Manchester City travel to Wolves in the early Sunday kick-off in the Premier League. Pep Guardiola’s side will hope to keep pace in the title race, with Liverpool topping the table before the international break.
Gary O’Neill’s team will be desperate for a result to move away from their place at the bottom of the table, after just one point from seven games so far. And a 2-1 win last season against the champions provides hope of another upset here.
Guardiola admitted “part of me is leaving” after news that sporting director Txiki Begiristain will depart the club after the current campaign, while also playing down reports of negotiations with the FA over the England job before Thomas Tuchel was appointed.
The champions are sweating on the fitness of Kevin De Bruyne and could go top before Liverpool face Chelsea in the late kick-off.
Follow live updates from the Premier League clash below as Wolves host Man City:
Wolves vs Man City
-
Wolves host Manchester City in the Premier League
-
9’ CHANCE! Silva forces a great save from Sa (WOL 1-0 MCI)
-
7’ GOAL! Wolves strike first through Strand Larsen (WOL 1-0 MCI)
-
6’ CHANCE! Doku cuts in from the left and blazes one over the top (WOL 0-0 MCI)
-
The champions were stunned here last season with Hwang Hee-chan grabbing the winner
-
Wolves XI: Sa; Semedo, Bueno, Dawson, Toti, Ait-Nouri; Andre; Gomes, Lemina, Cunha, Strand Larsen
-
City XI: Ederson; Lewis, Stones, Dias, Gvardiol, Kovacic, Gundogan, Bernardo, Savinho, Doku, Haaland
Wolverhampton Wanderers FC 1 – 0 Manchester City FC
Wolves 1-0 Man City
14:31 , Chris Wilson
30 mins
Gvardiol works the chance and feeds in Doku, who finds space to fizz a ball across goal, but for once Haaland is not there to capitalise and Wolves clear.
Wolves 1-0 Man City
14:29 , Chris Wilson
29 mins
Brilliant from both sides as City work it though to Gundogan on the overlap in the box, but Toti does well to get across and head away the German’s cross.
Wolves manage to clear but City are winning it back almost instantly every time. The pressure is building!
14:28 , Chris Wilson
27 mins
Gomes is perhaps lucky to escape a yellow as he makes two fouls in about 10 seconds. The second gives City a free-kick in a dangerous area to the left of the penalty box.
Gundogan swings it in and it bounces across to Savinho, who fails to make contact with the volley.
Wolves 1-0 Man City
14:26 , Chris Wilson
25 mins
Brilliant work from Joao Gomes as he wins the ball off Doku in his own box and then wins a foul off the Belgian. A brief respite for the home side, as Sa launches it forward.
City win it straight back, unsurprisingly.
Wolves 1-0 Man City
14:25 , Chris Wilson
24 mins
So far so good for Wolves, and they’ve had the two best chances, but City are beginning to threaten.
Doku skips past two defenders and cuts it back into the path of Gundogan, but Dawson is there to clear for a corner.
From the ball in, Wolves head away and City are forced to build again.
Wolves 1-0 Man City
14:23 , Chris Wilson
22 mins
Gvardiol clips in a very dangerous ball towards the back post but it narrowly misses both Haaland and Gundogan.
Wolves 1-0 Man City
14:22 , Chris Wilson
21 mins
Semedo is quickly booked moments after that chance, as he drags back Savinho on the counter.
City attack again, but Ait-Nouri gets the better of Savinho this time.
Wolves 1-0 Man City
14:21 , Chris Wilson
19 mins
Lovely play from Lewis to pick out Gundogan in the box, but Lemina is there to cut it out.
Wolves break quickly, and Gomes skips past a challenge before feeding it to Larsen. He plays it back to Gomes, who releases Semedo with a through ball and the Portuguese is clean through!
He’s under pressure from Gvardiol as he surges into the box, and he scuffs his attempt and has to settle for a corner.
Wolves 1-0 Man City
14:19 , Chris Wilson
17 mins
City look to carve a chance but they’re penalised for handball in the Wolves box. That’s followed by Wolves’ first bit if sustained possession since the goal, but they quickly give it away to Ederson.
