Good morning! Thank you very much for joining
Sports Mole for today's early kickoff as the Championship holders meet the Premier League holders at Molineux!
Hosts Wolverhampton Wanderers are yet to pick up their first win back in the big time, and test do not come any bigger than this Manchester City team, who tore Huddersfield apart last week to reassume their place at the top of the Premier League table.
This match pits together two teams who love to play open, attacking football - and achieved great success doing so last season - so hopefully we will be in for a cracker today.
First, though, let's have a look at the team news...
WOLVES STARTING XI: Patricio; Bennett, Coady, Boly; Doherty, Moutinho, Neves, Castro; Costa, Jimenez, Jota
WOLVES SUBS: Ruddy, Gibbs-White, Saiss, Vinagre, Hause, Bonatini, Traore
MAN CITY STARTING XI: Ederson; Walker, Kompany, Laporte, Mendy; Fernandinho, Gundogan, Silva; Sterling, Bernardo, Aguero
MAN CITY SUBS: Muric, Stones, Delph, Sane, Mahrez, Otamendi, Jesus
What can we make of those two sides, then?
Well, we'll start with the champions (of the Premier League), and the first thing to note is that Pep Guardiola has switched back to a 4-3-3 formation, having played with three at the back during the rout of Huddersfield Town.
Whether that more attacking formation is one Guardiola will only look to deploy at home and against teams he expects to sit back remains to be seen, but for this one he has reverted back to his usual system, rather than sticking and matching Wolves' formation.
A 4-3-3 means room for only one striker to lead the line, of course, and for al of Jesus's quality, there was little doubt that it was going to be him that makes way with Aguero is such good form.
The Argentine already has five goals this season including the Community Shield, netting the first hat-trick of the new campaign in the rout of Huddersfield last time out. Guardiola has reportedly claimed that this is the best Aguero he has ever seen during his time at the club, and he is certainly the number one threat Wolves will have to look out for today.
That said, Aguero has failed to score in his last six Premier League away games, since netting in the 4-0 win at Swansea on December 13.
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Raheem Sterling is the man to replace Jesus in the starting lineup today in one of just two changes made by Guardiola, with John Stones also dropping to the bench and Kyle Walker coming back into the team.
The quality of this Man City team is perhaps best emphasised by the bench they have named today. Stones, Sane, Mahrez, Jesus and Otamendi - the latter of whom was arguably the league's best defender last season - all fail to make the starting lineup, even in the absence of the injured Kevin De Bruyne.
Frightening stuff.
Vincent Kompany will lead the team out in the week of his 10th anniversary of joining the club, and this will also be his 250th appearance for City in the Premier League - a tally which would have been much higher but for his injury problems.
David Silva's superb free kick against Huddersfield leaves him just one goal away from 50 in the Premier League now, but the main goal threat may come from Sterling, who has been directly involved in seven goals in Man City's last seven away games, scoring three and setting up four more.
There are dangerous all over the park which Wolves must combat today, then, but manager
Nuno Espirito Santo has insisted that he will not change his philosophy, while that also seemingly extends to personnel.
The hosts name an unchanged team from the one which was beaten by 10-man Leicester last time out, with Nuno keeping faith in his 3-4-3 formation despite a slow start to the campaign in terms of results.
Cub-record signing Adama Traore had been tipped to make his full debut for the club this afternoon, having come off the bench at half time against Leicester and caused the defence al sorts of problems with his pace and trickery.
Traore has always been a handful, though, and to make the step up he must now focus on improving his end product. The former Barcelona man has all of the attributes to become one of the most feared wingers in the Premier League, but his delivery is too inconsistent at the moment.
One man to whom the word inconsistent cannot be used as a description is Ruben Neves, who lit up the Championship last season and has shown early signs of doing the same in the Premier League too.
