Wolves v Manchester City: Premier League – live

Half-time entertainment:

HALF-TIME: Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-1 Manchester City

46+2 min Bernardo robs Andre inside the box and feeds back to Lewis; he moves the ball across the face of the box to Savinho, who opens his body, curls low and hard through a crowd of players … and Sa plunges late, a solid hand making a save that was much better than it first looked.

45 min City win a corner as we’re advised that we’ll have two additional minutes; again, Wolves clear easily enough before Semedo overhits a pass out to Cunha with the counter on.

44 min “I’m with Mary,” says Jeremy Boyce. “You might as well eat the packaging for all the good you get from the contents, and there’d be more fibre. If you really need a sugar fix you should stick to melon and grapes, I once did a sales conference presentation with a bodybuilder on stage next to me and he was stuffing those down just before we went on as he reckoned they were the quickest way of getting sugar to your muscles. Or just eat a spoonful of sugar washed down with your iced milk and leave out the crap.”

I dunno – I don’t think I’ll ever abandon the occasional nutritionally questionable treat, and it’s the strawberry aspect that intrigues me here, not the sugar.

43 min Wolves are penned inside their own half now, every man behind the ball such that when they clear, City can retrieve and build again.

41 min “Doing some mother-sitting here waiting for the other match,” says Ian Copestake, “and wonder, with City having been thus far described as a ‘machine’ whether their football is enjoyable. For me they are obviously hyper-gifted but unwatchable and thus the Steve Smith of teams.”

I prefer this iteration of them to the first Guardiola side because they’ve a bit more physical power – but I don’t think they’re as good.

39 min Lemina and Gomes combine to rob Savinho and find Cunha, who takes the ball adroitly on the half-turn, only for Savinho to foul him; he’s booked.

38 min Doku slides a pass inside, meeting the run of Gvardiol, who powers into the box and might shoot, but instead tries a cut-back that’s intercepted. He’s been City’s best attacker so far – by a street.

37 min “Good morning from Pittsburgh!” begins Eric Peterson. “How much better Wolves are than their table position is being grossly understated. After next Saturday against Brighton, they’ll have nine games under their belt, and every one of the current top eight except for Tottenham will have been among them. Based on their form through the season so far against the league behemoths, it’ll be no surprise at all to me if they leave the relegation zone in the dust before they play Spurs after Christmas.”

Yup, I agree. I like Gary O’Neil, and I think this 3-5-2 suits them much better than the 4-3-3 they’ve been using prior to today.

35 min We said earlier that Gvardiol is developing into a really good player, and he’s scoring goals like that too often for it to be a streak. It’s City’s seventh from outside the box so far this season, which sounds like the opposite of Guardiolisme but actually shows the freedom his players have within the structure.

GOAL! Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-1 Manchester City (Gvardiol 33)

30 min Doku is so explosive from a standing start, and he scavenges a yard off Semedo, drilling an instacross that catches Haaland on his heels. So Wolves clear again and, well though they’ve defended, City have asked of them few taxing questions. Ans as I type, Lemina slides an interception behind before another poor corner sees Dawson head clear with Bernardo then penalised for a foul.

29 min “Oh how I love these moments,” says Karen Asad. “A breath of hope hoping that City will lose. Of course, we’ve seen that movie one too many times and we all know City’s gonna hit five [at the least] with Haaland bagging a hat-trick. And Daniel, please stick to those green juices.”

Ha! I have largely broken my complex and profound sugar addiction but if it’s in you it’s in you.

28 min Bernardo slams a low cross across the face … and Toti clears.

27 min …and Bueno heads out. He’s made a very assured start.

26 min Doku shapes outside then slips outside Joao Gomes, who extends a leg to concede a free-kick near the left corner of the box. Gundogan will swing in…

25 min Savinho spreads to Doku, who goes back to Kovacic … and Wolves again block them off, Joao Gomes eventually robbing Doku to the delight of the home support.

23 min What a beautiful beginning for Wolves,” returns Mary Waltz. “Could this be the beginning of their PL resurrection? Good on Wolves but the City machine will eventually grind them into the pitch.”

Perhaps, but it’s worth noting that Wolves have had a really difficult start having lost Max Kilman and Neto, their two best players. Even if they lose today, a good performance might still get their season going.

22 min The Sa save from Gundogan aside, City haven’t threatened. But, as I type, Gvardiol comes inside to tease a cunning cross to the far post … which drifts behind. He is developing into a very serious player.

21 min Ait-Nouri and Semedo haul Savinho back; the latter is booked.

19 min Lovely from Wolves, Cunha into Strand Larsen, pulling left inside his own half. He then turns a first-time return-pass into stride and Cunha slides a terrific ball through the middle for the charging Semedo. But he never looks in total control of himself, all the more so once he feels Gvardiol’s hot breath on his cold neck, and Ederson comes out well to smother an effort that’s neither dink nor slot.

17 min Bernardo is starting to influence the game, taking a pass from Gvardiol and pinching a yard inside the box … only for the ball to rear up and hit his hand.

16 min More City possession, but Joao Gomes does really well against Doku, winning his challenge and clearing.

15 min Savinho takes the kick left-footed … and directs it into the foot of one of the two City players obstructing the wall’s sightline.

