Manchester City Vs Wolves
Manchester City Vs Wolves Saturday, 11 December 2021 – 12:30 (GMT)
English Premier League
Pick: Under 3.5 Goals
Odds: 3/5
Bookmaker: Betway
(All betting odds correct at time of writing: 9 December 2021)
Preview: It is 20 defeats from the last 23 matches for Wolves when facing reigning top-flight champions. An ominous record as they prepared to take on Pep Guardiola’s Premier League leaders, Man City, at Etihad Stadium in the weekend’s early kick-off.
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Table of Contents
Manchester City – League leaders fresh and raring to go?
With the distraction of playing in Europe cast to one side until February, the race to be Christmas number one is now the latest fixation. Manchester City are in the driving seat as it stands following last Saturday’s dominant 3-1 victory away at Watford. A fifth straight win in the league, the Citizens were denied an eighth win in a row in all competitions when RB Leipzig turned them over 2-1 in Germany in midweek.
Pep Guardiola omitted several big hitters from the matchday squad for that final Champions League group game, having already topped the group. Phil Foden, Gabriel Jesus and Bernando Silva, the latter arguably enjoying the form of his career with six goals in his last eight top-flight appearances, were among those left behind in England. So there should be a freshness to this City team when Wolves come to visit.
Man City do tend to enjoy themselves in this fixture though. They have scored at least twice in four of the five most recent league meetings (W3 L2) and lost one of seven held in Manchester (W5 D1) in the Premier League. And while Crystal Palace dispelled any notion that Etihad Stadium is a fortress with their 2-0 victory in October, Guardiola’s imperious charges still represent a formidable challenge there (W5 D1, GF17 GA3).
Wolves – Visitors banking on another resolute showing?
For 94 minutes of last week’s contest with Liverpool, Wolves were diligent in carrying out their defensive duties – and there was much of it to go around, having seen just 33% of the ball and facing 16 shots on their goal. Then, almost in the blink of an eye, all that valiant work was undone when Divock Origi slammed home the Reds’ final effort of the game, leaving Wolves players crestfallen on the Molineux turf.
Although they came the closest yet to becoming the first team this season to prevent the Premier League’s most prolific outfit from scoring, it wasn’t lost on anyone that Wolves offered next to nothing going forward. And not for the first time. That was a fourth league game in five without a goal (W1 D2 L2), going more than five hours since their last – Raul Jimenez’s long-range winner in the 1-0 win over West Ham.
Wolves most reliable route to points at the Etihad would therefore appear to be through their defence, which is currently the third-best in the division (12 conceded in 15 games). Allowing just six in seven Premier League away games so far (W3 D2 L2). Meanwhile, goalkeeper Jose Sa is yet to be beaten more than twice in the English top-flight, a record he will do well to maintain beyond Saturday afternoon.
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Manchester City Vs Wolves Betting Advice
Nine goals were scored across their league meetings in 2020-21, Man City prevailing both times as they racked up seven goals to Wolves’ two. It was a level of dominance that many, bookmakers included, expect them to exhibit once more at the Eithad Stadium this weekend – but Wolves’ newfound resilience could undermine that notion, with only Chelsea and Man City themselves conceding fewer goals this season.
Manchester City Vs Wolves – Key Facts:
- A 2-0 scoreline in October 2019, in a league fixture, remains the only time Wolves have won away to Man City in their previous nine attempts in all competitions (D1 L6).
- Just two teams (Crystal Palace and West Ham) have managed an away goal in the Premier League versus Man City this season. The Citizens have won five of seven PL home games thus far, four of these being ‘TO NIL’.
- It is now more than five hours since Wolves last scored in a league game, failing to do so in four of their past five Premier League encounters (W1 D2 L2).
Although Wolves did nullify Liverpool to an extent last time, their goal did live a charmed life at times. But we can expect a similar set-up from Bruno Lage as he bids to keep the league leaders quiet. City are averaging 2.4 goals per home game this season, although they are now facing a Wolves side which has navigated the first 15 league games without conceding more than twice but scored just once in the last four.
Best Betting Odds – Manchester City Vs Wolves
Manchester City – 1/6 (Coral)
Draw – 13/2 (WilliamHill)
Wolves – 18/1 (Betway)
