English Premier
2026-01-24 - Manchester City vs Wolves
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English Premier League
Saturday 24th January 2025 - Kick Off 3pm
Manchester City
It has been a miserable week for Pep Guardiola and his Manchester City team after another disappointing away performance in the Champions League days after losing the derby at Old Trafford. Injuries have been causing a real headache for the manager, but Guardiola will also be hugely frustrated with the lack of energy and intensity that has been produced by his team.
The results last weekend means Manchester City have slipped to 7 points behind leaders Arsenal in the Premier League standings, but they do play before The Gunners yet again. They do have an 8-2-1 record at the Etihad Stadium in the top flight and Manchester City need to produce a positive result to try and turn recent momentum.
Manchester City have not won any of the last 4 Premier League games, while they have lost consecutive matches in all competitions at Manchester United and Bodo/Glimt. Both results were played away from the Etihad Stadium and Manchester City return home this weekend where they are unbeaten in 6 games in all competitions. However, the last 2 Premier League games here have both ended in draws against Chelsea and Brighton in the same 1-1 scoreline.
Marc Guehi is expected to make his debut, while Antoine Semenyo should be restored to the starting eleven after missing the Champions League game through ineligibility. Matheus Nunes has been dealing with an illness and is a doubt, while Nico Gonzalez and Savinho are also doubtful.
Wolves
There won't be any interest in any highlights from the Wolves goalless draw against Newcastle United last Sunday, but Rob Edwards will be pleased for another point to add to the total for the campaign. The manager will also be encouraged by the upturn in positive results produced by Wolves, although avoiding the drop remains a long shot.
The side remain bottom of the Premier League table and 14 points from safety after the latest weekend of results in the top flight, while Wolves are now 3 points away from joining Derby County's record low tally. They take a 0-3-8 record to the North West and Wolves have scored 5 goals and conceded 18 in those matches.
Wolves are unbeaten in 5 games in all competitions and they have produced a couple of wins in that run to build up some confidence. After losing 6 away games in succession, Wolves have drawn consecutive away Premier League games by the same 1-1 scoreline at Manchester United and Everton.
Tawanda Chirewa is hoping to be able to join the squad this weekend.
Head to Head
Manchester City were comfortable 0-4 winners at Molineux back in August.
Manchester City have won 5 straight at the Etihad Stadium against this opponent.
Prediction
Despite the money that has been spent in a second January transfer window in succession, Manchester City have struggled to find their form since the turn of the calendar year.
It has been a really tough week for the staff and the players after the poor effort at Old Trafford was followed by a very disappointing 3-1 loss in the Artic Circle on Tuesday. That is a result that may make it difficult for Manchester City to earn a top eight finish in the Champions League, and thus avoid another Play Off experience, and the squad have looked like they are struggling to find the intensity that is needed.
While Pep Guardiola would love for his players to have some rest, Manchester City have to continue working through a very busy schedule.
Marc Guehi will be available to make his debut this weekend and that could be a big boost for Manchester City who have been lacking experience at centre half with the likes of John Stones, Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol missing.
The England international will need some time to adjust, but will offer a stronger presence for Manchester City and that can help.
However, they will also need to show a bit more guile and composure in the final third- Erling Haaland has scored once in the last eight games, while others have not been able to step up as the manager would have hoped. Omar Marmoush is back to offer another option, and Manchester City have also been stronger at home over the last month compared with some of their recent away performances.
It also helps that Manchester City are hosting a Wolves team that have been improved in recent weeks, but still lacking the quality needed at this level.
Rob Edwards has made his team a little tougher to break down and Wolves have found a route to goal even when facing some of the better teams in the Division. They have scored at Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United over the last month and Wolves will certainly feel they can score at the Etihad Stadium, although containing Manchester City is going to be a huge challenge.
The home team have been creating chances at home and they should be able to do the same against Wolves.
We have to expect the visiting team to cause problems on the counter, as others have done against Manchester City, but this has been a good match up for Pep Guardiola's team. They have already crushed Wolves at Molinuex, while Manchester City have won 5 in a row at home against this opponent.
The majority of those wins have been in relatively comfortable fashion and the expectation is that the attackers can produce a bit more than they have in the last couple of games. As much as you have to respect the improvements made by Wolves, Rob Edwards' team may just come up short over the ninety minutes and the home team are expected to win by a couple of goals.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Manchester City 3-1 Wolves
