Ipswich Town vs Manchester City Prediction: Delap to strike against his former club

After throwing away a two-goal lead at Brentford to draw 2-2 in the week, Manchester City head to Ipswich Town next in the Premier League on Sunday (16:30, Sky Sports Main Event). The Citizens have won two of their last three outings in the top flight, as they seek to move on from their disappointing end to 2024.

Ipswich were beaten 2-0 here by Brighton & Hove Albion on Thursday and Kieran McKenna's side face a tough test in City to bounce back at the first attempt. Read on for my Ipswich Town vs Manchester City prediction, supported by the latest team news and match odds.

Ipswich Town vs Manchester City Odds

Ipswich have won just one match at home all season in the Premier League, which came at the end of December against Chelsea. They are 15/2 to upset another one of the big dogs on Saturday.

Man City are 1/3 to come away with the three points, which they have managed just once in their previous seven trips in the top flight. Two of their last four, however, have ended in stalemates. The draw is on offer at 5/1, which has an implied probability of 16.7%, which could be an enticing price.

The last three league games at Portman Road have seen just one team score, and BTTS No is available at 11/10 (47.6%) for Sunday.

Football Odds

Team News

Ipswich are unable to select Kalvin Phillips this weekend due to the terms of the loan agreement with City, so he is unable to face his parent club. McKenna will likely turn to Sam Morsy to take his spot in the midfield to play alongside Jens Cajuste.

The Tractor Boys are looking light of options in attack ahead of the weekend as Sammie Szmodics (ankle), Conor Chaplin (knee) and Chiedozie Ogbene (Achilles) are all ruled out. There was relief against Brighton as Omari Hutchinson was able to shake off a groin problem to start, so he'll likely continue in his attacking role on Sunday.

Wes Burns and Nathan Broadhead provided the width against Brighton, while former Sunderland man Jack Clarke and new recruit Jaden Philogene provide the hosts with alternative options against the defending champions.

Defender Axel Tuanzebe remains sidelined with a thigh issue, but McKenna has enough options in Ben Godfrey, Dara O'Shea Jacob Greaves and Luke Woolfenden. The latter three are expected to feature in the back four once again, with Leif Davis to complete the set.

City are likely going to be without Kyle Walker again after the defender was absent at Brentford in midweek. Pep Guardiola revealed that the England international is seeking a move away from the club this month to end his career in Europe.

Rico Lewis should continue at right-back as a result, while Manuel Akanji, Nathan Ake and Josko Gvardiol could make up the rest of the defence. Ruben Dias has been back in training this week, so there is a chance he could come into the fold on Sunday.

John Stones is also though to be nearing a return to action, but Guardiola may not want to rush him back just yet. Rodri remains in the medical bay with an ACL injury but Oscar Bobb is back in light training following his leg fracture in the summer.

City laid down a huge signal of intent on Friday with the announcement that striker Erling Haaland had penned a new nine-and-a-half-year contract at the club, so he will be looking to mark the occasion with a goal in East Anglia. He will be looking forward to the game because he netted a hat-trick against Ipswich at the Etihad Stadium back in August.

Man City and both teams to score @ 6/4

Guardiola wasn't happy with the way his side ended the Brentford game and footage showed him having a lot to say to goalkeeper Stefan Ortega after the full-time whistle. They blew the chance to make it three league wins on the spin but they will be thankful the Bees were unable to complete the turnaround.

City will look to make amends at Ipswich and they should fancy themselves against a side that are 18th in the standings and who have won just one of their last five fixtures in the top flight.

The visitors are looking to add some players to their squad this month, which should help them in the second half of the campaign. For now, they continue as they are, and there is still a lot of quality within their ranks.

Last year's Premier League Player of the Season, Phil Foden, who has been a ghost for much of this season to date, showed us what we had been missing from him as he scored twice at Brentford. One of the assists came from Kevin De Bruyne, another player whose magic has been sorely missed in recent months.

Despite drawing, that game will have given some much-needed confidence to those two stars, which in turn should bode well for front man Haaland, who relies on their pin-point accuracy for him to do what he does best.

Ipswich have shown glimpses of their quality in the Premier League but it comes and goes. Their mistakes are often punish and they cannot afford many against this City team, especially after the 4-1 loss in the reverse meeting.

Man City have shown improvements lately, which are sure to continue with Guardiola at the helm, so I fancy them to get back to winning ways at Portman Road. I've boosted the selection by adding both teams to score, because the Brentford game proved that their defence is still vulnerable. The Citizens have managed just one clean sheet from their last seven appearances in the Premier League.

Liam Delap anytime goalscorer @ 9/4

The contract news feels like it is teeing up Haaland to score on Sunday, but at 4/7 for a goal anytime, I'd rather look elsewhere.

Another story surrounding this contest involves Ipswich forward Liam Delap getting a crack at his former club, who are reportedly keeping tabs on him as they consider bringing him back to Manchester in the future.

Delap has been a bright spark for the Tractor Boys this term, scoring eight goals in 20 Premier League appearances. Two of them have come in his last three, and his hot streak ended against Brighton in the week.

That doesn't concern me, though, as he has another opportunity on home soil to get back on the scoresheet. With question marks still looming over Man City defensively, I think Delap could profit against his former employers, showing them exactly what they are missing.

Offers

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