Wolverhampton Wanderers vs. Manchester City: Match Preview, Prediction, and Lineups

The Premier League returns with a captivating matchup as reigning champions Manchester City visit Wolverhampton Wanderers. With a win on Sunday, Manchester City could temporarily top the Premier League table, increasing pressure on their title rivals. Meanwhile, Wolves face the daunting task of halting a poor run of form to avoid sinking deeper into relegation trouble.

Manchester City’s Recent Form and Context

City entered the international break in high spirits, having secured a thrilling 3-2 victory over Fulham. That win kept them within a point of league leaders Liverpool while maintaining their goal difference advantage over Arsenal. Mateo Kovacic’s first goals for the club, along with Jeremy Doku’s spectacular strike, allowed City to come from behind after Andreas Pereira had initially stunned the Etihad crowd.

The defending champions remain undefeated in all competitions this season. Their domestic dominance could reach a new milestone this weekend, as avoiding defeat at Molineux would set a club record of 31 consecutive Premier League matches without a loss. City’s last defeat in the league dates back to December 2023, a remarkable streak under the guidance of Pep Guardiola.

Off the pitch, City faced turbulence during the international break. Speculation surrounding Guardiola’s potential future with England grew before Thomas Tuchel was confirmed as the new national team manager. Additionally, sporting director Txiki Begiristain announced his departure, and the club secured an important legal victory against the Premier League in the APT rules dispute.

Wolves’ Struggles and Desperate Need for Points

Wolves are in dire straits, having endured a string of poor results that leaves them rooted to the bottom of the Premier League table. Their recent 5-3 defeat to Brentford extended their losing streak to five games across all competitions, while their winless run in the league now stands at ten matches. The defensive frailties that have plagued Gary O’Neil’s side were on full display against Brentford, despite Wolves showing attacking promise.

Wolves have struggled to find defensive stability, conceding 15 goals in their last five matches—an average of three per game. In contrast, their attack has performed relatively well, scoring in eight consecutive matches since an opening-day defeat to Arsenal. Nevertheless, these efforts have not been enough to avoid a series of disappointing results.

This weekend presents another daunting challenge for O’Neil’s men. Wolves have never lost their first four home matches of a league season, but they are on the verge of making unwanted history. Despite their current slump, the club hierarchy reportedly maintains faith in O’Neil to turn the season around. The 41-year-old manager will draw confidence from his team’s 2-1 win over City at Molineux last season, but recent meetings have largely gone in the champions’ favor. Since the start of the 2020-21 campaign, City have beaten Wolves in seven of their eight encounters, including a commanding 5-1 victory in May 2024, where Erling Haaland netted four goals.

Team News: Wolves

Wolves’ injury woes worsened during the international break when Hwang Hee-chan sustained an ankle injury while representing South Korea. The forward, who has been a bright spot in Wolves’ attack, will miss at least a couple of weeks. His absence adds to a growing injury list that includes Yerson Mosquera, Sasa Kalajdzic, Enso Gonzalez, and Boubacar Traore, all sidelined with knee problems. However, O’Neil may receive a boost with the potential return of teenage defender Bastien Meupiyou.

Despite Hwang’s absence, Wolves’ attacking setup will likely remain unchanged. Jorgen Strand Larsen and Matheus Cunha will continue to lead the frontline, with Cunha chasing an unfortunate Premier League record. If Wolves lose, Cunha could become only the third player in Premier League history to suffer five consecutive defeats in matches where he has scored.

Team News: Manchester City

City enter the match with injury concerns of their own. Guardiola was hopeful that Kevin De Bruyne and Nathan Ake might recover in time, but it appears the fixture will come too soon for both players. Ake stands a slim chance of making the squad, though Guardiola will proceed cautiously with the Dutchman’s recovery. Additionally, Rodri remains on the sidelines as he continues his rehabilitation from an ACL injury, and Oscar Bobb is not expected back until December due to a fractured leg.

City can rely on Erling Haaland to spearhead their attack. The Norwegian striker, fresh from becoming his country’s all-time leading male scorer, has a strong track record against Wolves, having scored eight goals in just four matches against them. However, only one of those goals has come at Molineux, a statistic Haaland will look to improve on Sunday.

Tactical Outlook and Possible Lineups

Guardiola will likely stick to his preferred possession-based approach, with City controlling the tempo from the outset. In De Bruyne’s absence, the creative burden will fall on the shoulders of Phil Foden, Bernardo Silva, and Jeremy Doku. The latter’s ability to take on defenders and stretch the opposition will be crucial, particularly against a Wolves side vulnerable at the back.

Wolves, meanwhile, will aim to stay compact and hit City on the counterattack. O’Neil may opt for a 5-3-2 formation, relying on the pace of Ait-Nouri and Semedo to break forward from the wing-back positions. The midfield trio of Mario Lemina, Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, and Joao Gomes will need to be industrious to disrupt City’s rhythm.

Wolves’ Predicted Lineup (5-3-2):
Johnstone; Semedo, Bueno, Toti, Ait-Nouri; Bellegarde, Lemina, Gomes; Cunha, Larsen

Manchester City’s Predicted Lineup (4-2-3-1):
Ederson; Lewis, Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol; Kovacic, Gundogan; Silva, Foden, Doku; Haaland

Match Prediction

Wolves’ ability to score in recent games suggests they could trouble City’s defense, especially if they find space in transition. However, City’s unbeaten streak and superior quality across the pitch make them heavy favorites. Guardiola’s side has shown resilience in grinding out results even when not at their best, and they will be determined to break their unbeaten run record.

While Wolves might find the net, City’s firepower—led by Haaland—should be enough to secure a comfortable win. The visitors are likely to dominate possession and create numerous scoring opportunities, exploiting Wolves’ defensive lapses.

Prediction: Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-3 Manchester City

City’s relentless pursuit of another league title should see them overcome any resistance from a struggling Wolves side, keeping the pressure on Liverpool and Arsenal at the top of the table.