Pep Guardiola acknowledged that his Manchester Metropolis gamers should enhance on their opening day displaying as they welcome Ipswich City to the Etihad on Saturday.
Metropolis kickstarted their Premier League title defence with a 2-0 win in opposition to Chelsea, however Guardiola was left wanting extra from his squad
Regardless of having extra pictures and pictures heading in the right direction, the Residents underperformed their anticipated objectives (xG) whole by 1.23, one thing the Spaniard stated stunned him.
“I didn’t anticipate it. We’re away from our greatest so three factors is the excellent news. The dangerous information is we now have 65 video games forward of us,” Guardiola stated.
“Now we have a bonus, it’s our ninth season collectively so we all know one another effectively.
“There’s a plan, defensive, offensive. However afterwards, it’s how we have fun the nice moments and are available again from the dangerous moments.
“That’s what defines these groups and nobody talks about it.”
Able to return house this weekend?
#AsahiSuperDry pic.twitter.com/lnxI48roSx
— Manchester Metropolis (@ManCity) August 21, 2024
In the meantime, Ipswich marked their return to the Premier League with a 2-0 defeat to Liverpool, though the outcome didn’t inform the complete story of the competition at Portman Highway.
The Tractor Boys restricted Arne Slot’s facet to simply three pictures within the first half, none of which had been heading in the right direction, whereas additionally registering two pictures on Alisson’s purpose of their very own.
However the Reds’ high quality shone via after the break, with objectives from Diogo Jota and Mohamed Salah securing a gap day win for his or her new supervisor.
And Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna insisted that classes might be discovered from their second half displaying, with the outcome a stable basis to construct on transferring ahead.
“We all know we are able to enhance within the second half. Liverpool actually hit their stride throughout that interval and there’s bits we are able to do higher there to make the sport extra aggressive,” McKenna stated.
“There’s positives to take and classes to study, and I feel it’s a recreation that stands us in fairly good stead.”
@premierleague debutants on Saturday. pic.twitter.com/ulhSNPLEvi
— IPSWICH TOWN (@IpswichTown) August 19, 2024
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Man Metropolis – Erling Haaland
Having opened his account for the season in opposition to Chelsea final weekend, Erling Haaland might be licking his lips when Ipswich go to the Etihad on Saturday.
Haaland has scored a minimum of as soon as in opposition to all 22 sides he has confronted since his transfer from Borussia Dortmund in 2022.
The Norwegian has additionally netted 13 objectives in 9 appearances throughout August within the competitors, greater than he’s struck in some other month.
Ipswich – Omari Hutchinson
Whereas the Tractors Boys face the daunting activity of visiting the reigning champions, they confirmed indicators of promise of their first half efficiency in opposition to Liverpool, none extra so than Omari Hutchinson.
Hutchinson registered an anticipated objectives (xG) of 0.27 to Ipswich’s 0.45 whole, producing essentially the most pictures (three) and successful possession on extra events (six) than some other Ipswich participant in opposition to the Reds.
MATCH PREDICTION: MAN CITY WIN
Metropolis are the overwhelming favourites to proceed their unbeaten begin to the season, successful 81.6% of Opta’s data-led simulations, with Ipswich given a 7.3% likelihood of inflicting a monumental upset.
Guardiola’s facet have gained 17 of their final 18 Premier League video games in opposition to promoted sides (D1) since a 2-1 house loss to Leeds in April 2021.
They’re additionally unbeaten of their final 44 house video games in all competitions (W37 D7) since a 2-1 loss to Brentford in November 2022. It’s the eighth longest such run amongst English top-flight golf equipment in historical past, and the longest since Chelsea’s run of 74 between February 2006 and October 2008.
This might be Ipswich’s first ever assembly with Metropolis on the Etihad after successful their final two visits to Maine Highway, triumphing in a Premier League recreation 3-2 in November 2000 and a League Cup tie 2-1 the next month.
Nonetheless, Ipswich haven’t scored in any of their final seven away league video games in opposition to the reigning prime flight champions (D1 L6), dropping the final three by an combination rating of 15-0. They final scored in such a recreation in April 1984 (2-2 v Liverpool), whereas their final such victory was in October 1981 (1-0 v Aston Villa).
Ought to the Tractor Boys lose on the Etihad, will probably be the primary time because the 2006-07 Championship season that they’ve began a league marketing campaign with two straight defeats, final doing so within the prime flight in 1985-86.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Manchester Metropolis – 81.6%
Draw – 11.1%
Ipswich – 7.3%