Image Source: Alamy Stock Photo
2024/25 English Premier League
Matchday 8
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Manchester City
Molineux Stadium
Wolverhampton, England
Sunday, 20 October 2024
Kick-off is at 15h00
Manchester City will to keen to avoid a repeat of last season when they head to the Black Country for a meeting with Wolves at Molineux on Sunday, October 20.
The Citizens lost 2-1 to the Old Gold in the corresponding fixture on 30 September 2023 to bring an end to their perfect start to the campaign.
Pep Guardiola's side ran out convincing 5-1 victors in their next encounter at the Etihad Stadium on May 4 on their way to clinching a record fourth consecutive
Premier League title.
City are still unbeaten in 2024-25 and a 3-2 comeback victory over Fulham at home on October 5 kept them within a point of league leaders Liverpool in second place.
Arsenal stayed in touch with their title rivals after also coming from behind to beat Southampton 3-1 at the Emirates Stadium to climb up to third spot, level with the defending champions on 17 points.
Wolves have endured a poor start to the season and are rooted to the foot of the table after picking up just one point from their opening seven matches.
A 5-3 defeat to Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium on October 5 extended their losing streak to four games and Gary O'Neil's side have already shipped 21 goals, six more than the second-worst defensive record of Everton (16th) and the Saints (19th).
In team news, injury problems have exacerbated the Old Gold's situation as they are without Yerson Mosquera, Boubacar Traore, Enso Gonzalez and Sasa Kalajdzic (all knee), while Bastien Meupiyou and Hwang Hee-Chan (ankle) are rated doubtful. Rodi (knee) and Oscar Bobb are long-term absentees for the visitors, but Nathan Ake (thigh) and Kevin De Bruyne (groin) could come back into contention.
The travelling support to West London made clear their disappointment with the team's performance against the Bees and O'Neil isn't hiding away, insisting he will shoulder the blame.
"I would expect scrutiny. I understand how the supporters feel fully. I understand their frustrations. I'm absolutely furious but if I was a supporter and my team produced that, then I would be really disappointed as well," he said.
"But now we need to show that we're going to fight and we're going to put it right. At this moment in time, we're seven games in, and we're in the relegation zone, we're bottom of the league, so you would expect the supporters of this club to be disappointed with that - as am I.
"I'm always willing to accept full responsibility for what was produced today. It lands on my shoulders. There are no excuses - we have to do better."
Image copyright: Getty Images
Guardiola paid tribute to Mateo Kovacic after the Croatian midfielder highlighted his importance to the team with a match-winning brace against the Cottagers.
"Maybe it (attention) happens when he scores two goals. He is not a guy who scores normally," the Spaniard said.
"They (Fulham) defended with five at the back after we started really well. In two minutes we had two chances.
"When they defend [with] five there is one man free on the edge of the box and that is Kovacic. [Raul] Jimenez has to defend Kovacic but then there are no transitions.
"The two goals today in that position were because they could not defend it. The first goal was brilliant, the second as well.
"We have to exploit more against teams that play five at the back. Kova was really important. Now the opponents know they cannot leave him alone, otherwise he can score a goal."
Head-to-Head (Last Five Premier League Meetings)
Matches - 5
Wolves wins - 1
Man City wins - 4
Draws - 0
Premier League Matchday 8 fixtures:
Saturday, October 19
13h30: Tottenham Hotspur v West Ham United
16h00: Fulham v Aston Villa
16h00: Ipswich Town v Everton
16h00: Manchester United v Brentford
16h00: Newcastle United v Brighton & Hove Albion
16h00: Southampton v Leicester City
18h30: Bournemouth v Arsenal
Sunday, October 20
15h00: Wolverhampton Wanderers v Manchester City
17h30: Liverpool v Chelsea
Monday, October 21
21h00: Nottingham Forest v Crystal Palace
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