Manchester City are set to face Wolves in the first game of the 2025/2026 Premier League season.
The Sky Blues will be raring to go ahead of the contest, with Pep Guardiola hoping to win the Premier League in the following campaign.
However, City will be aware that Wolves could post a tough test for them, as they only managed to beat them by a one-goal margin in both their meetings last season.
There is a new look to this Manchester City side, as they have signed the likes of Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Cherki and Rayan Ait-Nouri in the summer.
Weeks ahead of the clash, Pep Guardiola could make several changes to the side that beat Fulham the last time they played Premier League football against Wolves.
Juventus v Manchester City - UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD6
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Rayan Cherki could make first Premier League start for Man City vs Wolves
With Guardiola confirming Ederson will stay next season, the Brazilian international seems likely to keep his place in between the sticks in time for Manchester City’s outing against Wolves.
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While Matheus Nunes’ future at Manchester City is uncertain, for the time being, he was Pep Guardiola’s trusted right-back for much of the previous campaign and could start against his former side as well.
Guardiola praised Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol’s partnership at the back and as a result, the pair seem nailed-on to start the new season in tandem as well.
Rayan Ait-Nouri could make his first start in a Manchester City shirt against his former side Wolves as the Algerian can be thrown straight into the deep due to his wealth of experience in the Premier League.
Rayan Ait-Nouri in action for Wolverhampton Wanderers v Brentford
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In midfield, Rodri could also return to the Sky Blues’ starting XI in the league for the first time since suffering his ACL injury against Arsenal last season.
Tijjani Reijnders could start in central midfield, benching Bernardo Silva, who is Manchester City’s new captain after he played as a number eight against Fulham on the final day of the 2024/2025 campaign.
Rayan Cherki might also take Ilkay Gundogan’s place in the side against Wolves, with Pep Guardiola potentially giving the Frenchman his first taste of Premier League football in attacking midfield.
Manchester City's predicted XI vs Wolves in the Premier League
Man City’s predicted starting 11 vs Wolves in the Premier League
As for the front three, Phil Foden could be handed a start on the right flank against Vitor Pereira’s side as he would be aiming to bounce back after enduring a disappointing last season.
Up front, it goes without saying that Erling Haaland seems dead set to start against Wolves, as he would be hoping to keep his flawless record of scoring on opening days of league seasons for the fourth successive campaign.
Omar Marmoush has become one of the first names on the team sheet since signing for City and as a left-sided inside forward, he seems like the Sky Blues’ best bet.
Manchester City predicted XI vs Wolves: Ederson, Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, Ait-Nouri, Rodri, Reijnders, Cherki, Foden, Haaland, Marmoush
Manchester City team news vs Wolves
First things first, with Kevin De Bruyne joining Napoli, he will not be available for selection against Wolves and with Kyle Walker set to depart Manchester City, he too might not be a part of his side’s roster by the time the game comes along.
Mateo Kovacic is currently injured with a “heel bone injury” that could keep him out for a while, which could very well mean he might not be in contention for a place in the squad as well.