Manchester City 5-0 Norwich City: Jack Grealish scores on home debut for Premier League champions

Manchester City's £100m man Jack Grealish scored on his home debut as the reigning Premier League champions returned to winning ways by thrashing newly-promoted Norwich.

Shaking off three successive defeats bridging this season and last, Pep Guardiola's side assumed complete control from minute one against the outclassed Canaries.

There was some fortune about their first two goals - both set up by low Gabriel Jesus crosses - as Grant Hanley's attempted clearance flew in off Norwich keeper Tim Krul before City's second bounced in off Grealish's knee.

However, the lead was just reward for the imperious hosts, who saw a neat Ferran Torres finish chalked off in-between those goals after the video assistant referee noticed Bernardo Silva's clip on Milot Rashica in the build-up.

Aymeric Laporte added the third, steering home a corner from close range, before Jesus capped a impressive and unselfish performance by guiding Kyle Walker's through ball across the face of the six-yard box for substitute Raheem Sterling to sweep home City's fourth.

Riyad Mahrez also came off the bench to round off the rout, beating Krul one-on-one to hand Norwich successive 5-0 defeats at Etihad Stadium, having lost there by the same score on their previous visit in July 2020.

Grealish grabs glory but Jesus shines brightest

England midfielder Grealish ingratiated himself with his new adoring fans thanks to his goal and typically busy display, but it was Jesus who unlocked the Canaries' cage to ensure this was a stroll.

Used almost as frequently from the bench than as a starter by Guardiola, despite 50 strikes in 132 Premier League appearances, Jesus' clever movement, control and delivery created three of City's five goals.

With Grealish on the left and Jesus on the right, Norwich were pulled this way and that for much of the game - and while they defended stoutly for long spells, the pressure was ultimately irresistible.

With Sterling and Mahrez on the bench, and Kevin De Bruyne not risked because of an ankle problem, it was easy to see why Guardiola has insisted he is happy with City's squad should no further transfer business - most notably the touted signing of Harry Kane - be forthcoming.

Bigger tests, of course, await with Arsenal, Leicester, Chelsea and Liverpool among their next five fixtures - with defeats in the Champions League final, Community Shield and league to Chelsea, Leicester and Tottenham respectively still relatively fresh in the mind.

Norwich had provided one of the all-time Premier League surprises the last time they reached the top flight, beating City - then, as now, reigning champions - 3-2 at Carrow Road two years ago.

But the Canaries were up against it from the opening whistle as City camped in their half before Hanley and Krul unwittingly combined to provide the hosts with the breakthrough.

It was hard luck on Hanley, whose clearance was going out for a corner until it struck Krul who was still stationed at his near post.

That opened the floodgates and the Canaries were limited to just one shot - a late Rashica effort that flew over - as their tough reintroduction to life in the top flight continued after an opening-day defeat by Liverpool.

Player of the match

GilmourBilly Gilmour

Norwich City

Squad number8Player nameGilmour

Squad number22Player namePukki

Squad number14Player nameCantwell

Squad number17Player nameRashica

Squad number5Player nameHanley

Squad number4Player nameGibson

Squad number20Player nameLees-Melou

Squad number2Player nameAarons

Squad number30Player nameGiannoulis

Squad number7Player nameRupp

Squad number23Player nameMcLean

Squad number26Player nameMumba

Squad number24Player nameSargent

Squad number1Player nameKrul

Line-ups

Man City

Formation 4-3-3

31Ederson

2Walker3Rúben Dias14Laporte27Cancelo

20Bernardo Silva16Rodri8Gündogan

9Gabriel Jesus21Torres10Grealish

Substitutes

Norwich

Formation 4-3-3

1Krul

2Aarons5Hanley4Gibson30Giannoulis

20Lees-Melou8Gilmour7Rupp

14Cantwell22Pukki17Rashica

Substitutes

Live Text

Match ends, Manchester City 5, Norwich City 0.

Second Half ends, Manchester City 5, Norwich City 0.

Foul by Cole Palmer (Manchester City).

Pierre Lees-Melou (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City).

Max Aarons (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Attempt missed. Raheem Sterling (Manchester City) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Riyad Mahrez following a corner.

Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Ben Gibson.

Attempt blocked. Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

Raheem Sterling (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Foul by Billy Gilmour (Norwich City).

Goal! Manchester City 5, Norwich City 0. Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Rúben Dias with a through ball.

Offside, Norwich City. Max Aarons tries a through ball, but Milot Rashica is caught offside.

Foul by Bernardo Silva (Manchester City).

Todd Cantwell (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by Rodri (Manchester City).

Todd Cantwell (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Bali Mumba.

Attempt missed. Milot Rashica (Norwich City) right footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses the top right corner.

Substitution, Norwich City. Joshua Sargent replaces Teemu Pukki.

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