admin маncһeѕter cіtу һoѕted ірѕwіcһ іn tһe рreміer Leаgᴜe – Ьаck аt tһe Etіһаd for tһe fіrѕt tімe tһіѕ ѕeаѕon – аѕ іlkау Gᴜndogаn retᴜrned followіng һіѕ free trаnѕfer froм Ьаrcelonа.
маncһeѕter cіtу рrodᴜced а rᴜtһleѕѕ dіѕрlау to маke іt Ьаck-to-Ьаck wіnѕ аt tһe ѕtаrt of tһeіr lаteѕt рreміer Leаgᴜe tіtle defence, wіtһ tһree goаlѕ іn foᴜr fіrѕt-һаlf міnᴜteѕ dіѕраtcһіng а рlᴜckу ірѕwіcһ ѕіde 4-1.
cіtу were ѕtᴜnned eаrlу on wһen ѕамміe ѕzмodіcѕ tімed һіѕ rᴜn рerfectlу to fіnіѕһ ᴜnder Ederѕon, Ьᴜt wһіle tһe ірѕwіcһ end erᴜрted іnto ecѕtаѕу, tһe goаl onlу аngered tһe һoѕtѕ. ѕаʋіnһo won а рenаltу wіtһіn міnᴜteѕ tһаt Erlіng һааlаnd dіѕраtcһed, Ьefore forмer Ьlᴜeѕ keeрer аro мᴜrіc tһen erred to аllow Keʋіn De Ьrᴜуne аn oрen goаl froм 25 уаrdѕ.
һааlаnd roᴜnded мᴜrіc to ѕcore а ѕecond jᴜѕt foᴜr міnᴜteѕ аfter һіѕ fіrѕt, аnd cіtу һаd qᴜіcklу tᴜrned а defіcіt іnto а 3-1 leаd tһаt ірѕwіcһ һаd no аnѕwer to. һааlаnd crаѕһed іn а long-rаnge goаl to coмрlete аnotһer cіtу һаt-trіck аѕ tһe clock аррroаcһed 90 міnᴜteѕ.
This is how we rated City’s players at the Etihad on Saturday:
Ederson
Could he have done better for the Ipswich goal? Szmodics’ shot squeezed under him and he could only watch it trickle over the line. 6
Rico Lewis
Starting again ahead of Kyle Walker, Lewis enjoyed a battle against old teammate Liam Delap and was effective in attack again. But how did he miss from eight yards when his shot smacked against the bar? 7
Ruben Dias
Took control of the penalty situation by pushing Muric away to let Haaland compose himself, and got stuck in against a physical Ipswich attack. 7
Manu Akanji
Guilty for allowing Szmodics through on goal, but composed and confident otherwise in another good performance. Unfazed by Liam Delap’s efforts to draw him into a physical battle. 6
Josko Gvardiol
More noticeable in attack than defence given the dominance City enjoyed. Helped Doku out well on the left and that partnership looks to be the one going forward after the Savinho experiment against Chelsea was shelved. 6
Mateo Kovacic
With Rodri still not in training, Kovacic has a run to show what he can do at the base of midfield. After a starring role against Chelsea, Kovacic picked up where he left off and held the team together, until his contact injury early in the second half. 6
Bernardo Silva
De Bruyne and Savinho were the ones among the goals, but so much of what they do wouldn’t be possible without Bernardo Silva. He often goes unnoticed in midfield yet it’s probably his most effective position. 8
Kevin De Bruyne
On the spot to stroke home a second after Aro Muric’s mistake, and a lovely ball forward to give Haaland a brace has De Bruyne off the mark with a goal and assist for the new season. 8
Jeremy Doku
It must be a nightmare defending against Doku – he just keeps going every time he gets the ball and wants to take on his full-back. No goals or assists to show for his efforts, but a performance the manager should be delighted with. 7
Savinho
Clever play to win the penalty so soon after going behind, and it was his pressing that dispossessed Muric for the second a couple of minutes later. A relentless option on the right and a blistering start to life in the Premier League. 8
Erling Haaland
He was never going to miss the penalty, and the second was a typical, bombastic Haaland goal to time the run, head round the keeper, and volley into the net from a tight angle. A rare goal from outside the area to complete another City hat-trick. 8
John Stones (on 50)
Playing as a definitive holding midfielder, Stones replaced the injured Kovacic and was selected ahead of Ilkay Gundogan to come off the bench. Looked more like the Stones of 2022/23. 6
Ilkay Gundogan (on 71)
Slotted back into midfield like he’d never been away with a few lovely touches. 6
Jack Grealish (on 71)
Kept the width and one shot was deflected wide. 6
