Manchester City begin the 2025/26 season with a trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League.
City beat Palermo 3-0 in their only televised pre-season friendly last Saturday thanks to an Erling Haaland strike and a Tijjani Reijnders brace
The Blues have added five new faces and seen six depart on either permanent or temporary deals in a summer of transition so far, with more activity expected in terms of outgoings and incomings.
Here are five things to look out for in the season opener:
Who misses out from the matchday squad?
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JUNE 18: Rico Lewis #82 of Manchester City celebrates Jeremy Doku #11 of Manchester City (not pictured) scores his team’s second goal during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 group G match between Manchester City FC and Wydad AC at Lincoln Financial Field on June 18, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JUNE 18: Rico Lewis #82 of Manchester City celebrates Jeremy Doku #11 of Manchester City (not pictured) scores his team’s second goal during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 group G match between Manchester City FC and Wydad AC at Lincoln Financial Field on June 18, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
FIFA via Getty Images
Josko Gvardiol’s knock, Mateo Kovacic’s long term injury and Savinho’s suspicious injury when he’s heavily linked to an exit helps, but doesn’t solve, the issue surrounding who will make Pep Guardiola’s squad against Wolves.
Currently (if we ignore Stefan Ortega-Moreno and the soon to be departing James McAtee) City have a 27 man squad. Third choice goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli won’t expect to be a part of that number, and three will be missing, but that still leaves three players to be excluded from the squad.
It’ll likely be inexperienced players to miss out, judging by Guardiola’s selection choices last season. Claudio Echeverri, Abdukodir Khusanov, Nico O’Reilly and Rico Lewis could be in line.
But if it’s more experienced players who’ve been linked to moves (i.e. Ilkay Gundogan and Manuel Akanji) it could paint an interesting picture ahead of the rest of the window.
Ederson or Trafford in goal?
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - AUGUST 05: James Trafford of Manchester City during a training session open to the public advertised as the ‘City are Back’ event at Joie Stadium on August 05, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - AUGUST 05: James Trafford of Manchester City during a training session open to the public advertised as the ‘City are Back’ event at Joie Stadium on August 05, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)
Getty Images
Many fans interpreted Pep Guardiola’s press conference when asked about goalkeeper Ederson in different ways.
To me, he seemed to suggest that Ederson would be included with the squad, but his answer was vague and unclear, with some including Fabrizio Romano reporting that he wouldn’t be in the squad.
Manchester Evening News journalist Simon Bajowski says the Brazilian goalkeeper will be involved against Vitor Pereira’s side, but it’s not guaranteed even that he’ll start ahead of new signing James Trafford.
The former Burnley goalkeeper was brought in to challenge Ederson, and if his head isn’t in the right place it seems the perfect chance to let Trafford step into his shoes.
Ait-Nouri facing his former team
ORLANDO, FLORIDA - JUNE 30: Rayan Ait-Nouri #21 of Manchester City FC dribbles forward during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 round of 16 match between Manchester City FC and Al-Hilal at Camping World Stadium on June 30, 2025 in Orlando, United States. (Photo by Eston Parker/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FLORIDA - JUNE 30: Rayan Ait-Nouri #21 of Manchester City FC dribbles forward during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 round of 16 match between Manchester City FC and Al-Hilal at Camping World Stadium on June 30, 2025 in Orlando, United States. (Photo by Eston Parker/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)
ISI Photos via Getty Images
City’s new left back Rayan Ait-Nouri is set to make his Premier League debut against the team he was signed from.
The 24-year-old joined for approximately £35 million in July, and impressed during the FIFA Club World Cup.
Ait-Nouri offers a good attacking threat and will only develop his defensive game under Guardiola, who already seems to love experimenting with the on ball positioning of the Algerian international.
If he replicates the success of the most recent Algerian to play at City - treble winner Riyad Mahrez - then City will have a player who contributes vastly to titles across the next few seasons.
A goal for Haaland
PALERMO, ITALY - AUGUST 09: Erling Haaland of Manchester City celebrates his goal during the pre-season friendly match between Palermo and Mancheter City at Stadio Renzo Barbera on August 09, 2025 in Palermo, Italy. (Photo by Image Photo Agency/Getty Images)
PALERMO, ITALY - AUGUST 09: Erling Haaland of Manchester City celebrates his goal during the pre-season friendly match between Palermo and Mancheter City at Stadio Renzo Barbera on August 09, 2025 in Palermo, Italy. (Photo by Image Photo Agency/Getty Images)
Getty Images
The big Norwegian always starts the season exceptionally well, and I expect him to do the same against Wolves with a goal.
Erling Haaland is still the best striker in the league, and this season with new midfielders behind him I expect him to thrive more than last campaign, where he amassed a “disappointing” tally of 22 league goals in 31 games.
As one of the new official vice captains, he’ll be super eager to get the team back to the level of the last few years and I expect to see the best version of the 25 year old again this season.
A win for City
PALERMO, ITALY - AUGUST 09: Erling Haaland of Manchester City FC celebrates after scoring his team’s opening goal during Pre-Season Friendly match between Palermo FC and Machester City FC at Stadio Renzo Barbera on August 09, 2025 in Palermo, Italy. (Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images)
PALERMO, ITALY - AUGUST 09: Erling Haaland of Manchester City FC celebrates after scoring his team’s opening goal during Pre-Season Friendly match between Palermo FC and Machester City FC at Stadio Renzo Barbera on August 09, 2025 in Palermo, Italy. (Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images)
Getty Images
City have won on the opening day in 13 of their last 14 matches, and I expect them to do the same here.
Pre-season preparation was good, Pep is fired up and the new signings are here. I think it’ll be a good season for City and we’ll see the return of winning football to the Etihad Stadium.