Manchester City are in desperate need of a win when they host a resurgent Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday at 3pm.
Pep Guardiola’s side have had a horrid 2026, failing to win any of their four Premier League games. They come into this weekend’s clash off the back-to-back surprise humblings at the hands of Manchester United in the derby and Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League.
Man City predicted lineup vs Wolves
Man City Predicted XI: (4-2-3-1) Ederson; Nunes, Khusanov, Guehi, O’Reilly; Rodri, Nico; Semenyo, Foden, Doku; Haaland.
The Citizens are preparing to face a Wolves team that have not lost any of their last five games across all competitions and kept just their second clean sheet of the season last weekend.
Man City team news vs Wolves
Guardiola has claimed “everything is going wrong” for his side right now. While that is a bit hyperbolic considering the expenditure and depth of squad, he is without several first-team players.
Defenders Josko Gvardiol, Ruben Dias and John Stones remain on the sidelines, as do Mateo Kovacic, Savinho and Oscar Bobb. The latter is likely to depart this month anyway.
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In better news for Guardiola, Marc Guehi will make his debut for the club after his move from Crystal Palace. The England defender was ineligible for the Champions League loss in Norway but should start alongside Abdukodir Khusanov here.
Bernardo Silva is back after his midweek suspension and there will be late checks on Matheus Nunes (illness) and Nico Gonzalez (knock). Silva may have to settle for a substitute role but Nunes and Nico should start if deemed fit.
Can Man City get back on track?
It has been a January to mostly forget for Guardiola and his side with their only wins coming in the domestic cups against Newcastle United and Exeter City.
They will be reeling after their insipid displays in the losses to Man Utd and Bodo/Glimt but will need to win if they are to keep their ailing hopes of regaining the Premier League title alive.
Man Utd are currently seven points behind leaders Arsenal and look a shell of the side that once dominated English football. While Wolves at home appears a kind fixture, the bottom side have not lost any of their last four league games and have already come away from Manchester this month with a point.
Guardiola will be hoping Guehi’s presence at the back, as well as the returns of Nunes and Gonzalez, will boost his side and help the likes of Erling Haaland and Phil Foden return to form.
Foden has not scored or assisted in any of his last nine appearances, while Haaland has failed to score from open play in any of his last eight.
The prolific striker does come up against a preferred opponent, having scored 10 in six previous clashes with Wolves including two hat-tricks. What odds of another?