The 21-year-old picked up a brilliant goal and an equally impressive assist on his Premier League debut during the draw with Everton, and he is likely to be key if Wolves are to get anything out of this game today. Perhaps the biggest compliment I can give him is that he wouldn't look out of place playing for the opposition here.
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Matt Doherty - who found his own top corner with an unfortunate but stunning header last weekend - has overcome a minor injury concern to continue at wing-back, with Castro on the opposite side and the vastly-experienced Moutinho continuing alongside Neves in the middle.
Raul Jimenez will lead the line again up front, having scored on his debut against Everton, with last season's top-scorer Jota playing in a slightly wider role and Costa on the opposite flank.
There is quality of both sides, then, but Wolves will be fully aware that they come into this match as huge underdogs - a tag almost every team in the Premier League must accept when coming up against Manchester City now.
It is not a tag Wolves are used to under Nuno, though, having cruised to the Championship title last season. Hopes were high of a quick start to life back in the top flight, but while the performances have been encouraging so far, the results have not matched up.
Wolves have had the benefit of refereeing decisions going their way too so far, seeing a man sent off in both of their games - one a controversial one for Phil Jagielka and the other a more clear-cut decision for Jamie Vardy.
Still, the newly-promoted side have only managed one point from those two games, though, and they had to come from behind twice to get it against Everton - despite having a man advantage for more than half of the match.
Wolves only enjoyed numerical superiority for around 25 minutes of their second game against Leicester last time out, although their defeat in that match could be put as much down to luck and missed chances as anything else.
Wolves hit the woodwork three times at the King Power Stadium and missed a host of other chances, while the two goals they conceded came via a Doherty own goal and a deflected Maddison strike.
There have certainly been enough signs in those opening two outings to encourage Nuno and the fans, but the Premier League is unforgiving and Wolves will need to learn that sooner rather than later.
The Championship winners came into this season with more expectation on their shoulders than any other newly-promoted team has ever had - largely due to their own success in the second tier and heavy spending on a host of mostly Portuguese stars.
They certainly look better equipped to stay up than the last time they were at this level, and many have tipped them for a top-half finish, but first they must get that opening win under their belt.
Wolves have not won a Premier League match since February 2012, a run of 16 matches which could turn into an unwanted club record of 17 on the bounce should they fail to stun the champions this afternoon.
One encouraging statistic is that the Championship winners have beaten the Premier League champions at home in each of the past two seasons, with Burnley overcoming Leicester in 2016-17 and Newcastle easing past Chelsea last term, but this Man City team is a different kettle of fish altogether.
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The last four winners of the Championship have also gone on to avoid relegation the following season, and while Wolves will still be confident of that, the basis will no doubt come with their home form.
Nuno's side are unbeaten in their last 10 competitive outings here at Molineux and have lost just once here in the past 12 months. Wolves lost only two games in front of their own fans throughout last season, and the most recent of those came at the hands of Cardiff in January.
It is a different story in the Premier League, though; Wolves have picked up only three points from the last 39 on offer away from home in the top flight, a winless run of 13 games which stretches back to December 2011.
Of course, they are a lot better now than they were on their last season in the Premier League, but to end that run against this Man City team today would be some achievement.
It is difficult to remember a team more daunting to face than this Manchester City team, to the point where even an away trip to the Emirates Stadium - still one of the most difficult away games in the league - was seen as a fairly easy win for them.
Not even the Invincibles or the very best of Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United sides rolled into town with most expecting them to score bucketloads of goals wherever they went, and Man City have shown no signs of slowing down after last season's record-breaking feats.
City eased to victory over Arsenal in that opening match without ever really needing to get out of second gear, and that was the first clear statement of their title credentials - if we needed reminding.
The second statement came last weekend when they hammered Huddersfield 6-1 at the Etihad Stadium - an impressive result at any stage of the season but particularly good with arguably their best player injured and Guardiola still concerned about fitness levels after the World Cup.
