Manchester City 5, Norwich City 0
Jack Grealish scored his first goal for Manchester City on a day that Gabriel Jesus laid on two goals in a fine performance from the right flank.
Jesus’s early cross was turned in by a combination of mistakes by Grant Hanley and Tim Krul and the Brazilian also set up Ferran Torres for a goal which was ruled out for a foul in the build-up after referee Graham Scott checked on pitch-side monitor.
Jesus kept producing dangerous crosses from the right and set up City’s second goal after a cross came off Max Aarons and was bundled home off Grealish’s knee.
It was not the most spectacular way to open his City account but the City fans didn’t care.
City powered past Norwich in the second half when they couldn’t deal with Ilkay Gundogan’s corner and Aymeric Laporte turned the loose ball home for 3-0.
Jesus then set up substitute Raheem Sterling with another cross from the right for a classic tap-in before fellow substitute Riyad Mahrez beat the Canaries’ offside trap to convert Ruben Dias’ long pass off the far post.
PLAYER RATINGS – Manchester City 5, Norwich City 0
Ederson: 6. Virtual spectator, kept himself interested in the second half when he rushed out of his area to execute a flying header to clear the ball.
Kyle Walker: 8. City’s insurance policy at the back, tucking in to make a three when City were on the ball. Started the move that ended with Jack Grealish’s first City goal.
Ruben Dias: 7. Could afford to play high up the pitch, snuffing out anything down his side and also provided the assist from a long pass to set up Riyad Mahrez for City’s fifth.
Aymeric Laporte: 7. Cruised through the game, reacted well to score in the second half from a City corner and defended when he had to, good range of passing. Coolly dealt with Todd Cantwell’s late break to protect City’s clean sheet.
Joao Cancelo: 7. Back to his left full back role although in midfield and attack more often with Kyle Walker holding back. Helped out Aymeric Laporte at the end to protect a clean sheet.
Bernardo Silva: 7. Good movement and the odd trick too.
Rodri: 7. Not needed defensively but linked things up.
Ilkay Gundogan: 7. Decent shift in the engine room. Almost responsible for a comical own goal after a cross by Max Aarons came off him and bounced just wide of Ederson’s goal.
Jack Grealish: 8. Massive cheer when he was named in the starting line-up. Demanded more options as City got into their stride, pointing where he wanted Ferran Torres to go. Bagged his first City goal, a slightly scruffy one from a Jesus cross, but they all count.
Gabriel Jesus: 9. Started on the right and produced a number of good crosses including an early one which was turned into his own goal by Tim Krul and a quick through ball for a Ferran Torres goal that was ruled out before another cross was turned in by Jack Grealish. Pressed effectively too without the pressure of scoring goals and looked dangerous throughout – could have ended up with 4 assists on the day.
Ferran Torres: 7. Centre forward from the start and linked up well, his movement forced Grant Hanley into a panicked clearance attempt which ended with City’s opening goal. Clinical finishing for a goal which was ruled out for a foul in the build-up. Faded after the break and was replaced by Raheem Sterling.
Raheem Sterling (on for Ferran Torres, 61): 7. Came on as centre forward. Tap in laid on by Gabriel Jesus.
Cole Palmer (on for Ilkay Gundogan, 69): 7. Came on to cheers from the home crowd and fitted in well in a City side who were cruising, some nice moves from the inside right role.
Riyad Mahrez (on for Jack Grealish, 75): 7. Went onto his usual right flank, pushing Jesus to the left and scored off the far post after beating the offside trap late on.
GOALS – Manchester City 5, Norwich City 0
Man City 1, Norwich City 0: 7. Grant Hanley tried to cut out Gabriel Jesus’ cross from the right but only succeeded in deflecting the ball against Tim Krul who could do nothing as it bounced off him and into his net before he could react.
Man City 2, Norwich City 0: 22. Kyle Walker released Jesus for a run down the right, his cross looked to have evaded everyone but it reached Jack Grealish at the back post via a deflection off Max Aarons and off Grealish’s shin for his first City goal.
Man City 3, Norwich City 0: 64. Aymeric Laporte stabbed home the loose ball after Pierre Lees-Melou failed to clear Ilkay Gundogan’s corner.
Man City 4, Norwich City 0: 70. Raheem Sterling had a tap in laid on by Gabriel Jesus from the right.
Man City 5, Norwich City 0: 84. Riyad Mahrez beat the offside trap and had plenty of time to pick his spot, scoring off the back post after receiving a long pass from Ruben Dias.
MATCH STATS – Manchester City 5, Norwich City 0
Man City: Ederson, Walker, Dias, Laporte, Cancelo, Gundogan (C) (Palmer 69), Rodri, Grealish (Mahrez 75), Bernardo Silva, Jesus, Torres (Sterling 61)
Man City subs not used: Steffen, Ake, Zinchenko, Mendy, Fernandinho, Doyle
Booked: Gundogan 40 (foul on Pierre Lees-Melou)
Goals: Krul OG 7; Grealish 22; Laporte 64; Sterling 70; Mahrez 84
Norwich City: Krul, Aarons, Hanley (C), Gibson, Giannoulis (Mumba 46), Lees-Melou, Gilmour, Rupp (McLean 46), Cantwell, Rashica, Pukki (Sargent 77)
Norwich City subs not used: Gunn, Dowell, Tzolis, Sorensen, Idah, Omobamidele
Referee: Graham Scott