Manchester City fielded the same lineup that secured a 2-0 win over Chelsea the previous week, with Phil Foden absent due to illness and Rodri still recovering from a hamstring injury sustained during the Euros. Ilkay Gundogan was named among the substitutes. Just before kick-off, there was a change in the officiating team, with fourth official Sam Allison stepping in for the injured Michael Salisbury.
The match began under sunny skies after a brief downpour, with City quickly asserting control as expected. In the third minute, Josko Gvardiol set up a chance from the left, with Muric diving to block the ball and prevent Erling Haaland from capitalizing. Despite Haaland’s protests that he had been fouled by Jacob Greaves, referee Allison was unmoved.
Contrary to the flow of play, the Blues took the lead in the seventh minute with their first attack. Omari Hutchinson advanced the ball, cut inside, and passed to Johnson, who found Szmodics. His low shot squeezed under Ederson and over the line, marking Szmodics’ fourth goal of the season and making him the first Town player to score in the Premier League since Darren Bent in 2002.
However, City’s response was swift. Just five minutes later, they were awarded a penalty after Leif Davis tripped Savinho in the box. Initially, referee Allison waved off the protests, but after a VAR review, the penalty was given. Haaland converted the spot-kick, sending Muric the wrong way.
Two minutes later, City took the lead. Muric hesitated on the ball at the edge of the box and was dispossessed by Savinho, with the loose ball falling to Kevin De Bruyne, who calmly finished into the empty net.
Haaland doubled his tally and made it 3-1 just two minutes later, capitalizing on a brilliant De Bruyne pass. Muric was caught in no man’s land, allowing Haaland to round him and score from a tight angle.
After the early flurry of goals, Town regained some composure, but City continued to dominate possession and press for more. In the 18th minute, Rico Lewis struck the bar with a powerful shot, and within a minute, De Bruyne hit the woodwork again with a 25-yard effort.
As the first half wore on, City remained in control, with De Bruyne narrowly missing the target and Haaland flicking a header wide. Town had a penalty appeal of their own late in the half when Davis appeared to be fouled by Savinho, but neither the referee nor VAR intervened.
The second half started with City content to manage their lead, and Town struggling to create clear chances. Muric made a brilliant save to deny Haaland his hat-trick in the 64th minute, tipping the striker’s header over the bar.
City made substitutions, bringing on Gundogan and Jack Grealish, while Town introduced Marcus Harness and Jack Taylor. Town’s best chance of the half came in the 76th minute, but a mix-up between Harness and Delap squandered the opportunity.
In the 87th minute, Haaland completed his hat-trick, taking advantage of a loose ball and finishing past Muric. City made further changes, with Haaland and De Bruyne making way for James McAtee and Mateus Nunes, both of whom received warm applause from the home crowd.
As the game drew to a close, Town made their final substitutions, bringing on Chaplin and Edmundson, but City remained in control, with Grealish earning a late booking for a dive. The match ended with City running out comfortable 4-1 winners, with Haaland continuing his remarkable goalscoring form against every Premier League opponent.
Despite the defeat, Town can take some positives from their performance, especially considering the tough opening fixtures against Liverpool and City. The focus now shifts to more winnable matches, starting with Fulham at Portman Road next Saturday.
Manchester City Lineup: Ederson, Lewis, Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol, Kovacic (Stones 51), De Bruyne (Nunes 90) (c), Bernardo, Savinho (Grealish 71), Doku (Gundogan 71), Haaland (McAtee 90). Unused: Ortega Moreno, Walker, Ake, Kabore.
Town Lineup: Muric, Tuanzebe (Edmundson 89), Woolfenden, Greaves, Davis, Morsy (c), Luongo (Taylor 72), Johnson, Szmodics (Harness 72), Hutchinson (Chaplin 89), Delap (Al-Hamadi 82). Unused: Walton, Burgess, Townsend, Cajuste. Referee: Sam Allison (Wiltshire). VAR Official: David Coote.
