Manchester City will begin their 2025/26 Premier League campaign with a trip to Wolves on Saturday afternoon.
After a disappointing season last time around, Pep Guardiola will be looking to put that right over the coming months, as the legendary coach hopes the several changes made at the Etihad Stadium over the last few weeks will help them challenge both Liverpool and Arsenal for the Premier League title.
The arrival of Tijjani Reijnders has every Man City fan excited, while some are even suggesting that the best addition the Manchester club has made all summer is Pep Lijnders, as the former Liverpool coach has now joined Guardiola’s staff.
Saturday against Wolves will give Man City fans the first real idea of their manager’s plans for the upcoming season, and here is how Manchester City News think Guardiola will line up at Molineux.
Pep Guardiola on the bench during Palermo v Manchester City.
Photo by Gabriele Maricchiolo/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Manchester City team news ahead of Wolves
Not everything has gone to plan for Man City ahead of their Premier League opener as Guardiola will not be able to start Rodri for the Manchester club’s first match of the season after the Spaniard picked up an injury at the FIFA Club World Cup.
In addition to the midfielder, Mateo Kovacic is not available for selection after undergoing surgery during the summer and will not return to action until September at the earliest.
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There were also doubts over the fitness of Phil Foden and Josko Gvardiol, who missed Man City’s friendly with Palermo last weekend with minor issues, and Guardiola confirmed during his press conference on Friday that the Croatian star will not be travelling to Molineux.
The biggest news on Friday related to Savinho and Ederson. The Brazilian duo have also been ruled out of the Wolves clash with unknown injuries, and Man City fans will be suspicious about this update, as there is doubt around their futures at the Manchester club.
Pep Guardiola is ready to start four of his new Man City signings
There has been a lot of talk around the goalkeeper position at Man City this week, as Ederson has been linked with a move to Galatasaray and as a result of the Brazilian being ruled out of the Wolves clash, new signing James Trafford will start between the sticks for Guardiola.
Rico Lewis impressed against Palermo, and the defender will line up at right-back, with new signing Rayan Ait-Nouri operating on the opposite flank. The former Wolves man could help Man City in the build-up to their trip to Molineux as he knows Vitor Pereira’s team very well.
With doubts over the fitness of Gvardiol, Ruben Dias and Abdukodir Khusanov are expected to start at centre-back and will have a tough battle on their hands with Jorgen Strand Larsen.
Man City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak labelled Khusanov as “very talented” at the end of last season, with the upcoming campaign being a big one for the 21-year-old.
Man City predicted 11 vs Wolves.
The predicted 11 of Manchester City to play Wolves in the Premier League.
After impressing throughout the summer, Man City’s new signing Tijjani Reijnders will start in the six with the freedom to get forward, with the Dutch star being partnered by Ilkay Gundogan.
In front of the midfield duo will be Guardiola’s new captain, Bernardo Silva, who could start off the right, with Omar Marmoush causing havoc on the opposite flank, and Rayan Cherki in the 10.
There was a good case for Savinho starting against Wolves, but with Tottenham pursuing the Man City winger, Guardiola was always unlikely to play the Brazilian.
Up front will be Erling Haaland, the man Joe Cole has predicted to be the Premier League’s Golden Boot winner, as the Norwegian looks to bounce back from an underwhelming 24/25 season.
Manchester City predicted starting XI vs Wolves (4-2-3-1): Trafford; Lewis, Dias, Khusanov, Ait-Nouri; Reijnders, Gundogan; Silva, Cherki, Marmoush; Haaland.