Manchester City defeated Ipswich Town to secure seven consecutive wins at the beginning of a Premier League season for the first time in the club’s history.
Erling Haaland netted twice after Phil Foden’s opening goal was cancelled out by Daizen Maeda, sending Enzo Maresca’s side six points clear at the top of the table.
This was City’s first home match in the competition since they were found guilty of breaching its financial rules.
Having celebrated victory over Liverpool at a hostile Anfield in their first game since the verdict against the club was announced, the home fans demonstrated their support by booing the Premier League anthem before kick-off and waving inflatable bananas in a recently revived tradition from the 1980s.
On the pitch, Maresca’s players admirably continued to shut out the uncertainty surrounding the club’s future.
Haaland’s brace ensured City became only the third club in Premier League history, after Chelsea (2005-06) and Liverpool (2019-20), to win their first seven games of a season.
Maresca, in turn, is the first manager to win his first seven games in charge of a club in the competition.
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Ipswich briefly stunned a raucous Etihad Stadium with a swift reply to Foden’s opener, as Maeda finished after getting the better of Marc Guehi.
But Haaland restored the hosts’ lead before half-time and later put City in command with a composed finish after being played through by Iliman Ndiaye.
The Norwegian then thought he had completed his hat-trick with an acrobatic strike, but the goal was disallowed for a marginal offside against Enzo Fernandez in the build-up.
Zian Flemming gave Ipswich late hope by converting a 90th-minute penalty after a foul by Guehi on Abdul Fatawu, but City were able to see out the 12 minutes of added time.
