boys from Suffolk held their own for the majority of the match before conceding two goals in the span of five minutes.

As good as they were doing, the level between the two quickly showed when the Reds upped the tempo and found another gear, whilst Ipswich faltered.

What’s their reward for their efforts? Manchester City on Matchweek 2.

Looking at how things are going, it may seem that Ipswich town have just been dealt with horrible luck. But having to face two giants of English football for their opening matches in the league might just produce confidence and teach them a thing or two moving forward.

Considering how things went against Liverpool, Kieran McKenna did well for his team—as he so often does. Who knows? Perhaps the 38-year-old manager might just pull something out of his sleeves against Guardiola’s title-winning crew. 

Or maybe they get thrashed in the process.

 

History

Surprisingly, the Tractor Boys have a positive record against Manchester City. They have won 28 times to City’s 23, with a further 15 meetings ending in a draw.

However, those games were played in a completely foreign era as compared to the Man City of today. Both clubs last met in 2002—a time when the Citizens have yet to be taken over by their wealthy investors from the Middle East.

 

Betting Tip

Obviously, the Premier League 2024 betting odds have the Citizens as the overwhelming favourites at 1.091, such is the disparity between the two clubs. If you’re feeling lucky, however, and think to yourself that Ipswich Town could come up with an early upset of the season contender, then fire away and bet on the visiting side at 15.00.

For my money, I do feel like Manchester City won’t just win, but do so in a manner that will have the away fans feel disgusted on their way back home.

It’s their first home game of the new season, and it would be fitting to mark it with an abundance of Premier League 2024 highlights.

   

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