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Newly-promoted Ipswich Town have endured a tough start to the season in terms of fixtures after losing 2-0 at home to Liverpool they now travel to defending champions Manchester City who cruised to a comfortable victory by the same scoreline at Chelsea.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Saturday 24th August, 2024 - UK – 3:00pm / US ET – 10:00am / US PT – 7:00am
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – Not televised / US – Not televised
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – Not televised / US – Peacock, Fubo, Sling Blue, DirecTV Stream
MAN CITY PREVIEW: ONE LAST DANCE
Pep Guardiola’s first ever signing at Manchester City was Ilkay Gundogan from Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2016. This week has been dominated by the expected return of the former Germany international as he looks to boost City’s hopes of securing a fifth successive Premier League title and seventh in the last eight seasons.
The champions, who started their season by defeating city rivals Manchester United on penalties in the Community Shield, cruised to a comfortable 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge last weekend with Erling Haaland notching after 18 minutes before an excellent strike in the second-half from former Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovacic.
IPSWICH PREVIEW: REASONS TO BE POSITIVE
Kieran McKenna is a manager with a burgeoning reputation and even reportedly turned down the opportunity to go to Chelsea this summer. His open and entertaining style of football was on show in the first-half of Ipswich Town’s return to the Premier League as they posed plenty of problems to a Liverpool defence in Arne Slot’s first game as Reds boss.
However, that open style was then caught out when Liverpool upped the intensity and efficiency of their play with defensive question marks over the likes of Samy Morsy and Leif Davis in particular. Eventually goals from Diogo Jota and Mohamed Salah condemned the Tractor Boys to an opening day defeat.
MAN CITY TEAM NEWS: THE RETURN OF GUNDOGAN
Pep Guardiola has confirmed that he hopes to have Ilkay Gundogan involved against Ipswich but it is unclear as to whether he was signed and registered in time to play this weekend.
The City boss has said that Savio is feeling better and is training after being forced off against Chelsea last week whilst Rodri is still not expected to be back for this one but he is progressing.
PREDICTED XI (3-2-4-1): Ederson; Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol; Lewis, Kovacic; Foden, De Bruyne, Silva, Doku; Haaland
UNAVAILABLE: Bobb (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Rodri (Injured), Savio (Injured)
IPSWICH TEAM NEWS: BURNS OUT
On the opening day of the season, Ipswich winger Wes Burns was forced off through injury and the Wales international will be unavailable for this weekend as a result.
Arijanet Muric is inching closer to becoming fit but it remains the case that Christian Walton is expected to start in goal with Kalvin Phillips ineligible to play against his parent club
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Walton; Tuanzebe, Woolfenden, Greaves, Davis; Morsy, Cajuste; Johnson, Chaplin, Hutchinson; Delap
UNAVAILABLE: Muric (Injured), Clarke (Injured), Donacien (Injured), Phillips (Ineligible), Burns (Injured) Broadhead (Injured), Hirst (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
MAN CITY VS IPSWICH PREDICTION
Manchester City look set to bolster their squad with another forward arriving before the end of the transfer window and they will welcome an Ipswich Town side that are unlikely to adapt their attacking and aggressive style of football too much. City should get on top and really take the game to the visitors with a convincing victory to be expected, although Ipswich did show signs that they are capable of posing an attacking threat.
MAN CITY VS IPSWICH TIP: MAN CITY TO WIN & OVER 2.5 GOALS