Man City Face Wolves Fearing the Unthinkable as Form Crumbles

Cue the plot twist nobody saw coming: Wolves arrive at the Etihad this Saturday in considerably better fettle than the hosts. Remarkable, really, when you consider they remain 14 points from safety.

Yet there it is. The Old Gold have strung together four games without defeat—three draws and a victory tucked away—and added a 6-1 demolition of Shrewsbury in the FA Cup to their recent résumé. Their last defeat came on December 27, a narrow 2-1 reversal at Liverpool.

Manchester City, meanwhile, have endured an absolutely calamitous seven days. The Manchester derby saw them completely outclassed in a 2-0 loss, before things got genuinely embarrassing in midweek when Bodo/Glimt put three past them in the Champions League. The Norwegian side's 3-1 victory was so damaging that City even refunded tickets for the 374 supporters hardy enough to trek to the Arctic Circle.

The Etihad outfit remain second in the Premier League, but only just. Arsenal have stuttered too, yet City have fallen seven points adrift after collecting just three draws and a defeat from their last four league outings. Another dropped points here could prove genuinely problematic.

How to watch

Saturday's kickoff comes at 15.00 GMT on January 24. There is no live television coverage in the UK owing to the 3pm blackout.

City's team news

Pep Guardiola faces a defensive crisis after his side shipped five goals across their last two matches. Marc Guehi, signed from Crystal Palace for £20m, looks set to go straight into the starting XI, likely displacing Max Alleyne. The teenager has struggled covering for the absent trio of Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol and John Stones.

Matheus Nunes should return to right-back following illness, which would mean Rayan Ait-Nouri missing out against his former club. Rodri remains available despite his red card against Bodo, while Bernardo Silva could feature after serving a suspension. Antoine Semenyo is back in contention after sitting out the midweek trip.

Expected City XI

(4-1-4-1) Donnarumma; Nunes, Khusanov, Guehi, O'Reilly; Rodri; Semenyo, Silva, Cherki, Doku; Haaland.

Wolves' team news

Rob Edwards must decide whether to restore Jorgen Strand Larsen to the starting lineup. The striker has warmed the bench for five consecutive Premier League matches at a time when Wolves have managed just 15 league goals all season—a paltry five of those coming away from home.

The visitors have injury problems of their own, with Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, Toti Gomes and Leon Chiwome sidelined. Tawanda Chirewa faces a fitness test following illness.

Expected Wolves XI

(3-4-2-1) Sa; Mosquera, S. Bueno, Krejci; Tchatchoua, Andre, J. Gomes, Mane; H. Bueno, Hwang; Strand Larsen.

The numbers

City have won 10 of their previous 11 Premier League encounters with Wolves, the sole exception being a 2-1 defeat at Molineux in September 2023. Away at the Etihad, Wolves have managed just one victory in 11 attempts (D1 L9), losing their last five consecutively since a 2-0 win in October 2019.

Manchester City's record against bottom-placed sides stands at 30 games unbeaten (W24 D6). Their last nine victories against basement dwellers have come by an aggregate scoreline of 36-0.

Wolves, conversely, remain unbeaten across their last four (W1 D3), accumulating six points in this stretch—twice what they managed across their previous 22 fixtures (W0 D3 L19). Despite losing just one of their last 10 league games overall (W6 D3), City have gone four without victory (D3 L1), their longest such run since October-November 2009 when Mark Hughes' side drew seven consecutive matches.

Erling Haaland has plundered 10 Premier League goals against Wolves—more than any other player against the club. Antoine Semenyo, meanwhile, has been involved in 14 goals across his last 16 home appearances in all competitions (10 goals, 4 assists), and scored and assisted in his sole Etihad appearance to date.

Eighteen-year-old Mateus Mané has been Wolves' standout performer since December, registering two goals and three goal involvements in the league. He also ranks second for shots (12) and touches in the opposition box (15) during this period.

The prediction

City's current malaise cannot persist indefinitely, yet Wolves represent no straightforward proposition on their travels. Look at their away performances against the other top-four clubs: single-goal defeats at Aston Villa, Liverpool and Arsenal, with each contest genuinely winnable.

Mané, having unearthed genuine talent, warrants consideration at 11/2 to score, particularly given City's defensive frailties. Yet the draw at 6/1 holds genuine appeal given the trajectory of recent results.

Still, Guardiola's side must arrest this decline. Taking into account Wolves' competitive showings at Villa Park, Anfield and the Emirates, backing City to edge this one by a single goal at 10/3 represents the shrewdest play.