Follow live coverage as Manchester City face Wolverhampton Wanderers today in the Premier League. Another top-flight season will be covered in full right here with The Independent, as reigning champions Manchester City look to make it an unprecedented five titles in a row come the end of 2024/25.
The likes of Arsenal and Liverpool will be chasing Pep Guardiola's side, but just as fascinating will be the race for Champions League places, with more teams than ever before having designs on top-four finishes. Chelsea remain big-spending, Manchester United's latest rebuild continues and both Tottenham and Newcastle will expect improvements this year - yet it was Aston Villa who snared fourth last term.
Meanwhile, it's Southampton, Leicester City and Ipswich Town who made it back to the elite after promotion last year and each will have hope they can make it more than a one-year stay. Follow the latest live action from the Premier League below:
Manchester City FC 1 - 0 Wolverhampton Wanderers FC
Manchester City vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
21:24Ait-Nouri is continuing to be a presence down that left side for Wolves and his latest run sees him evade a few challenges before De Bruyne gets back to clear it away for a corner. City are then able to deal with the delivery.
Manchester City vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
21:24Substitution Jean-Ricner Bellegarde Rodrigo Martins Gomes
Manchester City vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
21:23Substitution Matthew James Doherty Pablo Sarabia García
Manchester City vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
21:22De Bruyne wins a corner for the home side but Silva's lofted delivery is easily claimed by Sa ahead of Dias. Neither side have been much of a threat from set-pieces tonight.
Manchester City vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
21:2060 minutes on the clock and Wolves are just starting to cause a few problems once more for the City backline. Cunha is finding some positions in between the lines and beginning to receive the ball from deep for the first time in the half. They are still very much in this match.
Manchester City vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
21:17O'Reilly lost the ball moments before the Cunha effort on goal, and its subsequently substituted in place of Akanji.
Manchester City vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
21:17OFF THE POST! Wolves haven't had an effort at goal for a while but they nearly equalise out of the blue! Cunha receives the ball for the first time in a while and decides to let fly from outside the area but his shot cannons off the woodwork!
Manchester City vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
21:15Wolves advance forward into City's half for the first time this half with Ait-Nouri finding a bit of space to deliver a cross from the left but Nunes makes a fine block to deflect it out for a throw to the visitors.
Manchester City vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
21:13No player has been involved in more Premier League goals against Wolves than De Bruyne (six goals, five assists - level with Mohamed Salah). His goal remains the difference between the two sides.
Manchester City vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
21:11City keep the ball again, with Marmoush producing a fine nutmeg to get in front of Toti on the far touchline before a tangle of legs between the pair. The Egyptian stays down and needs treatment from the medical staff.
Manchester City vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
21:09City have dominated possession during the first few minutes of the second half but any momentum is stalled as Nunes overhits a pass intended for De Bruyne and the ball trickles out for a goal-kick to Wolves.
Manchester City vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
21:07The task for Wolves is a pretty huge one as City have lost just one of their last 49 home PL games when ahead at the break
Manchester City vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
21:04Wolves get us under way for the second half. No changes from either side.
Manchester City vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
20:54Despite not being at their best, the live win probability has Man City's chances of holding onto their lead at a commanding 84.1%, with the possibility of a draw at 12.4% and the prospect of a Wolves comeback and victory at just 3.6%. Second half is coming right up.
Manchester City vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
20:51Manchester City lead Wolves 1-0 at half-time of their Premier League match. Despite the score, the visitors had two truly wonderful chances to take the lead but Bellegarde fluffed his lines after overhitting a pass to Munesi when through on goal while Ait-Nouri struck the post with a shot and then saw his rebounded effort saved on the line from Gvardiol. City hadn't threatened for much of the half but ended the first 45 strongly and got their goal through De Bruyne after excellent work from Silva and then Doku. City have created 0.52 xG in comparison to 0.40 for Wolves.
Manchester City vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
20:49HALF-TIME: MANCHESTER CITY 1-0 WOLVES
Manchester City vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
20:48There will be one minute of added time for the second half.
Manchester City vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
20:48All four of De Bruyne's Premier League goals this season have come at home, while all four of his goals last season were scored away from home. He's been one of his side's best performers in this one so far.
