Manchester City are currently preparing to open up their Premier League campaign against Wolves.
Pep Guardiola’s men travel to Molineux on Saturday afternoon to face the Midlands club and will be hoping for a similar result to last season, as a late John Stones goal helped City to all three points.
It is key that the Manchester club make a good start to the 25/26 campaign, as that will banish any doubt left over from last season and keep pundits and fans off the players’ backs.
Preparations for Wolves have not been ideal for Guardiola, and Chris Sutton has named a big problem that Man City will have to deal with throughout the opening phase of the season.
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Chris Sutton believes Man City need to cope without Rodri
Paul Merson has predicted Man City to beat Wolves at the weekend, and Sutton has come to the same conclusion; however, the BBC pundit has his doubts about Guardiola’s side.
While predicting a 2-1 win for the Manchester club, Sutton told the BBC: “It is a worry for Manchester City that Rodri is injured again, but they are going to have to deal with that for the next few weeks.
“We don’t really know how City will line up with their new players either, but they surely can’t be as fragile – or rudderless – as they were without Rodri last season.
“Maybe City will turn up and blow Wolves away, but I think this will be a lot closer than that.”
Rodri will not be fully fit until after the next international break, Guardiola has already stated, after the midfielder picked up an injury at the FIFA Club World Cup.
The Spaniard is available for selection, but will not be able to start games and play 90 minutes, which is enough to impact Man City, as was evident last time around.
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Manchester City’s opening weekend record
Manchester City have a solid opening weekend record throughout the years, with the English giants winning 16 of their 28 opening Premier League games, losing six, and drawing the remaining six. This gives the Citizens a win percentage of 57%.
City have scored 50 times in matchday one fixtures and are averaging 1.79 goals per game ahead of facing Wolves at the weekend. Meanwhile, the Manchester outfit have conceded just 26 goals during these matches.
Man City’s biggest win on the first weekend of a Premier League season came at the London Stadium in 2019, where Guardiola’s men emphatically beat West Ham 5-0.
The legendary coach will be hoping for the same on Saturday against Wolves, as City look to put a marker down for the remainder of the 25/26 campaign.
