Verdict: Manchester City win & Under 4.5 goals
Best Odds: 19/20
Bookmaker: Dachbet
Desperately seeking an essential boost on Saturday afternoon, Manchester City will welcome Wolves to the Etihad.
Manchester City
Starting with the hosts, putting in an infamous Champions League performance earlier in the week as they fell to a 3-1 drumming away at Norwegian outfit Bodo/Glimt, Manchester City are in the midst of another public struggle. Watching their Premier League title dreams take a major blow since opening the New Year, it has also been suggested that Pep Guardiola could be eyeing an Etihad exit come the summer. Coming under even more scrutiny last weekend as they fell to a 2-0 Manchester derby defeat at Old Trafford, the former Barcelona boss has seen his squad register just a pair of wins from any of their previous seven appearances across all competitions. However, pencilled in as a landslide contender on Saturday afternoon, it should be noted that Man City have not tasted a single domestic defeat in the blue half of Manchester since the end of August.
Manchester City Team News
Undergoing surgery on a broken leg that he sustained against Chelsea on January 4th, Croatian international Josko Gvardiol faces a lengthy stint on the sidelines. Likewise, dealing with what has become a stacked injury list, Man City will be unable to call upon the likes of Mateo Kocacic, Oscar Bobb, Ruben Fias and former Porto star Nico Gonzalez.
Completing a permanent switch from Crystal Palace last week, England international Marc Guehi should make his Etihad debut here. Despite remarkably bagging just a single strike in any of his previous seven appearances across all competitions, Erling Haaland will spearhead City’s charge.
Wolves
As for the visitors, while Wolves might have shown real signs of life over the past few weeks, the Old Gold have one-foot firmly in the Championship. Despite getting the New Year underway with a thumping 3-0 victory at home against West Ham, that is the only Premier League win that Rob Edwards’ men have collected from any of their 22 top-flight appearances. However, snatching a gritty 0-0 stalemate at home against Newcastle last weekend, the former Middlesbrough boss should take some solace from his side’s recent defensive steel. In fact, Wolves have shipped just a single strike in almost 350 minutes of Premier League action. Opening Saturday’s trip to Manchester sat 14 points adrift of safety, Edwards’ side will have little pressure on their shoulders here.
Wolves Team News
Both dealing with respective hamstring injuries, Wolves will travel to Manchester without the duo of Jean-Ricner Bellegarde and Portuguese defence Toti. However, recently return from a long-term muscle issue, former Braga youngster Rodrigo Gomes could make just a second Premier League appearance since the middle of October.
Receiving a string of public admirers since opening up the New Year, 18-year-old Matheus Mane will feature in the middle of the park. Despite continued links over a move away from the Midlands this month, Norwegian striker Jurgen Strand Larsen could be handed a full recall.
Manchester City vs Wolves Key Factors to Consider
- When Manchester City and Wolves met for their reverse Premier League showdown back on August 16th, the Sky Blues stormed their way to a 4-0 victory in the Midlands.
- City have won all of their last four meetings against Wolves by an aggregate score of 12-2.
- The Sky Blues have not suffered a single Premier League defeat at the Etihad since the end of August.
- Despite opening the New Year with a 3-0 victory at home against West Ham, that is the only win that Wolves have collected from their 22 Premier League appearances this season.
- Norwegian superstar Erling Haaland has recorded just a single strike in his last seven appearances across all competitions.
Conclusion
Hit with an infamous 3-1 Champions League defeat away at Bodo/Glimt on Tuesday night, Manchester City will have a tremendous amount of expectations on their shoulders here. Showing some rather glaring issues since opening the New Year, Guardiola’s men have registered just a pair of wins from any of their previous seven appearances across all competitions. While we are backing the Sky Blues to claim an immediate response at the Etihad, a resurgent Wolves could cause some headaches.
Verdict: Manchester City win & Under 4.5 goals
Best Odds: 19/20
Bookmaker: Dachbet
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