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Manchester City vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
On Saturday, Pep Guardiola’s side will be looking to consolidate their lead at the top of the Premier League table following their Champions League defeat to RB Leipzig. Manchester City will host Wolverhampton Wanderers from 13:30. Currently, the Citizens lead the Premier League with 35 points after 15 games, ahead of Liverpool FC (34 points) and Chelsea FC (33 points). After that comes nothing for a long time. West Ham United are currently fourth with 27 points.
The Skyblues’ upcoming opponents, Wolverhampton Wanderers, are in eighth place with 21 points. They came within a whisker of holding Liverpool FC to a draw on the last matchday. Divock Origi scored in the fourth minute of injury time to give the Reds a 1-0 lead. Find out whether we think Wolves can keep the game open for as long against Man City and what other predictions we have for this game in our Man City vs Wolverhampton betting tips.
Man City – Wolverhampton Info
– Date & Time: 11/12/2021, at 13:30.
– Venue: Manchester, Etihad Stadium (up to 55,097 spectators).
– Competition: Premier League, Matchday 16
– TV coverage: SKY
Man City Form & Balance Check
With Chelsea FC losing 3-2 to West Ham United last matchday, Manchester City (3-1 win over Watford FC) took over at the top of the Premier League table and salute the top spot for the first time this season ahead of matchday 16. This is based on five league victories in a row. Among others, the Skyblues won at Old Traffort against Manchester United (0:2) and against the currently fourth-placed Hammers (2:1). During the week, the Citizens lost another game in the Champions League, having already secured a place in the group.
An exciting three-way battle looms
After the Premier League was decided quite early in the last two seasons (Manchester City won the 2020/21 season by 12 points to finish second & Liverpool FC won the 2019/2020 season by 17 points to finish second), an exciting battle for the English championship is brewing again this season. For the first time in many years, even three teams, Manchester City, Liverpool FC and Chelsea FC, seem to be involved this year. In the two direct duels, the Citizens remained unbeaten. They won 1-0 at Chelsea FC on matchday 6 and drew 2-2 with Liverpool FC a week later.
Man City facts & analysis
– won five league games in a row
– scored at least twice in five league games in a row
– conceded at least one goal in five consecutive competitive matches
Wolverhampton form & balance check
Wolverhampton Wanderers are doing well in the Premier League despite three consecutive winless games. With 21 points they are in eighth place. Against the two relegation candidates, Norwich City and FC Burnley, the Wolves played “only” 0-0 each recently. Last weekend’s game against FC Liverpool also came down to a 0-0, before substitute Divock Origi (94′) shocked Wolverhampton late on.
Awesome at the back, foul at the front
Wolverhampton Wanderers’ games this season do not promise to be a goal spectacle. In 15 league games involving Wolves, a total of only 25 goals have been scored. Twelve of these have been scored by the Wolves themselves. That makes them the second worst offensive team in the Premier League. However, they have also conceded only 13 goals, which makes them the fourth best defensive team in the English league. At the moment, Wolverhampton seem to be doing well with this tactic. They are currently separated by ten points from the relegation places and “only” six from the Champions League places.
Wolverhampton facts & analysis
– failed to score in three league games in a row
– only one win in the last five games
– Great at the back, bad at the front: strong defence (13 goals conceded in 15 league games) and weak offence (12 goals)
Predicted line-up – last update on 9 December 2021
Pep Guardiola has his Citizen playing in a classic 4-3-3 system without a true nine. However, it is impossible to predict who will end up in which attacking position. For the encounter with Wolves, we have opted for the above line-up. However, Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus could just as well play from the start.
We expect Wolves with the same line-up as last matchday against Liverpool FC. The defensively interpreted 3-4-3 system becomes a five-man backline when playing against the ball. Against Liverpool FC, they were able to keep it that way until late in stoppage time.
Man City – Wolverhampton direct comparison & stats
The record of the last matches is not as clear-cut as expected. In the last five direct duels there was always a winner. Three times it was Manchester City, twice Wolverhampton Wanderers. The two encounters last season, however, were won by Man City in relatively clear-cut fashion. At Wolverhampton, the Skyblues won 3:1, at home in the second leg 4:1.
– Man City have won five league games in a row
– Man City have scored at least twice in five league games in a row
– Wolverhampton Wanderers have failed to score in three league games in a row.
– Wolverhampton Wanderers have failed to win three away matches in a row (two draws & one defeat)
