Phil Foden starred for the Citizens, with his assist for Mateo Kovacic sandwiched in between two close-range finishes in the first half, both set up by captain Kevin De Bruyne.

The visitors pulled further clear after the break, with Jack Clarke's sloppy pass being punished by Jeremy Doku, whose strike took a deflection off Dara O'Shea on its way in.

On the week of signing a new nine-and-a-half-year contract, Erling Haaland got himself on the scoresheet with a composed finish past Christian Walton before the hour.

Pep Guardiola rung the changes soon after with a must-win UEFA Champions League tie against Paris Saint-Germain up next, with one of City's substitutes concluding the scoring.

Fresh from his hat-trick heroics in the FA Cup against Salford City, James McAtee headed home his first Premier League goal after being brilliantly picked out by Kovacic.

City's triumph sees it jump up into the final UEFA Champions League place from eighth at the expense of Newcastle United on goal difference. Ipswich, meanwhile, stays in 18th.

Foden has now scored more top-flight goals than any other player since the turn of the year and described City's display at Portman Road as "probably the best this season".

"It's one of our best performances this year," Foden told Sky Sports. "In terms of all-round play, keeping possession at important times, and we defended well too.

"We are building momentum, keeping players fit is important. I put it down to people being in better shape and the team bonding better.

"When we score we are not rushing it. We are keeping possession and build-up play was important."

The England international said his barren run in front of goal has been a learning experience. 

"I learned everything from it [poor form]," Foden said.

"It is good to see me back scoring goals with a smile on my face and enjoying football. I want to keep going and adding to that. You never know what can happen. The aim is to stay in the top four."

City has now emerged victorious in 21 of its past 22 Premier League games against newly-promoted sides since a 1-2 loss to Leeds United at Etihad Stadium in April 2021.

Indeed, City has won its past 12 against newly-promoted teams by an aggregate scoreline of 36-7, but Guardiola believes this latest triumph was harder than it looked.

"We are really pleased, we are back to doing things that defined this team for the last 10 years," Guardiola said. 

"Really pleased about the three points and to climb into qualification for the Champions League for next season. That will be so tough.

"Much better. Maybe not our best, but closer with the consistency we have in our game. Most of them didn't happen in the previous games that we won.

"Without the way we went without the ball, you cannot play in the short spaces. Everyone with the ball was clever, quicker, faster. Everyone is related.

"You cannot be quick, wise and good if you are not connected defensively.

"Ipswich beat Chelsea here, they beat Spurs away. They are a good team and Liam [Delap] is a fantastic striker. The players saw what we were and that is the best thing."

Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna, meanwhile, watched on as Ipswich conceded six goals in a game for the first time since November 2012 – a 6-0 loss at Leicester City in the EFL Championship – doing so at Portman Road for the first time since February 2002 – a 6-0 loss to Liverpool in the Premier League.

The Tractors Boys remain in the bottom three, with an alarming goal difference of minus-23.

McKenna, however, believes that despite his side's slow start to the season, it can compete with the division's very best until May.

"Our opponents were much better than us," McKenna said. "I thought there were lots of positives in the early parts of the game. We could have had the first goal.

"We were a little bit open on the transitions with Haaland. Their quality took it away from us, and we were punished by a top opponent.

"I don't think it's familiarity with the Premier League. We faced one of the best teams in the world, and we have to keep striving to improve.

"We know the jump and climb we've made. We're going to have some difficult days this year. If we don't accept it, we'll look at where we can do better, all of us.

"There were bits that were good and some that weren't. It's Liverpool away next week, and we'll have to show a lot of humility and keep pushing for more.

"You never know because we've had wins against Chelsea and Tottenham, so you never know when your wins are going to come. We need to compete for every game.

"We need to compete at our best every game, and we didn't manage that today.

"We believe that we can compete right to the end of the season. We have 10 results so far.

"We haven't won as many as we'd like. I trust in the group to keep working and find the right response to this game and find a better performance next week."