Manchester City go in search of a 21st straight victory tomorrow night, with Wolverhampton Wanderers the opponents at the Etihad Stadium.
Pep Guardiola’s machine just keeps on rolling, but recent history suggests this game could be a bit of a banana skin.
Wolves won both matches between the two sides last season, and one man played a key role in both.
Adama Traore hasn’t quite kicked on this term as expected following a productive 2019/20, but he remains a considerable threat.
City will have the lion’s share of possession tomorrow night and Wolves will likely sit in with their back five, and the plan will probably be to release Traore on the counter where possible.
Given this possibility, it could be that Kyle Walker will keep his place in the starting XI.
The England international has found himself behind Joao Cancelo in the pecking order in recent weeks, but he did return against West Ham United at the weekend in order for the Portuguese star to get a rest.
It just makes sense for Guardiola to keep Walker in.
Walker is best counter for Traore
£110,000-a-week star Walker (Spotrac) surely has to play at right-back tomorrow night, especially with Traore having swapped wings with Pedro Neto in recent games.
The Spaniard now operates from the left so he can be a bit more predictable.
Of course, there’s always a chance Nuno could move him back to the right, but Traore has been much better since his switch.
Cancelo could always play left-back, as he’s shown he can, but Walker surely needs to be on the field to stop any potential breakaways from the electric Traore.
