Premier League | Gameweek 8

Oct 20, 2024 at 2pm UK

Molineux Stadium

Wolves vs Man City

Match preview

Never far from the headlines off the pitch, a chaotic international period for Man City saw Pep Guardiola and England speculation intensify before Thomas Tuchel took over at Wembley, influential director Txiki Begiristain announced his imminent departure and both City and the Premier League claim victory in their APT rules battle.

Meanwhile, on the pitch, the reigning Premier League champions remain unbeaten in all competitions since the start of the season, although they did so the hard way against Fulham, who took a shock early lead through Andreas Pereira at the Etihad two weekends ago.

The former Manchester United man's opener was preceded by two goals from Mateo Kovacic and a Belgian beauty from Jeremy Doku, and although Rodrigo Muniz halved the arrears in the dying embers of the game, it was too little too late for Marco Silva's Cottagers.

Man City's two-game winless streak in the top flight leaves them just one point behind leaders Liverpool, who also trail Arsenal on goal difference, but the Gunners could leapfrog both their title rivals if they beat Bournemouth on Saturday.

However, Guardiola's men have all the motivation they need to avoid a mishap in the West Midlands on Sunday: if they take at least a point this weekend, they will set a new club record of 31 consecutive Premier League games without defeat, having not lost a top-flight match since December 2023.

By contrast, defeat has been the only item on the menu at Molineux in recent months, as 20th-placed Wolves welcome the champions on the back of a crushing five-game losing streak in all competitions and a 10-game winless run in the Premier League.

Gary O'Neil's men had the honour of playing one of the best games of the season so far at the Gtech Community Stadium a fortnight ago, but their defensive frailties were once again exposed as they went out on the wrong end of a 5-3 scoreline that leaves them below fellow one-point leaders Southampton on goal difference.

The final third is far from Wolves' problem - they have scored in eight games in all competitions since their opening day defeat to Arsenal - but they have conceded an alarming 15 goals in their last five defeats, an average of three per game.

While Man City could extend their club record unbeaten run this weekend, Wolves are in danger of losing their opening four home games of a league season for the first time in their history, although the powers that be are said to have full faith in O'Neil to steer Sunday's hosts to safety.

The 41-year-old was the mastermind behind Wolves' 2-1 upset of Man City in this fixture last season, but the champions have won the other seven meetings between the two sides since the start of the 2020-21 campaign, including a 5-1 thrashing in May in which Erling Haaland scored a fantastic four goals.

Recent Performance

Wolverhampton Wanderers Premier League form:LDLLLL

Wolverhampton Wanderers form (all competitions):DLLLLL

Manchester City Premier League form:WWWDDW

Manchester City form (all competitions):DDWDWW

Injuries and suspensions

Wolverhampton

33 Bastien Meupiyou

6 Boubacar Traoré

30 Enso González

11 Hee-chan Hwang

18 Sasa Kalajdzic

Manchester City

16 Rodri

17 Kevin De Bruyne

52 Oscar Bobb

Possible starting lineups

Wolverhampton Wanderers possible starting lineup:

Johnstone; Semedo, S. Bueno, Toti, Ait-Nouri; Bellegarde, Lemina, Andre, Gomes, Cunha; Larsen

Manchester City possible starting lineup:

Ederson; Lewis, Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol; Kovacic, Gundogan; Silva, Foden, Doku; Haaland