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

Manchester City commence their 2025/26 Premier League campaign with a tricky away fixture as they take on Wolves at Molineux.

After a disappointing season per typical standards for the club, Manchester City will be looking to right last season’s wrongs, with Vitor Pereira’s side the first battle of many in this long upcoming season.

The Blues ended last campaign with a 0-2 victory over Fulham at Craven Cottage, which secured a final day status of UEFA Champions League football for this season, but it was not the last time we saw Pep Guardiola’s side in action.

With the FIFA Club World Cup this summer, Manchester City had the chance to claim a trophy before the campaign officially ended, but an upset in the Round of 16 against Simone Inzaghi’s Al Hilal killed all hopes.

However, the shining lights of the tournament were the new signings, with Rayan Ait-Nouri, Rayan Cherki and Tijjani Reijnders all impressing in sky blue, with the latter also cropping up with two impressive goals in a friendly last week against City Football Group side Palermo.

James Trafford re-signed for the Blues this summer and made his debut for the club, albeit an unofficial one given the status of the match. The Englishman will be in contention to start on Saturday afternoon.

Ballon D’or winner Rodri made his return to action at the back end of last campaign, but a lack of full match fitness means the Spaniard will likely be subjected to restricted action until after the first international break this season.

Pep Guardiola has also confirmed the Croatian duo of Josko Gvardiol and Mateo Kovacic will be amongst the absentee list for the opening weekend’s affair at Molineux, with the pair unavailable for selection in this one.

With a whole host of new signings to choose from, Pep Guardiola will have a job on his hands selecting the line-up on Saturday. With that being said, here is the side we think will take the field and kickstart Manchester City’s Premier League campaign!

Predicted XI

Amid the ongoing uncertainty surrounding his future at the club, we believe Ederson will take a seat among the substitutes this weekend, with James Trafford earning his first Premier League start for Manchester City.

It is safe to say another hostile atmosphere awaits this weekend, as Matheus Nunes makes a further return to Molineux, and we think the Portuguese international will start this one at right-back.

Ruben Dias is reportedly close to agreeing a new contract with the club, and no doubt his experience will be key for this one, as he partners John Stones at the back in our anticipated selection.

Rayan Ait-Nouri is also set to make a very first return to Wolverhampton following his move to the Etihad Stadium earlier this summer, as he is likely to start at left-back against his old club to complete the Manchester City defence.

In the absence of Rodri at the base of City’s midfield trio, we think Ilkay Gundogan will start as the deepest of the expected three options, although Nico Gonzalez is certainly in contention.

Tijani Reijnders wowed all of us at the FIFA Club World Cup and last week in Italy, and he is set to make his first start in the Premier League, partnering Phil Foden – who will be desperate to get back to his best this season.

Omar Marmoush should be the one to start this one, with Rayan Cherki likely to feature at some point donning the No.10 jersey. The Egyptian forward will likely be in an interchangeable front-four system.

Who else to lead the line for the blues than top-scorer three seasons in a row. Erling Haaland will be the focal point in attack.

To finish off the team, we think it will be Jeremy Doku on the left, as Manchester City look to get off to winning ways in this new Premier League campaign and perhaps mount a challenge towards retaining their crown.

Starting XI: Trafford; Nunes, Dias, Stones, Ait-Nouri; Gundogan, Reijnders, Foden; Marmoush, Haaland, Doku.

Substitutes: Ederson, Lewis, Khusanov, O’Reilly, Rodri, Nico, Bernardo, Cherki, Mukasa.