Haaland hat-trick enables Man City to sink Ipswich after early scare

Kieran McKenna’s side took a shock lead through Sammie Szmodics on seven minutes but the champions soon clicked through the gears, albeit they were given some help from some poor Ipswich decision making.

As little as nine minutes after  Szmodics’ opener, Man City were 3-1 up.

Leif Davis appeared to have got away with a challenge on Savinho, but VAR David Coote sent referee Sam Allison – promoted from fourth official after Michael Salisbury sustained an injury in the warm-up – to the monitor and Haaland stroked home the penalty.

One became two moments later when debutant Arijanet Muric was dispossessed just inside his own box by Savinho, who found Kevin De Bruyne who passed into the empty net.

Muric’s head must’ve been still blurry as just a minute later he darted out trying to cut out a De Bruyne pass, only to see Haaland nod the ball beyond him and finish from a tight angle.

The Ipswich crossbar was then rattled by Rico Lewis and De Bruyne as City threatened a fourth.

Ipswich defended with good organisation after the break and Guardiola turned to his bench, with chants of “Gundo’s coming home” filling the air as Ilkay Gundogan was introduced alongside Jack Grealish with 19 minutes remaining.

Haaland claimed the match ball in the 87th minute when he turned on the edge of the box and powered home a low finish.

Having also scored against Chelsea in the season’s opening game Haaland now has 67 goals in 68 Premier League appearances, and 94 in all competitions since joining City.