Wolves 1-0 Man City
14:17 , Chris Wilson
15 mins
Two City players are lining up for the free-kick, with Dias and Stones discussing a tactic. It’s Savinho to take, but he hits the wall. From the rebound, Doku can’t create the space to get a shot through.
City with possession near the Wolves box again.
Wolves 1-0 Man City
14:15 , Chris Wilson
14 mins
Toti is played into plenty of trouble on the edge of his own box and he’s dispossessed by Savinho, with the Brazilian winning a free-kick as the Wolves man was forced to drag him down.
Toti is booked too.
Wolves 1-0 Man City
14:13 , Chris Wilson
11 mins
Savinho’s dinked ball in briefly looks dangerous but it’s eventually cleared. Strand Larsen is down and receiving treatment, but he’ll be okay to carry on.
Wolves 1-0 Man City
14:11 , Chris Wilson
9 mins
CHANCE! A brilliant save from Sa.
The pass is fizzed in to Gundogan and he flicks it on to Bernardo in the box. His effort is a good one, forcing Sa to stretch low to his right to get a strong hand to it.
Plenty of noise at the Molineux now.
GOAL! Wolves 1-0 Man City
14:09 , Chris Wilson
7 mins
GOAL! Out of nowhere for the home side!
City are pressing Wolves high but Ait-Nouri manages to escape the challenge in his own half. Wolves work it to the opposite wing and Semedo drives towards the box before playing an early cross.
It’s right in the corridor between the ‘keeper and defenders and it goes all the way across to Strand Larsen, who bundles it in!
Wolves 0-0 Man City
14:07 , Chris Wilson
6 mins
CHANCE!
More sustained possession from City and it ends with Doku exchanging passes with Gundogan to make some space in the box, before the Belgian blazes a shot over the bar.
Wolves 0-0 Man City
14:06 , Chris Wilson
6 mins
Semedo eventually clears the corner, though City have the ball again straight away. Plenty of patient build-up, with Lewis stepping into midfield.
Wolves 0-0 Man City
14:05 , Chris Wilson
4 mins
Savinho beats Ait-Nouri too easily down the right but his cross is cleared. City come again and Doku feeds in Haaland, though the Norwegian is forced to go backwards before Savinho then wins a corner.
Wolves 0-0 Man City
14:04 , Chris Wilson
3 mins
Better from both sides as they each string a few passes together. Wolves try to break forward but Gvardiol is equal to Semedo in the foot race.
Wolves 0-0 Man City
14:02 , Chris Wilson
1 min
End-to-end at the beginning, though not in term of attacking. Both sides have lumped the ball up the field a couple of times each as they look to settle.
KICK-OFF! Wolves 0-0 Man City
14:01 , Chris Wilson
KICK-OFF!
The home side get us underway in the Midlands.
Wolves vs Man City
13:58 , Chris Wilson
The two sides have emerged from the tunnel at the Molineux, so we’re moments from kick-off.
How to watch Wolves v Man City
13:53 , Chris Wilson
A reminder that this afternoon’s match will be live on Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Ultra HDR. Coverage started at 1pm BST.
Subscribers will also be able to watch on a live stream online via the Sky Go app.
Wolves vs Man City LIVE
13:50 , Chris Wilson
How the league table looks
13:45 , Chris Wilson
There wasn’t a lot of movement at the very top of the Premier League yesterday, with Arsenal’s 2-0 loss to Bournemouth meaning they missed a chance to go top of the table. They remain in third, on 17 points, level with City and one point behind Liverpool, who play Chelsea later today. Both sides have a game in hand over the Gunners though.
Villa’s win over Fulham moved them into fourth, level on points with Arsenal, while Brighton’s 1-0 win away at Newcastle moved them into fifth, on 15 points.
Chelsea sit in sixth ahead of their game against Liverpool, having won 14 points from seven games. Spurs’ win yesterday took them into seventh, on 13 points, while Newcastle sit a place behind on 12 points.
Manchester United eased some of the pressure on Erik ten Hag with a 2-1 win over Brentford, though they still sit 11th after eight games played, with just 11 points.
