Manchester City vs Wolverhampton prediction, head-to-head and probable lineups - 24 January 2026
One of the standout fixtures of matchday 23 in the Premier League takes place this Saturday at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, where the local side, Manchester City, host Wolverhampton. Here’s a bet on the outcome of this clash with solid chances of success.
Match preview
Pep Guardiola’s team is going through a rough patch. After racking up eight consecutive wins at the end of 2025, the Citizens have suddenly hit a slump, losing their last two matches - including setbacks against Manchester United and modest Bodø/Glimt in the Champions League. The gap to Arsenal in the league has grown to seven points, and there’s a noticeable lack of confidence in the squad.
Still, there are positives to be found. Despite recent disappointments, City remain a formidable force at the Etihad, especially when facing relegation battlers. Against Wolves, Guardiola’s men have won 10 of their last 11 Premier League encounters, and Erling Haaland especially loves this opponent - he’s scored 10 goals in five matches against the visitors.
Rob Edwards’ side has shown signs of life in the new year, despite being the league’s biggest underdog. After a disastrous opening 22 rounds that yielded just three points, Wolves started 2026 with a four-match unbeaten run, including a rout of West Ham and draws with United and Newcastle.
Nonetheless, the gap from safety at 17th place remains daunting, and the schedule is unforgiving—six of the next nine games are against teams in the top half of the table. The main problem is in attack: just 15 goals all season and 11 matches without scoring. Yet, the young Mateus Mane continues to offer a glimmer of hope, leading the squad in goals and goal involvements since December.
Probable lineups
- Manchester City: Donnarumma, Nunez, Khusanov, Guehi, O’Riley, Gonzalez, Bernardo, Semenyo, Foden, Doku, Haaland
- Wolverhampton: Sa, Mosquera, S. Bueno, Krejci, Tchatchoua, Andre, Mane, J. Gomes, J. Bueno, Hwang, Strand Larsen
Match facts and head-to-head
- Manchester City have won 10 of their last 11 Premier League matches against Wolves, with an aggregate score of 32:8.
- The Citizens have won their last nine home league matches against sides starting the round in the relegation zone, with a combined score of 36:0.
- Erling Haaland has scored more Premier League goals against Wolverhampton than any other team - 10 in total.
Prediction
Manchester City may be in crisis, but their quality and squad depth still far surpass most rivals. Their home streak against teams at the bottom of the table and their dominant history versus Wolves both point to a City win. While the defense remains vulnerable and the visitors have players capable of creating chances, even in a rough patch, Guardiola’s side should take all three points.
