Vitor Pereira has a full squad to choose from with no injury concerns.
For Manchester City Josko Gvardiol and Mateo Kovacic are not available for the opening game but Rodri and Phil Foden will travel with the squad. Pep Guardiola confirmed Savinho is injured and will miss “a few weeks” while goalkeeper Ederson is “apparently” injured too.
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
On his team being ready for the start of the season: “We are working a lot to improve the team, to increase the mentality, the identity, to help the new players understand what we need from them. And this is all good spirit. They are working in the level that I like to see. Now it’s time to compete.”
He wants to see Jorgen Strand Larsen “fighting for the team” and “committed with the team” rather than “thinking about himself”. Pereira said he wants to see the striker “enjoying it because this is a short career”.
On Wolves’ concerning pre-season performances: “The results were not the results that we expected, but we created a good spirit. We work a lot.”
However he justified recent results by adding: “I never in the pre-season balance the trainings to go in the games with 100% fresh legs to run.”
When asked about £15m signing Jon Arias: “He was in Fluminense for a long time and now it’s time to play in our way. He needs sometimes to understand everything tactically and what we demand from him.”
He feels a need for more players: “The club is working hard to get the players that that we need. They know that we need more, at least three players. They know the positions, they know the profiles. And I will wait for the the end of the market to see if it’s possible.”
When asked about the use of Ki-Jana Hoever, Pereira said: “I like him. He has the technique that I like. He’s fast, attacking the space, is very calm, good decisions.”
On team spirit: “This is a city with just one club. It means that it is the club of everybody. We feel the connection in the streets. We feel the connections outside, inside the stadium. And this is powerful, because to compete with the best foot against the best clubs in this league, we need to be united.”
On playing Manchester City: “If you look at the players that they have, and they bought this season, fantastic, fantastic team, fantastic manager.”
He added: “But this is not time to look at Manchester City. It’s time to compete. It’s time to go there and to show that we are brave, that we are connected, that we are quality and we can play good football.”
Wolves have lost nine of their last 10 Premier League meetings with Manchester City (W1), although their one victory in this period did come at Molineux early in the season, winning 2-1 in September 2023 under Gary O’Neil.
Across the last five Premier League campaigns, Manchester City have won the joint-most games (4) and scored the most goals (14) of any side when facing Wolves at Molineux (W4 D0 L1 F14 A5).
This will be the ninth consecutive Premier League campaign that Manchester City have started with an away game, while they’ve won seven of the previous eight (L1), scoring 19 goals and only conceding twice across those matches.
Man City have won their opening league game in 13 of the last 14 seasons, with the exception being a 1-0 loss at Tottenham Hotspur in 2021-22.
Having been unbeaten in their opening league match in eight consecutive campaigns between 2013-14 and 2020-21 (W4 D4), Wolves have lost on MD1 in each of the last four seasons.
After a six-game winning run in March and April, Wolves failed to win any of their final four Premier League games of 2024-25 (D1 L3).
Manchester City have lost just one of their last 31 Premier League games in August (W26 D4), going down 1-0 at Spurs in their opening game of the 2021-22 season. They’ve won their last eight August games by an aggregate score of 25-5.
Wolves’ Vítor Pereira has won eight of his 10 MD1 matches in his top-flight managerial career across spells with six different clubs (D1 L1), although his only such opening day defeat came last season, his Al-Shabab side going down 0-1 to Steven Gerrard’s Al-Ettifaq in the Saudi Pro League.
New Man City signing Rayan Aït-Nouri made 135 league appearances for Wolves between 2020 and 2025. He could be the fourth player to make his Premier League debut for Man City against a side he previously played for in the competition, after Danny Granville (v Leeds in 2000), Tommy Wright (v Newcastle in 2000) and Craig Bellamy (v Newcastle in 2009).
No player provided more assists in France’s Ligue 1 last season than new Man City signing Rayan Cherki (11). The Frenchman was also involved in 13 goals in his last 15 league appearances for Lyon (5 goals, 8 assists).
Referee: Jarred Gillett. Assistants: Scott Ledger, Marc Perry. Fourth official: David Webb. VAR: Michael Salisbury. Assistant VAR: Richard West.
DIOGO JOTA TRIBUTE
Wolves to Honour Diogo Jota and Brother André Silva with Special Tribute Before Manchester City Opener
Wolves will pay an emotional tribute to Diogo Jota and his younger brother André Silva before Saturday’s Premier League opener against Manchester City at Molineux. Fans are encouraged to arrive early to join in the remembrance, which will include a tifo in front of the South Bank, gold and black mosaics, Diogo’s favourite song, and a minute’s applause.
The tribute, organised by the Old Gold Pack supporters group, follows last week’s wreath-laying and minute’s silence during the pre-season friendly. Wolves have also released a special commemorative programme and preserved tributes from fans, ensuring Diogo’s legacy remains part of the club.
Match Preview: Wolves v Man City