Match facts
13:40 , Chris Wilson
Manchester City have won seven of their last eight Premier League meetings with Wolves, scoring 25 goals across these games.
City are unbeaten in 30 Premier League games, winning 24 and drawing six. This is the joint-longest run in their league history (also 30 from April 2017 to January 2018). In English top-flight history, there have only been six occasions when a side has gone more than 30 matches without losing, the most recent being Liverpool’s run of 44 games from January 2019 to February 2020.
City have fallen behind in four of their last six Premier League games, although they have recovered a league-high 10 points from losing positions in the competition this term. They have won nine of the last 11 league games in which they have trailed (D2)
Erling Haaland has scored eight goals in four Premier League appearances against Wolves – he averages a goal once every 40 minutes against them. However, only one of these eight goals has come at Molineux.
Match facts
13:32 , Chris Wilson
Wolves won this fixture 2-1 last season, though they haven’t won consecutive home league meetings with Manchester City since a run of three between 1982 and 1996.
Wolves have so far failed to win any of their opening seven games of a league season for the first time since 2004/05, when the club was in the Championship. Only in three previous campaigns have they had a longer winless run from the start of a league season: 1922/23 (8), 1926/27 (10), and 1983/84 (14).
Wolves are the only side to lose all of their home games in the Premier League this season. Never before in their league history have they lost their opening four home games of a campaign.
Matheus Cunha has lost each of the last four Premier League games in which he has scored, including all three this season.
What the managers are saying
13:25 , Chris Wilson
Wolves manager Gary O’Neil says that he has “100 per cent faith in myself and the playing group to show everyone we can compete at the level”.
“[i’m] really confident and really comfortable I can help the group in this moment and turn things around,” he added.
“We sit here seven games in with one point. If you don’t look into the depths of how and why it looks like a disaster.
“But, if you do take the time to look into the situation and the fixtures you will easily see there is enough there to have a real clear view we can turn this around.”
“The Brentford game was a shock. If we’re not at it, it’s not just the top teams that will beat you. It can’t happen. We conceded some goals that were almost unexplainable.”
On the challenge facing his side today, he said: “The key [last season] was discipline, counter-attacking and fight. It’s a tough game I’m looking forward to. We have to perform in a way to unite the fans.”
What the managers have said
13:20 , Chris Wilson
Ahead of the game, Guardiola insisted that “Wolves is my priority, and my players – how they come back from the international teams”.
“That is my only concern.
He added that “it is always tough” against Wolves –“they’ve got less points than they deserve”.
On his future, he added: “I said many times I didn’t take a decision already and when I take it, I will inform you 100 per cent.
“That’s why there is no news, and I don’t have to add anything else.”
The Catalan went on to say that “still I like coming here every morning to work, I love it”.
“Thinking about Wolves, and what are the messages that I have to tell them, the images I have to see, the training sessions I have to prepare – still I like it. And this is the main reason that I’m a manager.
“When I don’t feel this, it’s not just leaving Man City, I would not be a manager, I would not train, that’s for sure!”
Guardiola’s future
13:15 , Chris Wilson
With the announcement of Begiristain’s departure, perhaps the most intriguing question surrounds the future of Guardiola himself.
The Spaniard was teammates with Begiristain at club level and worked with the former Barcelona winger during his time managing the Catalan club, with Begiristain influential in appointing Guardiola as Barca manager in 2008.
Begiristain later joined City as director of football and played a key part in bringing Guardiola to the club in 2016.
With Guardiola out of contract at the end of the summer, questions remain over his immediate future. Varuious reports have suggested that he could leave the club at the end of the season, though others suggest that Guardiola could be tempted to stay – perhaps out of defiance – depending on the outcome of the case against City’s 115 charges.
Guardiola’s eight seasons in charge of City is far longer than any of his other managerial tenures, having been at Barca between 2008 and 2012, and Bayern Munich between 2013 and 2016.
Pep Guardiola: Part of me will leave Man City when Txiki Begiristain goes
13:10 , Chris Wilson
Pep Guardiola admits part of him will leave Manchester City next summer with the departure of sporting director Txiki Begiristain.
