Manchester City have never started a season like this. A 3-2 win over Ipswich Town at the Etihad made it seven league wins from seven, a first in the club's history, and two more goals from Erling Haaland sent them six points clear at the top of the Premier League. It was not as comfortable as the scoreline suggests, and it may have cost them a couple of players.
Foden opens, Ipswich answer in under three minutes
Phil Foden gave City the lead, his first league goal since December. Ipswich stunned a noisy ground with their reply only 155 seconds later, when Daizen Maeda got the better of Marc Guehi and slotted past the City defence to level it. Haaland then restored the hosts' advantage before half-time, and after the break he put the game out of Ipswich's reach with a composed finish after being played through by Iliman Ndiaye.
The Norwegian thought he had a hat-trick when he fired in acrobatically, but the goal was ruled out for a marginal offside against Enzo Fernandez in the build-up. Ipswich were not finished. Zian Flemming slammed in a penalty in the 90th minute after Guehi fouled Abdul Fatawu, and City then had to survive 12 minutes of added time before the whistle finally went on 103 minutes.
First home game since the verdict
This was City's first home league match since the club was found guilty of breaking the Premier League's financial rules, a verdict covering 114 charges between 2009 and 2018 that City are appealing. The supporters made their feelings clear. They booed the Premier League anthem before kick-off and waved inflatable bananas, a tradition revived from the 1980s. On the pitch, Enzo Maresca's side kept the noise out. Maresca is now the first manager in the competition to win his first seven games in charge of a club, and City join Chelsea in 2005-06 and Liverpool in 2019-20 as the only clubs to win their opening seven.
The injury worry
The cost may come later. Mateo Kovacic and Matheus Nunes both went off hurt. City had used all their changes by the end, so Haaland and substitute Antoine Semenyo had to play on while visibly limping, and Haaland headed straight down the tunnel at the final whistle. He is up to eight league goals this season. Teenager Ayyoub Bouaddi, on the other hand, earned praise for a composed midfield display.
For Ipswich there was credit to be had. Gary O'Neil's side had won half of their first six games and refused to wilt, with Emersonn and Flemming both getting big second-half chances and several marginal offside calls leaving their manager furious. Christian Walton faced 19 City attempts. Ipswich now turn to meetings with Nottingham Forest and Hull City, and they will feel their momentum survived the trip north.
Match facts: Manchester City 3-2 Ipswich Town, Premier League, Etihad Stadium, Saturday 17 October 2026. Goals: Foden, Haaland (before half-time), Haaland for City; Maeda (155 seconds after Foden's opener), Flemming (penalty, 90') for Ipswich. City: seven wins from seven, six points clear.
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