Manchester City vs Wolverhampton Wanderers Preview

Manchester City will be desperate to arrest a worrying slide when they welcome Wolverhampton Wanderers to the Etihad Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The hosts have endured a difficult spell, losing their most recent match 3-1 away to Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League. Prior to that defeat, they suffered a 2-0 loss away at Manchester United. Earlier in this sequence, they secured a 2-0 away win at Newcastle and enjoyed a dominant 10-1 home victory over Exeter in the FA Cup, while they drew 1-1 at home against Brighton. Two defeats in their last five matches represents a concerning dip for a side accustomed to winning, and they’ll be eager to rediscover their ruthless edge in front of their own supporters.

Wolverhampton Wanderers arrive in considerably better form, remaining unbeaten across their last five outings. Their most recent match ended in a 0-0 home draw with Newcastle United. Before that, they hammered Shrewsbury 6-1 at home in the FA Cup. Earlier in this run, they drew 1-1 away at Everton, claimed a 3-0 home win over West Ham, and secured a 1-1 draw away at Manchester United. With two wins and three draws from their last five matches, Wolves have built momentum and confidence, showing defensive resilience alongside attacking threat when opportunities arise.

The head-to-head record overwhelmingly favours Manchester City, who have won four of the last five encounters, with Wolves claiming just one victory. Most recently, City thrashed Wolves 4-0 away in August 2025, while they also won 1-0 at home in May 2025. Wolves’ solitary success came with a 2-1 home win in September 2023, though City have otherwise dominated this fixture with comprehensive victories including a 5-1 triumph at home in May 2024.

City’s injury crisis represents a significant concern, with Oscar Bobb, Rúben Dias, Josko Gvardiol, Mateo Kovacic, Savinho, John Stones, and Matheus Nunes all ruled out, while Nico González remains doubtful. This extensive absentee list severely depletes their defensive and midfield resources, forcing tactical adjustments. Wolves are without Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, Tawanda Chirewa, and Toti Gomes, though their injury situation is considerably less severe than their hosts.

Fans worldwide can tune in to witness this clash, with coverage available on Premier Sports ROI 1 in Ireland, DAZN in Canada, Peacock and SiriusXM FC in the United States, and Stan Sport in Australia. The 15:00 GMT kick-off on Saturday ensures prime viewing time across multiple territories, as City look to halt their recent slump and Wolves aim to extend their unbeaten run.

Possible Line-Ups:

Manchester City (4-1-4-1) O’Reilly, Khusanov, Donnarumma, Lewis, Doku, Silva, Rodri, Guehi, Haaland, Foden, Semenyo

Wolverhampton Wanderers (3-5-2) Tchatchoua, Mané, Krejci, Hee-Chan, André, Mosquera, Sá, Arokodare, Gomes, Bueno, Bueno

Injured Players:

Manchester City: Oscar Bobb (Out), Rúben Dias (Out), Josko Gvardiol (Out), Mateo Kovacic (Out), Savinho (Out), John Stones (Out), Matheus Nunes (Out), Nico González (Doubtful)

Wolverhampton Wanderers: Jean-Ricner Bellegarde (Out), Tawanda Chirewa (Out), Toti Gomes (Out)

Manchester City face a severe injury crisis with seven players ruled out and one doubtful, decimating their defensive and midfield options. Wolves will be without three players, though they’re in significantly better shape than their opponents, giving them a potential advantage despite facing the more accomplished side.

Manchester City – Last Five Matches:

Result	Home Team	Score	Away Team	Competition	Date
❌	Bodo/Glimt	3-1	Manchester City	Champions League	Jan 20, 2026
❌	Manchester United	2-0	Manchester City	English Premier League	Jan 17, 2026
✅	Newcastle United	0-2	Manchester City	English Carabao Cup	Jan 13, 2026
✅	Manchester City	10-1	Exeter City	English FA Cup	Jan 10, 2026
🤝	Manchester City	1-1	Brighton & Hove Albion	English Premier League	Jan 7, 2026

Wolverhampton Wanderers – Last Five Matches:

Result	Home Team	Score	Away Team	Competition	Date
🤝	Wolverhampton Wanderers	0-0	Newcastle United	English Premier League	Jan 18, 2026
✅	Wolverhampton Wanderers	6-1	Shrewsbury Town	English FA Cup	Jan 10, 2026
🤝	Everton	1-1	Wolverhampton Wanderers	English Premier League	Jan 7, 2026
✅	Wolverhampton Wanderers	3-0	West Ham United	English Premier League	Jan 3, 2026
🤝	Manchester United	1-1	Wolverhampton Wanderers	English Premier League	Dec 30, 2025

Head-to-Head Record:

Home Team	Score	Away Team	Competition	Date
Wolverhampton Wanderers	0-4	Manchester City	English Premier League	Aug 16, 2025
Manchester City	1-0	Wolverhampton Wanderers	English Premier League	May 2, 2025
Wolverhampton Wanderers	1-2	Manchester City	English Premier League	Oct 20, 2024
Manchester City	5-1	Wolverhampton Wanderers	English Premier League	May 4, 2024
Wolverhampton Wanderers	2-1	Manchester City	English Premier League	Sep 30, 2023

TV Listings / Streaming:

Country	Broadcaster
USA	Peacock
Canada	DAZN Canada
Australia	Stan Sport
Ireland	Premier Sports ROI 1
United Kingdom	Sky Sports
Spain	DAZN Spain
Portugal	DAZN Portugal
Brazil	ESPN Brazil