Verdict: Away win
Best odds: 11/25
Bookmaker: Luckster
Wolves and Manchester City kick off their 2025/26 Premier League campaigns at Molineux on Saturday evening in contrasting circumstances.
City, dethroned last term and ending 13 points behind champions Liverpool, will be eager to reassert themselves in the title race. Wolves, meanwhile, endured a tense battle for survival in 2024/25, eventually finishing 16th after a season spent hovering dangerously close to the drop zone.
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolves endured a dismal start to the 2024/25 campaign, collecting just one point from their first eight matches and 15 from their opening 23 under Gary O’Neil, before a remarkable turnaround under Vitor Pereira. The Portuguese coach, once an unfamiliar name, became a cult figure at Molineux thanks to both improved resultsâ€"10 wins from his 22 league gamesâ€"and his affable connection with supporters, even joining them in local pubs after matches.
However, pre-season form has been underwhelming, with Wolves winless in five friendlies (D1 L4), culminating in a 1-0 home defeat to Celta Vigo. Pereira̢۪s side are adapting to life without top scorer Matheus Cunha and new Man City signing Rayan Ait-Nouri, while reinforcements have arrived in the form of Jhon Arias, Fer Lopez, and David Moller Wolfe, with up to three more signings expected.
Wolves’ August record is bleakâ€"just one win in their last 20 league games in the month (D9 L10)â€"and they have lost all four of their recent opening-day fixtures. Historically, City have also dominated the head-to-head, winning nine of the last 10 league meetings since Wolves’ back-to-back victories in 2019.
Team News
Injury rules out Leon Chiwone, Yerson Mosquera, and Fabio Silva, the latter likely to leave before deadline day.
Pereira should stick with a 3-4-3 setup, deploying a back three of Matt Doherty, Emmanuel Agbadou, and Toti Gomes ahead of goalkeeper Jose Sa, whose save rate was the league̢۪s lowest among regular starters last season.
Joao Gomes and Andre are expected to anchor midfield, with Ki-Jana Hoever at right wing-back. Up front, Arias and Lopez could debut in support of striker Jorgen Strand Larsen, who netted 14 league goals last term.
Manchester City
Manchester City have quickly turned the page on a disappointing 2024-25 season, where injuries and dips in form for several key players saw them finish third in the Premier League and end an eight-year streak of winning at least one major trophy. Their summer began with a setback, exiting the FIFA Club World Cup at the last-16 stage, but the early elimination allowed Pep Guardiola̢۪s squad a month of rest before returning to training in late July.
City’s pre-season was deliberately light, featuring just two matches: a narrow 1-0 win over Preston North End behind closed doors and a comfortable 3-0 victory against Palermo. Guardiola, entering his 10th year at the helm, has overseen notable squad changes, with Kevin De Bruyne, Kyle Walker, and Jack Grealish departing. New arrivals include Tijjani Reijndersâ€"who scored twice against Palermoâ€"playmaker Rayan Cherki, and goalkeeper James Trafford, all signed under new director of football Hugo Viana.
The Citizens traditionally start strongly on the road, having won seven of their last eight opening-day away fixtures, scoring 19 and conceding only twice.
Team News
However, City will be without Mateo Kovacic and Kalvin Phillips (both recovering from Achilles surgery) and likely Rodri, still sidelined with a major injury. Phil Foden, Josko Gvardiol, and Claudio Echeverri face late fitness checks.
Former Wolves pair Rayan Ait-Nouri and Matheus Nunes could operate as full-backs, while Reijnders pushes for a debut alongside captain Bernardo Silva, Ilkay Gundogan, or Nico Gonzalez.
Tottenham target Savinho is uncertain to feature, but Erling Haalandâ€"who boasts eight goals in five games against Wolvesâ€"is expected to spearhead the attack.
Conclusion
Man City edged both league meetings with Wolves last season by a single goal, and another tight encounter could be on the cards in this weekend̢۪s opener.
Even so, Guardiola’s side remain clear favourites, boasting the attacking depth and firepower to break down a Wolves team that shipped 69 goals last term â€" the fourth-worst defensive record in the Premier League.
Verdict: Away win
Best odds: 11/25
Bookmaker: Luckster