Man City vs Wolves LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction today
Follow all the action live from the Etihad
It was the type of game against mid-table opposition at the Etihad that Manchester City typically make light work of and this victory, earned by the 100th Premier League goal of Raheem Sterling’s career, will keep the defending champions at the top of the table this weekend, no matter what happens elsewhere. City were good value for their win, too, improving considerably in the second half.
Yet that improvement and the three points only came once Wolverhampton Wanderers had been reduced to 10 men by one of the most ridiculous, self-inflicted sendings-off you are likely to see this season for Raul Jimenez, while the winning goal only came from a debatable penalty that summed up an inconsistent, at times unauthoritative display by referee Jonathan Moss.
Overall, this was a forgettable affair, and only Jimenez’s bizarre red card warrants committing to memory. At the end of the first half, after already being cautioned for a questionable foul on Rodri, Jimenez refused to move out of the way for the subsequent free-kick then immediately intercepted it, inviting Moss to show him a second yellow and a red.
Wolves’ game plan up to that point had produced a dour, lifeless first half that was nevertheless frustrating City’s attempts to break them down and ultimately working in their favour. Jimenez’s sending off ripped that blueprint up and City proceeded to rip Wolves apart, eventually taking the lead through Sterling and dominating against 10-man opponents in a manner not reflected by the 1-0 scoreline.
Man City vs Wolves: Guardiola on De Bruyne
Manchester City’s playmaker Kevin De Bruyne starts on the bench against Wolves today as he continues his reovery from injury. De Bruyne started against RB Leipzig during the week and Guardiola says he wants to manage the player’s workload. Speaking to BT Sport the City boss said:
He could play, but of course he’s been out for a while and Tuesday we have another game.
“It’s not because it’s personal, next Tuesday there will be other ones.”
Man City vs Wolves: Head-to-head
Manchester City have lost just one of their last nine home games against Wolves in all competitions. Wolves lost both Premier League meetings last season by an aggregate score of 7-2.
This fixture’s average of 3.82 goals per game is the highest of any to have been played at least 60 times in the English leagues.
Man City vs Wolves: Team changes
Pep Guardiola makes eight changes to the Manchester City starting XI that lost to RB Leipzig during the week. Jack Grealish, Ilkay Gundogan and Oleksandr Zinchenko keep their places with Ederson returning in goal. Ruben Dias and Aymeric Laporte form the centre-back partnership with Joao Cancelo expected to slot in at right-back. In midfield Rodri and Bernardo Silva return alongside Gundogan with Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus in the forward line.
Bruno Lage meanwhile makes just one change to the Wolves line-up that lost to Liverpool last time out. Out goes Hwang Hee-chan and in comes Joao Moutinho.
Man City vs Wolves: Line-ups
Man City XI: Ederson, Cancelo, Dias, Laporte, Zinchenko, Gundogan, Rodri, Bernardo Silva, Sterling, Jesus, Grealish
Wolves XI: Sa, Semedo, Kilman, Coady, Saiss, Ait-Nouri, Neves, Dendoncker, Moutinho, Jimenez, Traore
Man City vs Wolves: Guardiola is November’s Manager of the Month
Pep Guardiola was named Premier League Manager of the Month for November after guiding Manchester City to a 100% record over the month.
City cruised to victory in the Manchester derby victory at Old Trafford, comfortably defeated Everton in a 3-0 win and earned a hard-fought 2-1 victory at home to West Ham United. They scored seven goals in three November Premier League matches, conceding only once and also boasting an astonishing average of 71% possession across the month.
Guardiola has now won Manager of the Month an impressive ten times, with this his first since February 2021. Only Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson have claimed the award on more occasions than the Manchester City manager who moves ahead of Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp and alongside West Ham manager David Moyes in the overall standings.
Man City vs Wolves: Phil Foden has persistent injury ‘niggles’, says Pep Guardiola
Pep Guardiola has admitted that Phil Foden has persistent injury “niggles” and that the Manchester City youngster will be dictate whether he is fit enough to play or not.
Foden was substituted at half time of Tuesday’s Champions League defeat away to RB Leipzig after struggling with a pain in his ankle.
The 21-year-old was sidelined for several weeks last month with an ankle injury, while also missed the start of the Premier League season after suffering a foot problem at the summer’s European Championship.
Phil Foden has persistent injury ‘niggles’, says Pep Guardiola
Foden was substituted during half time of City’s 2-1 defeat to RB Leipzig
Man City vs Wolves: Recent results
Manchester City’s seven game unbeaten run was ended last time out when they lost 2-1 to RB Leipzig in the Champions League. However, they have a one-point lead over Liverpool at the top of the Premier League table and haven’t lost a league game since 30th October. A week ago they travelled to Watford and cruised to a 3-1 win away from home courtesy of goals from Raheem Sterling and Bernardo Silva (x2).
Wolves are in very good form having only lost twice in 10 Premier League games. Unfortunately, one of those defeats came last time out when Liverpool travelled to Molineux and Divock Origi scored a 94th minute winner for the Reds. Wolves face another difficult match against Manchester City today but if they can earn three points, they’ll take another step closer to European qualification.
Man City vs Wolves: Early team news
Gabriel Jesus and Aymeric Laporte should be available for Manchester City after sitting out their Champions League match against RB Leipzig with minor injuries, but Phil Foden and Nathan Ake will both be assessed after being substituted for ankle and back problems in that same game.
Wolves are boosted by the fitness of captain Conor Coady who, along with Rayan Ait-Nouri, is fit to start. Fernando Marcal has recovered after testing positive for Covid-19 and Willy Boly is in contention to make his first appearance in seven months.
Man City vs Wolves latest news
Pep Guardiola has urged his players to be careful if socialising over Christmas to prevent a coronavirus outbreak at Manchester City.
The City manager has revealed the champions have cancelled plans for a large staff party this year, but players will not be prevented from arranging their own private gatherings.
Even then, it is not something he will be encouraging and he trusts that if groups do meet, appropriate caution will be exercised.
Guardiola, who lost his mother to Covid-19 last year, said: “The club spoke with them and they know that they have to be careful and know not to go to gatherings and be at home as much as possible – or when you go out be careful, social distance, wear a mask and come back.
“As much as you protect mentally and feel that the you are out (of it), you can get Covid and (you must) live with that feeling you can get Covid.
“The club, every winter time or Christmas time, organises a party for all the workers, all the people here, and we cancelled it. We cannot do it.
“But (if) everyone at home, when they’re with a family and kids, organise a party – I think they’re going to do it, but just be careful.”
Pep Guardiola urges Christmas caution at Manchester City amid Covid-19 threat
The Premier League champions have cancelled plans for a large staff party this year.
Man City vs Wolves latest news
Wolves boss Bruno Lage is delighted to be back working with Raul Jimenez and says the Mexican striker is good enough to play for a top team like today’s opponents - not that he wants them to take up his tip and come shopping.
“Sometimes, ‘the best’ is the question of opportunity,” he explained in his press conference.
“Look, I don’t want to say that [and] after, Pep [Guardiola, Man City manager] comes with his money and buys Raul!
“But imagine Raul playing for Man City – I can imagine that, because he knows that game, he knows how to play inside, he knows how to play in the box, he runs a lot when you are defending.
“I don’t want to give him ideas – I will go after him to sign 10 more years for Wolves!
“For me, he can play in any team, and I’m very happy to have him – I was unhappy because we didn’t have the money, because we sold him from Benfica, but now I’m very happy to have him in the same team.”
Jimenez has three league goals this season but has his work cut out today against a side who have conceded only nine in 15 games.
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