14 min Totti stands on the ball and slips, so Savinho pounces, nicking it away and wearing the inevitable foul. Totti is booked and City have a free-kick 20 yards out, right of centre.

12 min “Morning greetings from California,” begins Mary Waltz. “Regarding Kellogs Cereal: hey, eat what you want, But why fool yourself calling these various products cereal, as if they have some nutritional value. If you want to start your day with a massive sugar rush I say have a chocolate pastry, a hot chocolate, or a coffee explosion with sugar and caffeine. Or any combination. Tastes far better than cardboard topped with sugar.”

I have them very rarely, but cardboard topped with sugar topped with ice-cold milk is one of life’s greatest pleasures.

11 min Looking at the goal again, Stones totally loses Strand Larsen – as we said he might. Though he’s excellent on the ball, he lacks nous and physicality – and Wolves have the tools to exploit that.

9 min Back come City immediately, Savio finding Gundogan, who finds Bernardo who shoots from the edge … but Sa palms away on the dive.

GOAL! Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-0 Manchester City (Strand Larsen 7)

5 min Wolves clear the corner easily enough, but City collects possession and keep them boxed, Gundogan prompting with a give-and-go. And again, though Wolves avert immediate danger, City go at them again, Doku cutting in off the left, playing a one-two off Gundogan, whose backheel sets him for a shot … which he slides wide and plenty.

4 min City move the ball from side to side, Savinho – starting on the right – looking to at Ait-Nouri on the outside. But the defender stands up well, then slides in to concede a corner.

2 min “While Wolves is bad,” writes Adam Griffiths, “you do at least get to see the pitch. Newcastle (never ending stairs, better view of the city than the pitch, need binoculars to see anything) and Everton (pillars! More pillars! Pillars everywhere blocking the view) are much worserer.”

I love Goodison – you can just move to avoid the pillars – but yep, Newcastle is miserable. I thought they’d been made to change it as away fans are now meant to be pitchside, but that’s not in fact the case.

1 min Away we go! For those watching in black and white, City are in the burgundy shirts.

The players take the knee.

Our teams are tunnelled … and here they come!

Email “Will City target Ait-Nouri?” wonders Gary Stover. I’m not sure whether that’s today, or as a left-back for the future. I fear Wolves may struggle to hang on to him in January, but I’d not be surprised to see the space behind him targeted.

Hivemind: has anyone tried these and if so, are they any use?

Also going on:

Is Molineux the worst away end in the league? Shallow and down the entire side of the pitch, I contend that it is.

I’m really looking forward to seeing how the midfield battle goes. Lemina, Andre and Gomes will want to make the battle a physical one, because Gundogan and Silva, wonderful though they are, are underpowered. They could well pass their way through Wolves nevertheless, but it won’t be easy.

I know O’Neil has gone 3-5-2 to restrict space for City, but I wonder if a tight defensive block might also be a good way to counteract the threat of Erling Haaland, one man able to mark, one to mark the space and the other to troubleshoot. If Wolves keep a low block, Haaland will have to come short to get on the ball, and that is far from his best asset.

A potential template for Wolves might be Newcastle, whose muscular, enterprising style regularly causes City grief. Of course, Newcastle have better players, but their ability to make every contest physical is one that Wolves can imitate.

Guardiola says that Walker came back from the break injured, so hasn’t travelled. But he’s glad to play on Sunday, as it means his players, the Brazilians in particular, have had an extra day to get ready, which is why Savinho starts.

Where is the game? Wolves will look to bottle up the middle of the pitch, forcing City to go around rather than through them; I imagine that’s why Guardiola has picked wingers not wide attackers – for that reason, I wonder if Doku and Savio will play on their natural sides. Otherwise, the home side’s front two might also pose a threat – Cunha looks a potentially taxing match-up for Stones, while Strand Larsen is a threat in behind, all the more so given the lack of pace in the centre of City’s back four.

Talking of City, they welcome back Nathan Aké – he’s on the bench – as is Manuel Akanji, who picked up a minor knock on international duty. As such, Stones comes in at centre-back, while Jeremy Doku and Savinho are handed starts on the wings, Phil Foden and Jack Grealish kept in reserve.

O’Neil is, of course, without Yerson Mosquera, Sasa Kalajdzic, Enso González, Bastein Meupiyou, Boubacar Traoré – and now Hwang Hee-chan, injured playing for South Korea and out for around a month. Consequently, Matheus Cunha and Jørgen Strand Larsen start up front, and have the ability to give John Stones and Ruben Dias a testing afternoon.

O’Neil tells Sky that Sam Johnstone got injured in training, so José Sa comes in – and has been pushing for selection. Morale, he says is fine – Wolves have had a tough run of fixtures and generally played well, though the effort last time out, against Brentford, was unacceptable. Though today is a hard game, they believe they can turn things around and, having won this fixture last year, they know what’s required and how well they have to play to win.

Otherwise, he’s taking the risk out of the buildup because his players don’t need complexity currently, but that’s not why he’s gone to five at the back – he’s always done that against City. Finally, he’s not bothered about Guardiola or any other manager saying Wolves are good – they just need to play well.

Teams!

Preamble