Man City vs Ipswich Preview: Team News & Prediction | 2026-27 English Premier League

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Erling Haaland scored a hat-trick in Ipswich's last trip to the Etihad, and the two teams lock horns once more on Saturday.

Kick-off date/time: 17 October 2026 at 3:00 pm

How to watch on TV & online: UK – Not available / USA – USA Network, Fubo & Peacock Premium

Man City preview: Quite a week

In the midst of unprecedented off-the-field circumstances, Man City defied a hostile Liverpool crowd last weekend and came away with a 0-3 win in the face of significant adversity, although they did benefit from their opponents going down to ten men.

They didn't find things as easy against Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday though, losing 2-4 at home to the back-to-back European champions in the UEFA Champions League.

Ipswich preview: Late triumph

Ipswich picked up their third Premier League win of the season last weekend with a dramatic come-from-behind win against struggling Fulham, Abdoul Ouattara and Dara O'Shea both scoring late on in a 2-1 victory.

During their last stint in the Premier League in 2024-25, the Tractor Boys lost both matches against Man City by an aggregate score of 10-1, so they will be keen to deliver more defensive resolve in this one. 

Man City team news: Clean bill of health

Enzo Maresca has the luxury of a fully-fit squad at the moment and now has Phil Foden available for a league fixture again after the Englishman was suspended for the last two domestic matches.

Summer signings Ayyoub Bouaddi and Iliman Ndiaye impressed off the bench against Paris Saint-Germain midweek, and Maresca may reward them with starting berths on Saturday.

Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Donnarumma; Nunes, Guehi, Dias, Gvardiol; Bouaddi, Anderson; Semenyo, Fernandez, Ndiaye; Haaland

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Ipswich team news: Fatawu returns

Abdul Fatawu has completed his one-game ban and could return to the starting line-up here, although the Ghanaian faces stiff competition to make the XI given that there are currently no absences in the Ipswich camp.

Goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen started Ipswich's first four Premier League fixtures but Christian Walton has been preferred in each of their last two matches and seems likely to retain his place here.

Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Walton; Ouattara, Diop, O’Shea, Davis; Florentino, Lukic; Fatawu, Enciso, Philogene; Emersonn

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Key stats

• City have won all six games this season, the third time they have taken 18 points from their first six Premier League games (also 2016/17 and 2023/24).
• City's 3-0 win at Anfield in Matchweek 6 extended their scoring run to 22 consecutive Premier League matches.
• City have won six of 10 Premier League meetings with Ipswich (D1 L3). Ipswich's last win was 3-2 at Maine Road in November 2000.
• The last meeting was City's 6-0 win at Portman Road in January 2025, the biggest margin in the fixture. Ipswich have never kept a clean sheet against City in 10 Premier League meetings.
• Nine of the 10 meetings have produced three or more goals.
• Kick-off quirk: since 2014/15, City have won 72 of their 89 Premier League games kicking off at 15:00 on a Saturday (D12 L5). Ipswich have won four of 25 in that slot (D6 L15).
• Ipswich have conceded in 25 consecutive Premier League matches, extending their club record. Their last clean sheet was on 30 December 2024 (2-0 v Chelsea).
• Ipswich have three wins from six games this season, one fewer than in the whole of 2024/25 (W4 D10 L24).
• Coming into Matchweek 7, Ipswich are one of four teams without a clean sheet. Their games and City's have both averaged 3.50 goals.
• City won 14 of 19 home league games last season (D3 L2), scoring 45 and conceding 14.
• On this day (17 October), City are unbeaten in four Premier League games (W3 D1), including 5-1 v Bournemouth in 2015 and 1-0 v Arsenal in 2020.

Man City vs Ipswich prediction

Since the groundbreaking ruling surrounding Man City's financial misdemeanours, there has been no apparent let-up in the players' motivation levels. However, Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain are two huge clubs, and facing Ipswich is an altogether different proposition.

The visitors will hope there is a drop-off in intensity from the City players as the reality of their situation sets in, but given there has been no evidence of that so far, it is difficult to look past a City win here.

Erling Haaland scored four goals against Ipswich during the 2024-25 campaign, including a hat-trick at the Etihad, and given his prolific recent form, we think there is value to be had in backing the Norwegian to score in a City victory.

Man City vs Ipswich tip: Man City to win & Erling Haaland to score