Prediction: Manchester City vs Wolves – Football News

Verdict: Manchester City wins to nil

Best odds: 4/5

Bookmaker: Luckster

Looking to take another step towards the Premier League title this season, Manchester City welcome Wolves to the Etihad on Saturday evening.

Manchester City

Let’s start with the hosts: While Manchester City may have surrendered their first Champions League title last month, the Sky Blues are in the driver’s seat and looking to make even more history this season. Pep Guardiola’s side are aiming for a fourth successive Premier League title this month and have continued their winning ways in the domestic league. The former Barcelona coach hasn’t suffered a single Premier League defeat since the beginning of December, but his team also experienced a real goal hunt in the final third. City most recently celebrated a 2-0 away win at relegation rivals Nottingham Forest and have won all six of their previous showdowns against top-class opponents. Guardiola’s men, who punched their ticket to the FA Cup final with a 1-0 win over Chelsea at Wembley on April 20, will also be looking to make another statement on their return to the Etihad.

Team news

While both Ruben Dias and England international Phil Foden may have missed last week away to Nottingham Forest, the duo are expected to make a full return to the Manchester City squad here. Attacking talisman Erling Haaland, who came on as a substitute at the City Ground and scored his 21st Premier League goal of the season, is expected to return to Guardiola’s starting XI this weekend.

Brazilian goalkeeper Ederson, who left Nottingham Forest with his arm in a sling, is unlikely to feature on Saturday evening. Due to a potential move from the Etihad this summer, 31-year-old Stefan Ortega will replace Ederson between the posts here.

Wolves

As for the visitors, who made a decisive return to winning ways with a 2-1 home win against leading relegation candidates Luton last week, Wolves will be keen to use this performance as a platform on which to build. But while Gary O’Neil’s squad has received much praise since their former Bournemouth coach arrived at Molineux last summer, they have been looking for some stability of late. After suffering an infamous FA Cup defeat at the hands of champions Coventry on March 16 and ultimately suffering a 3-2 defeat on home soil, Saturday’s visitors have just one win in their eight appearances to date in all competitions achieved. With O’Neil’s side knocked out of the top half of the Premier League table and their European ambitions in tatters, they certainly couldn’t have asked for a tougher challenge as they travel to face the defending champions this weekend.

Team news

While Wolves will be hoping attacking talisman Pedro Neto can play a role before the end of the season, the Portugal international is expected not to be in danger on Saturday evening. However, players such as Jean-Ricner Bellegarde and ex-West Ham defender Craig Dawson remain on the sidelines due to related injury problems.

Former Atletico Madrid star Matheus Cunha, who has received high praise this season and scored 11 goals in the Premier League, will lead O’Neil’s attack here. South Korea international Hee-Chan Hwang, who scored against Luton last week, will partner Cunha in the final third.

Key factors to consider

When Manchester City and Wolves met in a reverse Premier League showdown on September 30, the visitors claimed a famous 2-1 win at Molineux on Saturday.
However, the Wolves have lost all of their other six appearances against the Sky Blues in all competitions.
Manchester City have not suffered a single home defeat in all competitions since the beginning of December.
Wolves have managed just one win in each of their last eight appearances across all formats.
Man City have won all of their last six showdowns against Premier League opponents by an aggregate score of 20-4.

Diploma

While Wolves may have claimed a famous 2-1 win when they hosted City at Molineux for their reverse Premier League clash on September 30, O’Neil’s men are rightly viewed as landslide underdogs here. With the Sky Blues having not suffered a single home defeat since the start of the new year, the hosts will look to make another statement of intent here on Saturday. After the defending champions have won all six of their previous showdowns against Premier League opponents with an aggregate score of 20-4, it’s hard to imagine anything other than a home win this weekend.