Guardiola seeking Man City improvements ahead of Ipswich test

Pep Guardiola acknowledged that his Manchester City players must improve on their opening day showing as they welcome Ipswich Town to the Etihad on Saturday.

City kickstarted their Premier League title defence with a 2-0 win against Chelsea, but Guardiola was left wanting more from his squad

Despite having more shots and shots on target, the Citizens underperformed their expected goals (xG) total by 1.23, something the Spaniard said surprised him.

“I didn’t expect it. We are away from our best so three points is the good news. The bad news is we have 65 games ahead of us,” Guardiola said.

“We have an advantage, it’s our ninth season together so we know each other well.

“There is a plan, defensive, offensive. But afterwards, it’s how we celebrate the good moments and come back from the bad moments.

“That’s what defines these teams and no one talks about it.”

Ready to return home this weekend?

#AsahiSuperDry pic.twitter.com/lnxI48roSx

— Manchester City (@ManCity) August 21, 2024

Meanwhile, Ipswich marked their return to the Premier League with a 2-0 defeat to Liverpool, although the result did not tell the full story of the contest at Portman Road.

The Tractor Boys restricted Arne Slot’s side to just three shots in the first half, none of which were on target, while also registering two shots on Alisson’s goal of their own.

But the Reds’ quality shone through after the break, with goals from Diogo Jota and Mohamed Salah securing an opening day win for their new manager.

And Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna insisted that lessons will be learned from their second half showing, with the result a solid foundation to build on moving forward.

“We know we can improve in the second half. Liverpool really hit their stride during that period and there’s bits we can do better there to make the game more competitive,” McKenna said.

“There’s positives to take and lessons to learn, and I think it’s a game that stands us in pretty good stead.”

@premierleague debutants on Saturday. pic.twitter.com/ulhSNPLEvi

— IPSWICH TOWN (@IpswichTown) August 19, 2024

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Man City – Erling Haaland

Having opened his account for the season against Chelsea last weekend, Erling Haaland will be licking his lips when Ipswich visit the Etihad on Saturday.

Haaland has scored at least once against all 22 sides he has faced since his move from Borussia Dortmund in 2022.

The Norwegian has also netted 13 goals in nine appearances during August in the competition, more than he’s struck in any other month.

Ipswich – Omari Hutchinson

While the Tractors Boys face the daunting task of visiting the reigning champions, they showed signs of promise in their first half performance against Liverpool, none more so than Omari Hutchinson.

Hutchinson registered an expected goals (xG) of 0.27 to Ipswich’s 0.45 total, producing the most shots (three) and winning possession on more occasions (six) than any other Ipswich player against the Reds.

MATCH PREDICTION: MAN CITY WIN

City are the overwhelming favourites to continue their unbeaten start to the season, winning 81.6% of Opta’s data-led simulations, with Ipswich given a 7.3% chance of causing a monumental upset.

Guardiola’s side have won 17 of their last 18 Premier League games against promoted sides (D1) since a 2-1 home loss to Leeds in April 2021.

They are also unbeaten in their last 44 home games in all competitions (W37 D7) since a 2-1 loss to Brentford in November 2022. It’s the eighth longest such run among English top-flight clubs in history, and the longest since Chelsea’s run of 74 between February 2006 and October 2008.

This will be Ipswich’s first ever meeting with City at the Etihad after winning their last two visits to Maine Road, triumphing in a Premier League game 3-2 in November 2000 and a League Cup tie 2-1 the following month.

However, Ipswich haven’t scored in any of their last seven away league games against the reigning top flight champions (D1 L6), losing the last three by an aggregate score of 15-0. They last scored in such a game in April 1984 (2-2 v Liverpool), while their last such victory was in October 1981 (1-0 v Aston Villa).

Should the Tractor Boys lose at the Etihad, it will be the first time since the 2006-07 Championship season that they have started a league campaign with two straight defeats, last doing so in the top flight in 1985-86.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Manchester City – 81.6%

Draw – 11.1%

Ipswich – 7.3%