Wolves vs Man City: Preview, predictions and lineups

Manchester City are back in Premier League action on Sunday afternoon as they travel to bottom-of-the-table Wolves.

Gary O’Neil’s high point in the Molineux dugout arrived in this fixture last season as the former midfielder masterminded a 2-1 victory over a Rodri-less City. The Wolves boss could do with another memorable victory this weekend given his side’s woeful start to the new season.

Sunday’s hosts have endured a nightmare schedule through the first two months of 2024/25, but to remain winless is undoubtedly a huge disappointment. Their fixtures do lighten up before Christmas, but O’Neil might not be given the chance to oversee a resurgence.

City are still figuring things out in the absence of their midfield lynchpin, and they were fortunate to escape with all three points against Fulham two weeks ago. Pep Guardiola’s side are trailing Liverpool at the summit, but the Cityzens yet to taste defeat this term.

Here is 90min’s guide to Man City’s clash with Wolves this weekend.

Wolves vs Man City H2H Record (Last Five Games)

Current form (all competitions)

Wolves certainly haven’t been helped by injuries at the start of the 2024/25 campaign, and they suffered another setback during the international break with Hwang Hee-chan picking up an ankle injury that could sideline him for a couple of weeks.

O’Neil could call upon teenage defender Bastien Meupiyou, but the hosts are still without Yerson Mosquera, Sasa Kalajdzic, Enso Gonzalez and Boubacar Traore.

With Hwang out, we should see Matheus Cunha work in tandem with towering summer arrival Jorgen Strand Larsen up top.

Wolves predicted lineup vs Man City (3-5-2): Johnstone; Bueno, Dawson, Toti; Semedo, Lemina, Andre, Gomes, Ait Nouri; Cunha, Larsen.

Guardiola had held out hope that both Nathan Ake and Kevin De Bruyne would return from their respective injuries after the October break, but it seems as if the pair will miss Sunday’s game.

Rodri is a long-term absentee after tearing his ACL last month, while Oscar Bobb is unlikely to play again in 2024 after breaking his leg in pre-season.

Rico Lewis could be preferred to Kyle Walker at right-back, while Ilkay Gundogan will likely partner Mateo Kovacic at the base of City’s midfield. Jack Grealish will share minutes with Jeremy Doku down the left.

Man City predicted lineup vs Wolves (4-2-3-1): Ederson; Lewis, Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol; Kovacic, Gundogan; Savinho, Foden, Grealish; Haaland.

Wolves are not bottom-of-the-table bad and you’ve got to expect some sort of fightback to arrive soon, but there’s not going to be a grand resurgence this weekend.

While Rodri’s absence aided Wolves’ victory in this fixture last season, City are better placed to mitigate the Spaniard’s long-term injury because of Ilkay Gundogan’s return and they will find their optimal groove at some point.

Erling Haaland has a few wrongs to right up against Craig Dawson, and you can expect the determined Nordic machine to enjoy himself on Sunday afternoon. He scored a hatful the last time these two sides faces off.

Prediction: Wolves 0-3 Man City

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