Predicted Starting Line-Up: Manchester City vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (Premier League) | OneFootball

Manchester City return to league action as they welcome Wolves to the Etihad Stadium in another huge game in the race for UEFA Champions League football next campaign.

On the weekend, Pep Guardiola’s side earned an invaluable victory in the context of their season as goals from Rico Lewis and Josko Gvardiol dispatched Nottingham Forest to secure a place in the FA Cup Final – the last piece of silverware available in a difficult season.

Despite the fact that in their last league fixture Matheus Nunes’ winner at the death put City firmly in the driving seat in the race for the top-five in the division, it is essential Pep Guardiola and his players do not become complacent with the job far from done.

At the weekend, Manchester City’s injury burdens were lightened slightly as they welcomed back Ederson into their matchday squad for the visit to Wembley following his latest groin injury sustained last month.

Furthermore, the long-awaited return of City’s star men Rodri and Erling Haaland is edging closer as both were pictured back in first-team training. It is highly unlikely either make a return to the squad for Friday night’s clash with Wolves.

Also absent are Nathan Aké and John Stones with their respective longer-term injury woes as well as Oscar Bobb, who has unfortunately been sidelined through a reportedly minor hamstring injury.

Ahead of Manchester City’s vital clash against Wolves, here is how we predict Pep Guardiola will line up his team at the Etihad Stadium on Friday night!

Predicted XI

Although Stefan Ortega Moreno has performed well in the absence of Manchester City’s number 31, given his inclusion in the matchday squad last weekend, Pep Guardiola is likely to revert back to his first-choice goalkeeper and give Ederson the green light from the start.

In defence, given injuries to other senior central defenders, Pep Guardiola seems to be relatively settled with his back-four in recent weeks, as they have all put in exemplary performances as the campaign reaches crunch time in these huge final few matches.

The hero of Manchester City’s last league match against Aston Villa in Matheus Nunes is likely to maintain his spot at right back despite an excellent showing from Rico Lewis last time out, albeit from attacking midfield.

Moving centrally and the Portuguese international will likely be accompanied by the ever-imperious of late partnership, Rúben Dias and Josko Gvardiol with the Croatian continuing to be shifted away from full-back to the fine form of another teammate.

That leads us on to our fourth and final prediction for the defensive line as we predict the Manchester City boss to go with an unchanged back-four completed by the budding Academy starlet Nico O’Reilly at left-back.

In contrast, we predict a different midfield to the one that started the FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest at Wembley Stadium and the surprising addition of Rico Lewis in the attacking midfield role.

We think it could be the return of Pep Guardiola’s preferred double pivot with İlkay Gündoğan and Nico in the engine room, providing experience, control and passing range of the German in tandem with the youthful athleticism of the Spaniard.

Moving into attack and on the left flank, Phil Foden may return to the starting line-up after just two starts in the last six games, as the Englishman’s technical ability and versatility may be the key to unlocking the opposition defence.

Savinho will more than likely then occupy the right flank as Foden’s winger compatriot, offering a completely different skill set of raw pace and dynamism – a nightmare pairing for the visitors’ full-backs.

In the crucial number 10 role for Manchester City against Vitor Pereira’s side, Kevin De Bruyne will likely return to the starting line-up and offer his unrivalled creativity in the final third for the Blues.

Finally, in the expected continued absence of Erling Haaland, the ever-threatening Omar Marmoush will lead the line for Manchester City and no doubt cause chaos with his dangerous runs in behind.

Starting XI: Ederson; Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly; Nico, Gündoğan; Savinho, Foden, De Bruyne; Marmoush.

Substitutes: Ortega Moreno, Lewis, Akanji, Khusanov, Bernardo, McAtee, Kovačić, Grealish, Doku.