But the City manager maintains he has not made a decision about his own future, even though he admits an interest in international football.
Guardiola, winner of six Premier League titles and the Champions League in his eight years at the Etihad Stadium, is out of contract at the end of the season.
Pep Guardiola: Part of me will leave Man City when Txiki Begiristain goes
I’m an emotional man: Pep Guardiola embarrassed by his touchline reactions
13:05 , Chris Wilson
Pep Guardiola insists he is as passionate about football as ever – so much so he is sometimes embarrassed by his own touchline antics.
Manchester City’s inspirational boss often cuts a frenetic figure in the technical area, which he says comes from his emotional involvement in games and the club.
Despite recurring speculation over whether this might be his last season at the Etihad Stadium, he insists he has lost none of his drive and determination to succeed.
I’m an emotional man: Pep Guardiola embarrassed by his touchline reactions
Team news
13:00 , Chris Wilson
Pep Guardiola has made three changes to the side that beat Fulham 3-2 last time out.
In defence, Manuel Akanji drops out for John Stones. In midfield, Phil Foden and Jack Grealish are replaced by Jeremy Doku – who scored against Fulham – and summer signing Savinho.
Team news
12:55 , Chris Wilson
Wolves have made two changes to the side that lost 5-3 to Brentford before the international break.
In goal, Jose Sa replaces Sam Johnstone, while in defence, Santiago Bueno comes in and Carlos Forbs drops to the bench as Wolves move to a back five.
Line-ups
12:48 , Chris Wilson
Wolves XI: Sa; Semedo, Bueno, Dawson, Toti, Ait-Nouri; Gomes, Lemina, Andre, Cunha, Strand Larsen.
Subs: Bentley, Doherty, Gomes, Doyle, Sarabia, Forbs, Bellegarde, Guedes, Lima.
City XI: Ederson; Lewis, Stones, Dias (C), Gvardiol, Kovacic, Gundogan, Bernardo, Savinho, Doku, Haaland
Subs: Ortega Moreno, Carson, Ake, Grealish, Akanji, Nunes, Foden, O’Reilly, McAtee
Today’s City squad! 📋
XI | Ederson, Lewis, Stones, Dias (C), Gvardiol, Kovacic, Gundogan, Bernardo, Savinho, Doku, Haaland
SUBS | Ortega Moreno, Carson, Ake, Grealish, Akanji, Nunes, Foden, O’Reilly, McAtee#ManCity | @etihad pic.twitter.com/ZpSz4jf3zO
— Manchester City (@ManCity) October 20, 2024
Team news
12:40 , Chris Wilson
A reminder of the early team news for today. The line-ups should be announced in around five minutes…
Wolves forward Hwang Hee-chan misses out after injuring his ankle playing for South Korea joining Enso Gonzalez, Sasa Kalajdzic, Yerson Mosquera and Boubacar Traore on the sidelines.
Meanwhile, Manchester City are definitely without Kevin De Bruyne, Rodri and Oscar Bobb with the latter two long-term absentees.
Nathan Ake remains a doubt.
Pep Guardiola says he would advise on Man City successor when he eventually leaves the club
12:35 , Mike Jones
Pep Guardiola would be prepared to advise Manchester City when the club begin their search for his successor. City’s serial-winning manager is in the final year of his contract and speculation over his future is rife.
The Catalan insists he is yet to make a decision on whether or not he will extend his stay into a 10th season at the Etihad Stadium.
Yet when the time comes to depart, he would be willing to offer the club his thoughts on the person to take over, although he would not expect to help.
Pep Guardiola says he would advise on Man City successor
Head-to-head
12:30 , Chris Wilson
The two sides have met a total of 130 times, with the first meeting dating back to 1899.
Overall, City have won 55, Wolves have won 50, and 25 matches have ended as draws.
Last season, Wolves won 2-1 at the Molineux before suffering a 5-1 defeat at the Etihad in early May.
