Match Preview:
Off-field distractions-including the linking of Pep Guardiola to the England managerial role and the departure of influential City director Txiki Begiristain-have not derailed City from their title defence. They also won a very important battle with the Premier League over APT rules during the international break.
On the pitch, City have kept up their unbeaten start to the season, although they had to battle against Fulham. In an early Etihad Stadium shock through Andreas Pereira for Fulham, there was a strong comeback for City as Mateo Kovacic and Jeremy Doku led from the front. Despite Fulham’s late strike, City ran out eventual winners and closed the gap on league leaders Liverpool to just one point.
With Arsenal also in the hunt for the title, City need at least a point against Wolves to break a club record of 31 games in succession without defeat in the Premier League. Their last defeat in the league was back in December 2023.
In sharp contrast, Wolverhampton Wanderers are deep in trouble at the bottom of the table after five consecutive defeats across all competitions and a winless drought of 10 games in the Premier League. They were potent in attack but brittle in defense in their last game as they lost 5-3 to Brentford. They have given away a total of 15 goals in the last five matches, which is an alarming rate of three per game.
Gary O’Neil’s team has been scoring frequently – finding the net in the last eight games – yet leakage in defence remains their Achilles heel. Sunday’s match against City may see them lose their first four home games of a league season for the first time ever, though the club’s hierarchy seems confident he will turn things around. He was the inspiration for one of the biggest upsets last season as Wolves came from behind to record a 2-1 win over City when the teams last met, though City have otherwise bossed Wolves in recent meetings.
Team News:
For Manchester City, Kevin De Bruyne and Nathan Ake are doubts, with Pep Guardiola indicating neither would likely return in time for the trip to Wolves. Rodri is still out with his long-term ACL injury, while Oscar Bobb won’t return until December following his fractured leg. Fresh off becoming Norway’s all-time leading scorer, Erling Haaland will lead the charge upfront for City, who have scored eight goals in four matches against Wolves.
Wolves, meanwhile, will have to make do without key forward Hwang Hee-chan, who picked up an ankle problem on international duty during South Korea’s World Cup qualifier. He is joined by a number of others in the treatment room with Yerson Mosquera, Sasa Kalajdzic, Enso Gonzalez and Boubacar Traore currently all sidelined. There is a glimmer of hope that teenage defender Bastien Meupiyou could feature for the first time this season.
Predicted Lineups:
Wolverhampton Wanderers possible starting XI:
Johnstone; Semedo, Bueno, Toti, Ait-Nouri; Bellegarde, Lemina, Andre Gomes, Cunha; Larsen.
Wiley Manchester City possible starting XI: Ederson; Lewis, Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol; Kovacic, Gundogan; Silva, Foden, Doku; Haaland.
