Manchester City vs Wolves

The Etihad Stadium hosts a high-stakes clash today, Saturday, January 24, 2026, as Manchester City looks to arrest a mid-season slump against a revitalized, bottom-of-the-table Wolverhampton Wanderers. Kick-off is set for 15:00 GMT (10:00 ET).

This is a "must-win" for the defending champions. Manchester City sits in 2nd place (43 points), but a recent four-game winless run in the league has allowed Arsenal to open up a daunting seven-point lead at the top. Conversely, Wolves are in 20th place (8 points), yet they arrive in Manchester as one of the form teams of 2026, having gone unbeaten in their last five matches across all competitions.

Match Information

Manchester City: The Champions in Crisis

Pep Guardiola has rarely faced a week as bruising as the one just passed. Following a 2–0 defeat in the Manchester Derby, City suffered a shock 3–1 away loss to Norwegian side Bodø/Glimt in the Champions League. Guardiola himself admitted "everything is going wrong," particularly as a massive injury crisis has gutted his defensive line.

Team News and Selection:

• Guehi Debut: With John Stones, Ruben Dias, and Josko Gvardiol all sidelined, City moved quickly in the January window to sign Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace for £20m. He is expected to start today.

• Midfield Returns: Bernardo Silva returns after a European suspension, and Antoine Semenyo is available after being ineligible in midweek.

• Haaland's Target: Erling Haaland leads the league with 20 goals and has a historic appetite for Wolves, having scored 10 times against them in his Premier League career.

• Predicted XI (4-1-4-1): Donnarumma; Lewis, Khusanov, Guehi, Aït-Nouri; Rodri; Semenyo, Silva, Foden, Doku; Haaland.

Wolves: The Resilient Underdogs

Rob Edwards has managed to steady the ship at Molineux. While still eight points adrift of safety, Wolves haven't lost a game in 2026. They have developed a stubborn defensive identity, keeping two clean sheets in their last three league games—a massive improvement for a side that previously conceded in 23 straight matches.

Team News and Selection:

• Fitness Update: Jean-Ricner Bellegarde has returned to training but may not be risked yet. Toti remains out, but the squad has no fresh injury concerns.

• Teenage Spark: 18-year-old Mateus Mané has become the focal point of the attack, contributing two goals and an assist since December.

• Away Resilience: Wolves have managed to scrape draws in each of their last two away trips, including a 1–1 result across town against Manchester United.

• Predicted XI (3-5-2): Sá; Bueno, Dawson, Toti; Semedo, Lemina, André, Gomes, Ait-Nouri; Mané, Strand Larsen.

? Premier League Context (Select Standings)

Tactical Analysis and Prediction

On paper, this is City's "get-well" game. They are unbeaten in 30 matches against teams starting the day at the bottom of the table. However, the psychological weight of their recent losses and the lack of chemistry in a makeshift backline featuring debutant Marc Guehi provides a window of opportunity for Wolves.

Expect Wolves to deploy a deep 3-5-2, aiming to frustrate City for the first 60 minutes and then unleash the pace of Mateus Mané on the counter. However, City's desperation and Haaland's clinical record in this specific fixture usually result in a home win, even if it’s less comfortable than in previous years.

Final Score Prediction: Manchester City 2–0 Wolves