Arsenal faced ‘impossible task’ down to 10 men at Bournemouth, claims Mikel Arteta
12:25 , Chris Wilson
It’s still early days in the Premier League, but here’s the report on a potentially pivotal evening on the south coast yesterday…
Mikel Arteta lamented the “impossible task” faced by Arsenal following William Saliba’s red card as they fell to a 2-0 defeat at Bournemouth to miss the chance to go top of the Premier League.
The defender was dismissed after 30 minutes following a VAR review for hauling down striker Evanilson near the halfway line and denying him a clear run on goal.
It set the stage for a first league loss this season for Arteta’s side who conceded a second-half rocket to Ryan Christie before Justin Kluivert’s late penalty, though the story could have been different had Gabriel Martinelli not fired a golden chance straight at goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga moments before the Scot’s opener.
Arsenal faced ‘impossible task’ down to 10 men at Bournemouth, claims Mikel Arteta
Pep Guardiola reacts to Thomas Tuchel appointment but dodges questions over England talks
Friday 18 October 2024 16:22 , Jack Rathborn
Pep Guardiola refused to say whether he was approached over the England job before the Football Association appointed Thomas Tuchel, as he wished the German “the very best” in charge of the national team.
The Independent reported that Guardiola was seen as the top choice for the England job following Gareth Southgate’s resignation and the FA were prepared to wait for the Manchester City boss ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
However, talks between the FA and Tuchel accelerated earlier this month after initial contact was made in August and the German will take charge in January with interim Lee Carsley overseeing next month’s camp.
FA chief executive Mark Bullingham revealed at Tuchel’s unveiling that “approximately 10 candidates” were interviewed, including some from England, although Newcastle boss Eddie Howe said he was not contacted.
Guardiola reacts to Tuchel appointment but dodges questions over England talks
Head to head record favours City
12:15 , Mike Jones
Manchester City have won seven of the last eight league meetings, scoring a total of 25 goals in those games. Their only defeat during that period was by 2-1 at Molineux last season.
Can Wolves beat Man City again?
12:10 , Mike Jones
Wolves are aiming to win consecutive home league games against Manchester City for the first time since a run of three between 1982 and 1996.
City have dropped points in three of their six Premier League visits to Molineux.
Wolves vs Man City team news: Kevin De Bruyne injury latest, hosts face fitness crisis
Friday 18 October 2024 15:51 , Jack Rathborn
Manchester City have been dealt an injury set-back with Kevin De Bruyne unable to start their fixture against Wolves as the Premier League resumes after the international break.
De Bruyne had missed the last five matches in all competitions for Pep Guardiola’s side, and has asked not to be considered for Belgium duty across the next couple of months as he balances a busy schedule ahead of the Club World Cup next summer.
And while there were hopes that he may be fit to feature fully as the champions travel to Molineux for a meeting with Wolves, Guardiola on match eve provided an unencouraging update on the fitness of the Belgian and teammate Nathan Ake.
Wolves vs Man City team news: De Bruyne injury latest, hosts face fitness crisis
Wolves vs Man City early team news
12:00 , Mike Jones
Wolves forward Hwang Hee-chan misses out after injuring his ankle playing for South Korea joining Enso Gonzalez, Sasa Kalajdzic, Yerson Mosquera and Boubacar Traore on the sidelines.
Meanwhile, Manchester City are definitely without Kevin De Bruyne, Rodri and Oscar Bobb with the latter two long-term absentees.
Nathan Ake remains a doubt.
Good afternoon!
10:04 , Mike Jones
Welcome to The Independent’s coverage of today’s Premier League action as Manchester City travel to the midlands to face Wolves in Sunday’s early kick off.
The champions were given a boost yesterday as title rivals Arsenal slipped up with a 2-0 loss to Bournemouth after William Saliba was sent off for denying a goal-scoring opportunity when he dragged down forward Evanlison.
If City triumph at Molineux today they will move to the top of the table ahead of Liverpool’s crucial clash with Chelsea. It’s an equally important encounter for Wolves.
They’re struggling in the table, sitting 19th having collected just one point from their first seven matches. Manager Gary O’Neil is under pressure but taking points off the reigning champions will be a big success.
We’ll have all the team news, line-ups and latest updates throughout the afternoon so stick with us as we build up to kick off at 2pm.