Manchester City vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
20:46Wolves are now struggling to even move up the pitch now as they struggle to deal with the pressing from City, which starts with the likes of Marmoush and Doku from the front. CIty don't want the half to end.
Manchester City vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
20:45City, buoyed by the goal, are keeping hold of the ball with purpose and keeping Wolves at bay. Pep Guardiola will be delighted with his side being in front after a half that has been lacklustre and lacking in quality at times.
Manchester City vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
20:42City have lost just one match in the league this season after scoring first at the Etihad. Unfortunately, that occured against their city-rivals Manchester United in December last year.
Manchester City vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
20:41As it stands, City would move into third place ahead of Newcastle on 64 points. There's still a long way to go in this one and Wolves have already shown how much of a threat they can be in a few attacking sequences tonight.
Manchester City vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
20:37Assist Jérémy Baffour Doku
Manchester City vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
20:35City threaten seriously for the first time today as Doku isolates Semedo before threading through a pass for the advancing O'Reilly but his deflected shot flies over the crossbar! Wolves are able to deal with the set-piece moments later.
Manchester City vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
20:33Wolves have won each of their last four Premier League away games. They last won more consecutive league games on the road in October 2013 when they were in League One, while they last did so in the top-flight in April 1980.
Manchester City vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
20:33Nearly 30 minutes have passed and Wolves have created two glorious opportunities to take the lead. City have lacked incision and guile going forward and haven't produced anything of note as of yet.
Manchester City vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
20:31ANOTHER BIG CHANCE! The visitors probe again as Ait-Nouri and Cunha combine before the latter backheels the ball into the path of the wing-back but he strikes an effort against the far post! A shot comes in on the rebound but Gvardiol then manages to save it on the line!
Manchester City vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
20:29All six of Marmoush’s Premier League goals for Man City have come at the Etihad Stadium. It’s the most goals a player has scored this season with 100% of them coming at home.
Manchester City vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
20:28WHAT A CHANCE! WOLVES SHOULD BE IN THE LEAD! It's all too easy as City's last line of defence is cut open by a simple Cunha pass into the path of Bellegarde - he tries to square it to Munesi as he advances through on goal but he overhits the pass and his teammate can't reach it! Big let off for City.
Manchester City vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
20:24It's all coming from De Bruyne as he operates on the left this time to deliver a teasing cross which Toti can only clear into the path of Marmoush but he blasts his effort over from just inside the box.
Manchester City vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
20:24City are almost in behind as De Bruyne makes a penetrative run in the centre right channel of the penalty area but his cutback can't reach Marmoush as Doherty makes a fantastic interception. The ball ends up falling for Doku but he is dispossessed at the vital moment.
Manchester City vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
20:22Wolves threaten as a cross from Semedo is cleared by Bernardo but only into the path of Andre from the edge of the area but he can't keep his shot down. The midfielder believes his side should have won a corner but the referee is not interested.
Manchester City vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
20:20Unsurprisingly, City have dominated possession in the early exchanges but they've struggled to convert that into anything meaningful when it comes to creating chances.Wolves seem pretty settled in their defensive shape.
Manchester City vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
20:18Bellegarde produces a wonderful bit of skill on the near touchline to deceive Silva and Nunes, with Ait-Nouri winning a foul just a few seconds later for the visitors. Wolves are playing with confidence, which is unsurprising considering their blistering form.
Manchester City vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
20:16Some neat interplay from City as De Bruyne quickens the play up with a forward pass for Nunes down the right but Sa is positioned well to gobble up the inswinging cross from the ex-Wolves man. Excellent positioning from the goalkeeper.
Manchester City vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
20:14For just the third time this season, only one English player has been named in the starting XIs in a Premier League match, with Man City’s O’Reilly the only Englishman. The other two times it’s happened have also involved Wolves – against Liverpool and Fulham in February.
Manchester City vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
20:11Semedo makes a superb run to get himself out of danger deep in his own half before he goes down under the challenge of De Bruyne, with Wolves being awarded a free-kick. They've made a pretty confident start at the Etihad.
