Pep Guardiola said any concerns he had about Phil Foden's early-season form have disappeared after his recent scoring run as Manchester City prepared to travel to Ipswich Town on Sunday.
City looked to be getting back on track in recent weeks after a three-match winning streak in all competitions, including back-to-back wins in the Premier League, but that run was halted by a 2-2 draw with last-place Brentford. time-out.
Guardiola's side took a 2–0 lead, with Brentford scoring twice after the 81st minute to salvage a draw. It leaves City sixth in the table, although they are currently unbeaten in five games in all competitions.
Foden scored both goals for City in that match and Guardiola was delighted to see the midfielder back to his best.
“It's not bad how he's been doing lately. His mood and his smile have to count,” Guardiola said.
“In the first part of the year I was a little worried, and he was a little more somber. But sometimes you have to take a breath and come back. His natural talent does the rest.”
Meanwhile, Ipswich remain just inside the bottom three, below Wolves who have scored fewer goals, following their 2-0 defeat to Brighton on Thursday.
It was a third defeat in five for Kieran McKenna's side, who were boosted by the arrival of Jaden Philogene in recent days, their second January signing following the move of Ben Godfrey.
Despite the 22-year-old being Ipswich's 15th signing of the season, McKenna hinted that they could look to sign more players as they look to maintain their stay in the Premier League.
'We'll try [do more business] if we can find quality that can make us better,” McKenna said. “I think our depth is pretty good right now.
“If we can get everyone fit again, our depth will be fine.
But if we can add quality that can help the starting XI, or quality that can help from the bench, then we will certainly try to do that, but only if the right players are available who can really push us further. “
Another #PL road day is coming up
#AsahiSuperDry pic.twitter.com/mZ6c1m75iB
— Manchester City (@ManCity) January 16, 2025
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Ipswich Town – Sammie Szmodics
Sammie Szmodics scored Ipswich's goal in their 4–1 defeat to City in the reverse fixture.
The last time a player from a promoted side scored home and away goals against the reigning champions in a season was in 2017/2018, when Newcastle United's Dwight Gayle and Huddersfield Town's Laurent Depoitre did so against Chelsea.
Manchester City – Phil Foden
After failing to score in his first 11 Premier League games this season, Foden has scored four goals in his last five.
He wants to score in three league matches in a row for the first time since October 2022.
MATCH PREDICTION: MANCHESTER CITY WIN
In what is the 30th cross-competition match in which they have met, City will look to complete the double against Ipswich for the third time, previously having done so in 1961/62 and 1994/95.
City have won 20 of their last 21 Premier League games against promoted sides since losing 2-1 to Leeds United in April 2021, with the sole exception in this run being a 1-1 draw against Nottingham Forest in February 2023.
However, City have dropped 14 points from wins in the Premier League this season, missing out on a 2-0 lead and drawing 2-2 against Brentford last time out. This is the most points the Citizens have dropped in a single campaign since 2008-2009 (20).
However, Ipswich have lost just one of their last 28 home league games against City (W20 D7), winning the last four in a row. However, this is the first such meeting since a 2-1 win in May 2001.
Since a 3-2 win over Manchester United in September 1994, Ipswich are winless in their last six Premier League games against the reigning champions (D1 L5). They conceded 21 goals in this series, while only scoring twice themselves.
OPTA CHANCE OF WINNING
Ipswich town – 14.5%
Draw – 19%
Manchester City – 66.5%
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