Ipswich vs Manchester City prediction: ENGLAND: Premier League betting tips on match 2025-01-18 16:30.
[p]After defeating Chelsea 2-0 to round off 2024 in style at Portman Road, the pressure was on Ipswich Town to make it successive home Premier League wins for the first time since January 2002. Unfortunately for the Tractor Boys, they failed in that quest on Thursday as they were beaten 2-0 by Brighton & Hove Albion, deepening their relegation fears.[/p]
[p]On Wednesday, Ipswich spent big to bring winger Jaden Philogene to the club from Aston Villa, and manager Kieran McKenna will be hoping that his acquisition can give his side more attacking firepower. That’s key, as the Suffolk outfit have now failed to score in three of their last five Premier League fixtures and remain the third-lowest scorers in the competition ahead of the weekend (20 goals).[/p]
[p]Life continues to be a struggle for visiting Manchester City too, as despite leading 2-0 midway through the second half at Brentford on Tuesday, two late goals for the Bees saw Pep Guardiola’s side drop two valuable points in an eventual 2-2 draw. That result saw their poor Premier League away form continue, as the Citizens have now won just one of their last seven games on the road in the competition (D2, L4), leaving any potential title defence in tatters. [/p]
[p]What could instead give City a lift heading into this encounter is the fact that they’ve won 20 of their last 21 Premier League matches against newly-promoted opposition since April 2021 (D1). If they can replicate that winning outcome again here, they’ll likely move a step closer to the top four, while claiming just a third-ever league double over Ipswich in the process.  [/p]
[p]Players to watch: Former City academy player and current Ipswich star Liam Delap has struck eight league goals this campaign, with three of his four on home soil this season arriving inside 15 minutes. Phil Foden netted a brace at Brentford in midweek, meaning that City have now lost on just one of his last 19 Premier League goalscoring appearances (W15, D3). [/p]
[p]Hot stat: Eight of City’s 11 Premier League away games this term have seen both teams score – a joint-high tally before this weekend. [/p]
[p][i]Written by Nathan Evans[/i][/p]