Manchester City vs Wolves team news: Confirmed line-ups as Haaland benched

Manchester City will look to put successive defeats to Manchester United and Bodo/Glimt when they host bottom-side Wolves in the Premier League.

If their 2-0 defeat in the Manchester derby at Old Trafford was disappointing, then their shock loss in the Arctic Circle will have set alarm bells ringing and they are still searching for their first Premier League win of 2026 as they begin to lose touch with Arsenal in the title race.

Wolves are actually enjoying their best run of the season and are yet to taste defeat this year after three draws and a win in the Premier League as well in their last four as well a 6-1 victory over Shrewsbury in the FA Cup. Still, a trip to the Etihad is still a daunting task for Rob Edward’s men, who are still 14 points from safety.

Check out the confirmed line-ups for Manchester City and Wolves below, while you can also see our in-depth preview for the 3pm clash.

Manchester City confirmed line-up

Erling Haaland drops to the bench for City, with Omar Marmoush leading the line after returning from the Africa Cup of Nations. Phil Foden is another surprise omission, his place taken by Antoine Semenyo, who was ineligible for the defeat to Bodo.

Pep Guardiola makes five changes in total from City’s Champions League setback.

Marc Guehi makes his City debut following his move from Crystal Palace, replacing Max Alleyne at centre-back. Matheus Nunes is back from illness and slots in at right-back in place of Rico Lewis, while Nico O’Reilly drops to left-back, with Bernardo Silva replacing Rayan Ait-Nouri.

Man City XI: Donnarumma, Nunes, Khusanov, Guehi, O’Reilly, Reijnders, Rodri, Semenyo, Cherki, Silva, Marmoush.

Subs: Trafford, Ake, Haaland, Doku, Ait-Nouri, Foden, Mukasa, Alleyne, Lewis

Wolves confirmed line-up

Wolves make just one change from their 0-0 draw with Newcastle last time out.

It comes in attack, where Jhon Arias replaces Tolu Arokodare.

Wolves XI: Sa, Tchatchoua, Mosquera, S Bueno, Krejci, H Bueno, Gomes, Andre, Mane, Arias, Hwang.

Subs: Johnstone, Doherty, Wolfe, Stand Larsen, Agbadou, Arokodare, Lima, Gomes, Lopez

How to watch Manchester City vs Wolves

Manchester City vs Wolves is not available to watch in the UK due to the 3pm blackout rule. US residents can watch the action on USA Network.

Key stats for Manchester City vs Wolves

• Manchester City have won 10 of their last 11 Premier League games against Wolves, with the exception being a 2-1 loss at Molineux in September 2023.
• Wolves have won just one of their 11 Premier League away games against Manchester City (D1 L9), losing the last five in a row since a 2-0 victory in October 2019.
• Man City are unbeaten in their last 30 Premier League games against sides starting the day bottom of the table (W24 D6), since losing three in a row in November/December 2008 (vs Bolton, Spurs, West Brom). At home, they’ve won their last nine against bottom placed sides by an aggregate score of 36-0.
• Though they’ve lost just one of their last 10 Premier League games (W6 D3), Manchester City are winless in their last four (D3 L1). They last went longer without a win between October/November 2009 (7 consecutive draws under Mark Hughes).
• Wolves are unbeaten in their last four Premier League games (W1 D3), earning twice as many points (6) in this run as they had in their previous 22 matches (W0 D3 L19).