Ipswich Town 0-6 Manchester City: Erling Haaland celebrates historic new deal in ruthless demotion of defending champions, as Pep Guardiola's side look back on their finest hour

What perhaps got lost in the hubbub around Erling Haaland's mind-blowing new contract is that the little guy behind him will be here for all of it, too.

Haaland and Phil Foden, together for another nine years. Nine more years of this, of the two true Galacticos of Manchester City in the post-Kevin De Bruyne era. It's a terrifying thought and suggests that the likelihood of another one of these seasons, when City fall far behind and simply can't catch up, diminishes significantly.

They understand each other, they understand each other. Only De Bruyne has offered Haaland more assists than the jewel of City's academy since the Norwegian burst onto these shores in 2022. Foden is not going anywhere quickly and neither is Haaland: City's rebuilding task, while large, is somewhat easier if you have a perennial top scorer and the most productive midfielder. They are already in situ. That's easily more than £200 million for the couple.

After a campaign that has been hampered, at least in part, by health problems, Foden has taken it upon himself to make his point for the Premier League champions in recent days. A double at Brentford and another here at Ipswich suggest that last season's PFA Player of the Year is back close to meeting rising expectations.

The little poachers end up, both in Ipswich Town. In the right areas, easy goals. The guy City will need many more of once De Bruyne leaves, because occupying that space right next to Haaland will be Foden's forever. Six out of six league games now, Pep Guardiola needs this form from Foden with some permanence if he is to make a dent in Europe and elsewhere.

That City are somehow in fourth place (just six points behind Arsenal) provides a fair commentary on the state of this year's division, on a day when Ruben Amirom rated this version of Manchester United as the worst in the history of the club.

Those traveling around a corner of Portman Road didn't notice that comment, but the result at Old Trafford gave them more than enough ammunition with the songbook anyway. It seemed like a joyous afternoon, relief after months of hard work with an away win in 10.

Ipswich created a few chances before Foden's first goal in the 27th minute (Omari Hutchinson and Liam Delap went close), but when Ben Johnson was powerfully repelled by Ederson shortly after the break, the game was over.

Foden turned to convert De Bruyne's cut-back, Mateo Kovacic making noise with Foden's lay-off from 20 yards three minutes later. Foden slotted under Walton from De Bruyne's cross three minutes before the break and that was it, even for a team that lost a late two-goal lead in west London on Tuesday. The comfort that comes along with the reintroduction of Rubén Dias, back into the fold after a month out, is not entirely coincidental.

Jeremy Doku was instrumental in those three goals (drawing in defenders, smart passes to runners) and was involved in the next two. He scored himself when he came out on the left flank and accepted the invitation of the fearsome Ben Godfrey, before finding Walton's far corner through a deflection from Dara O'Shea. He assisted the fifth, diving happily at Jack Clarke's loose ball; Two seconds later, Haaland bounced a shot over Walton in the style of Mesut Ozil and the City fans chanted '10 more years'. Nine and a half actually, but that's very fine.

The protagonists then bowed out with Wednesday's trip to Paris Saint-Germain firmly in mind and City pressed on, James McAtee's cleverly cushioned header from Kovacic's clever diagonal after 69 minutes giving Kieran McKenna an ugly feeling. . Ipswich are losing too often at home. Liverpool and Aston Villa will arrive here soon, but perhaps United will offer a respite at the end of February.

McKenna's form dipped as City punished their hosts at key moments. And so the passes became weaker, Delap more isolated with every passing minute. The goal difference was affected and Everton's signals earlier didn't help either.

There is a different picture for Guardiola, whose team will look different for Chelsea next week with three signings: two in defence, more speed at the back with Abdukodir Khusanov and an additional threat up front in Eintracht Frankfurt's Omar Marmoush. It will allow City to breathe a little more with the national team as they dedicate themselves to consolidating qualification for the Champions League. Then onto a defensive central midfielder, seemingly the most difficult position to strengthen in this hectic window.