Man City v Wolves predictions: Slick City can cement top spot

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Manchester City v Wolves in the Premier League on Saturday.

Where to watch

BT Sport 1, 12.30pm Saturday

Best bet

Man City win to nil
1pt 8-11 Betfair

Team news

Manchester City
Phil Foden and Nathan Ake picked up injuries in midweek while Ferran Torres remains absent. Gabriel Jesus and Aymeric Laporte could be back in contention.

Wolves
Fernando Marcal could be back in the mix but Willy Boly is a doubt and Jonny Otto, Pedro Neto and Yerson Mosquera are sidelined.

Match preview

Wolves registered a famous league double over Manchester City last season but a one-sided affair is on the cards at the Etihad this weekend and the Citizens look set to pocket three points and a ninth Premier League clean sheet of the season.

Adama Traore was the two-goal Wolves hero when they triumphed 2-0 away to City in October 2019, and his pace and power will be key elements to their approach.

There has been a noticeable change to Wolves's style of play with Bruno Lage favouring a more attack-minded style than Nuno Espirto Santo.

But Lage is also a pragmatist and his team sat a lot deeper when losing 1-0 to Liverpool last Saturday.

Lage's approach is likely to be similar against City with the focus on staying in the contest for as long as possible.

Despite losing to Liverpool, Wolves are handily positioned in eighth – just six points outside the top four - but if they are to maintain a presence in the top half, they must start scoring more goals.

Only Norwich have scored fewer than Lage's men and there is still an unhealthy dependence on Mexican Raul Jimenez, who has notched only three goals in 15 appearances.

The front three of Traore, Jimenez and Hwang Hee-Chan look decent but they do not always get the best service and could be starved of the ball by City.

A few questions were asked of City after their 1-0 loss at Tottenham on the opening weekend of the season but they have responded superbly.

Last Saturday's 3-1 win at Watford lifted them to the top of the table for the first time this season and they have a chance to pile on the pressure in the run-up to Christmas with matches at home to Leeds and away to Newcastle.

There was a ruthless edge to City's approach at Watford where they started fast and were ahead within the first four minutes.

All of their goals at Vicarage Road were scored before the second-half introduction of Kevin De Bruyne, who made his first league appearance in four weeks.

City have impressed without De Bruyne but the brilliant Belgian's return makes them even tougher opponents and is excellently timed, given the ankle injury sustained by Phil Foden in midweek.

It is hard to envisage anything but another performance of high tempo and even higher quality, and it should be enough to deliver a sixth successive league victory.

Key stat

Manchester City have won their last five league matches

Inside info

Manchester City

Penalty taker Kevin De Bruyne/Riyad Mahrez
Free-kick wizard Kevin De Bruyne/Riyad Mahrez
Set-piece aerial threat Aymeric Laporte
Card magnet Rodri

Wolves

Penalty taker Raul Jimenez
Free-kick wizardRuben Neves
Set-piece aerial threatMax Kilman
Card magnetRuben Neves

Not got a bet365 account? Sign up today and get up to £100 in bet credits

Up to £100 in Bet Credits for new customers at bet365. Min deposit £5. Bet Credits available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply.

CLAIM OFFER HERE

MORE FREE BETS

Today's top sports betting stories

Follow us on Twitter @racingpostsport