Manchester City vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
20:09This is only City's 12th Premier League game on a Friday, with the Citizens losing just two, winning six and drawing three so far, with one of those defeats coming against Wolves under Guardiola in December 2019 away when they lost 3-2.
Manchester City vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
20:08Marmoush shows great defence endeavour and strength to wrestle the ball away from Bellegarde and see it out for a goal-kick. Dias appreciates the effort from City's forward there.
Manchester City vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
20:06Decent chance for Wolves as sloppy play from Nunes gifts the ball to Cunha who shows good strength but after steadying himself he balloons a shot over the crossbar. The ball bobbled just as he was about to pull the trigger.
Manchester City vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
20:05City's first attack of the match sees them keep possession down the left before the ball falls to Dias from around 25-yards out but his shot swerves away from goal and goes wide.
Manchester City vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
20:03Man City get us under way on this Friday evening at the Etihad!
Manchester City vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
19:58The players are now walking out onto the pitch and kick-off is fast approaching in Manchester!
Manchester City vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
19:33Jorgen Strand Larsen is missing for the visitors after picking up a groin strain. Bellegarde is given a start with Cunha moving into the central striker position. Sasa Kalajdzic, Enso Gonzalez and Yerson Mosquera are all out still on the road to recovery from long-term injuries.
Manchester City vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
19:33Haaland makes his return to the matchday squad after being out injured for three weeks. Rodri, Nathan Ake, John Stones and Oscar Bobb are all still missing. Ederson was a doubt prior to the match due to injury but is passed fit. De Bruyne is handed a start as he continues his City farewell tour.
Manchester City vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
19:30WOLVES SUBS: Santiago Bueno, Hwang Hee-Chan, Rodrigo Gomes, Tommy Doyle, Pablo Sarabia, Dan Bentley, Goncalo Guedes, Nasser Djiga, Pedro Lima
Manchester City vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
19:30WOLVES XI (3-4-2-1): Jose Sa; Matt Doherty, Emmanuel Agbadou, Toti Gomes; Nelson Semedo, Joao Gomes, Andre, Rayan Ait-Nouri; Marshall Munetsi, Jean-Ricner Bellegarde; Matheus Cunha
Manchester City vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
19:30MANCHESTER CITY SUBS: Erling Haaland, Jack Grealish, Nico Gonzalez, Stefan Ortega, Manuel Akanji, Savinho, Phil Foden, Rico Lewis, James McAtee
Manchester City vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
19:30MANCHESTER CITY XI (4-2-3-1): Ederson; Matheus Nunes, Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol, Nico O'Reilly; Ikay Gundogan, Matteo Kovacic; Bernardo Silva, Kevin De Bruyne, Jeremy Doku; Omar Marmoush
Manchester City vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
19:30Wolves are in unbelievable form during this final stretch of the season. They have won six matches on the trot - the joint-longest of any side in the division as their 1-0 victory away to Manchester United was backed up by a comfortable 3-0 win over Leicester City at Molineux. Only once have they won six on the bounce in England's first division and that was over 80 years ago so Vitor Pereira's side are very close to making real history. Wolves have been fighting for survivial throughout the whole season but another victory would put them just one point behind Crystal Palace in 12th, who they are still to play away from home this season. Their recent form against City is pretty ugly however, with eight losses from their last nine matches after completing the double over Guardiola's men in the 2019/20 season.
Manchester City vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
19:30Man City enjoyed two crucial results last week, as they edged a step closer to Champions League qualification with a late 2-1 win against Aston Villa and then reached their third FA Cup final in succession with victory over Nottingham Forest at Wembley. They did officially cede their control of the Premier League crown after a record-breaking four titles on the trot but Pep Guardiola's men have won their last three matches and are enjoying an upturn in form as we approach the end of the season. They can climb up to third with a win this evening, while it would also ensure four league wins a row since the very beginning of the season, which just goes to show how inconsistent City have been this campaign.
Manchester City vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
19:30Hello and welcome to live coverage of this Premier League match between Manchester City and Wolves at the Etihad Stadium!
Manchester City vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
18:00Follow all the goals and latest action from the Premier League here with The Independent. Team news and line-ups coming up shortly…
