Will Manchester City’s winning streak continue, or can Wolverhampton Wanderers really shake up the title race by pulling off a massive shock?
Manchester City vs Wolverhampton Wanderers match preview
If Manchester City are to become the first-ever English top-flight club to win four successive league titles, every game continues to be must win, so will their winning streak continue?
Last Sunday, despite creating fewer chances, the Sky Blues ultimately prove to be too strong for Nottingham Forest, with Joško Gvardiol and then Erling Braut Håland on target in a 2-0 victory at the City Ground.
That made it five successive Premier League victories for Pep Guardiola’s team, who are now unbeaten in 19 league matches, dating back to 6 December.
As a result, the Citizens remain a point behind Arsenal but with a game in hand, so their fate remains in their own hands, but must win their four remaining fixtures to be sure of clinching a fourth successive title.
After this, Man City’s fixtures are Fulham (A), Tottenham (A) and West Ham (H), with very few expecting their slip-up, if there is to be one, to come here.
Well, write Wolverhampton Wanderers off at your peril, not least because they won the reverse fixture all the way back in September, with Hwang Hee-chan the match-winner at Molineux.
Last weekend, Gary O’Neil’s team ended their six-match winless streak by beating Luton Town 2-1 at home, with Hwang and then Toti on target in that one.
So, despite the fact Julen Lopetegui walked away from the club less than a week before the start of the season, O’Neil has come in and done a remarkable job, with Wolves currently 11th, only finishing higher than that on three occasions since 1980.
To date, only four managers have completed a league-double over any Pep Guardiola side. They are:
Antonio Conte (Chelsea, 16/17), Nuno Espírito Santo (Wolves, 19/20), Ole Gunnar Solskjær (Man United 19/20) and Thomas Frank (Brentford, 22/23).
So, can Gary O’Neil’s Wolves join that very select group, claiming not only an historic result for them but, potentially, for Arsenal too?
Manchester City vs Wolverhampton Wanderers Tips
We fully expect Manchester City to cruise to victory in this one, given that they’ve won seven of their last eight home league games against Wolves, including each of the last three, scoring eight goals and conceding only one since the Wanderers’ sole victory at the Etihad this century, a 2-0 win in 2019.
Excluding penalty shootouts, Man City are now unbeaten in 42 home games, winning 35 of them, their most-recent defeat coming 535 days ago.
In five of their last seven Premier League victories, the Sky Blues have been in front at half time and gone onto win comfortably.
Meanwhile, Wolves are winless in four away games, failing to score in recent defeats at Villa Park and St James’ Park.
Manchester City half time/full time and both teams to score NO
Manchester City vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
We’re backing Manchester City’s two main men for goals to both add to their respective tallies here.
Erling Braut Håland came off the bench in Nottingham before scoring just eight minutes later, his third successive Premier League appearance in which he’s found the target.
That was the Norwegian’s 32nd goal of the campaign so, having bagged a hat-trick the last time Wolves visited the Etihad, we’re forecasting that this tally will rise.
Phil Foden meantime sat out last weekend’s win due to illness, but will be available this time.
He has scored 24 times this season, bagging five in his last two league outings, so we’re expecting Foden to add to his two career goals against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Erling Braut Haaland and Phil Foden to both score anytime
Manchester City vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
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