Perhaps the most worrying thing for the rest of the league from that City win over Huddersfield was that the Terriers caused them plenty of problems last season.
David Wagner's side held Man City to a goalless draw at the Etihad and restricted them to fewer shots on target than any other Premier League team over their two games in 2017-18, so for City to simply swat them aside so early in the new campaign is ominous for the other 19 teams.
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It is often said that retaining the title is harder than winning it in the first place, though, and recent history certainly seems to back that up as City look to become the first team to successfully defend the trophy in a decade - since United won a third in a row in 2008-09.
Victory today would also see City become the first defending champions to win their first three games of the following since season 2011-12, when United started with nine points out of nine - although that term they famously lost the title in the final kick to Aguero and Man City.
Pep Guardiola's side have also picked up silverware already this season, of course, and once again the nature of their 2-0 win over Chelsea at Wembley suggests that City are very much the team to beat this season.
Just three games into the campaign and they have easily beaten two top-six rivals without conceding, before recording the biggest win of the campaign so far against a team they had trouble with last term.
It may have been a quiet summer in the transfer window, but City only seem to have improved from last term.
Of course, it is still very early days in the 2018-19 campaign and, at the very least, we expect a more competitive title race from those trying to keep up with City.
That is easier said than done against a team in such relentless form, though, and they come into this match having won seven and lost none of their last eight Premier League games, including their last four in a row.
Their only defeat in their past 29 Premier League games against newly-promoted teams came at the hands of Burnley in 2015 too, while they are unbeaten in 12 such fixtures under Pep Guardiola.
It is difficult to find a chink in Man City's armour, and their away form last season was the best ever seen in the Premier League - just as good as their home form with 50 of their 100 points coming on the road.
City arrive at Molineux having won their last seven Premier League away games on the bounce, with their last defeat coming at the hands of Liverpool in January. Indeed, that is their only defeat on the road in their last 23 Premier League away games, stretching back to April 2017.
PREDICTION! Right, we're 10 minutes away from kickoff at Molineux, which means that it is time for a prediction!
I have little doubt that Wolves will be fine and pick up regular points this season, and against almost any other team I would back them to get something here at Molineux. However, it is almost impossible to go against Man City in this form, so I will predict an away victory.
SPORTS MOLE SAYS: Wolves 1-3 Man City
The vast majority of Wolves' recent memories of facing Man City will be negative, but one positive which will shine out is their first ever Premier League victory, which came against the Citizens in October 2003 courtesy of a Colin Cameron header.
Wolves also beat City here in 2010, but those are their only two victories against today's opponents in eight previous Premier League meetings, with five defeats and one draw.
These two teams did meet in the EFL Cup last season, though, and Wolves became the first team to prevent City from scoring - doing so over 120 minutes as the match went to a penalty shootout, which City won en route to lifting the trophy.
Wolves do have the distinction of being one of only two teams - alongside Wigan - to have prevented City from scoring last term, though.
Whether that gives them confidence going into this match remains to be seen, but including that shootout defeat Wolves have now lost their last five meetings with City across all competitions stretching back to October 2010.
Man City's most recent visit to this stadium came in April 2012, when Aguero and Nasri were on the scoresheet in a 2-0 victory which took Roberto Mancini's side one step closer to their dramatic title success that year.
Right, the players are out and it is great to see Carl Ikeme out on the pitch beforehand too. A reminder of the team news before we do get started...
WOLVES STARTING XI: Patricio; Bennett, Coady, Boly; Doherty, Moutinho, Neves, Castro; Costa, Jimenez, Jota
MAN CITY STARTING XI: Ederson; Walker, Kompany, Laporte, Mendy; Fernandinho, Gundogan, Silva; Sterling, Bernardo, Aguero
KICKOFF: Here we go, then! Wolves get us underway at Molineux!
Positive start from Wolves as they come pouring forward early on, roared on by a vociferous home crowd.
Man City respond with their first attacking thrust as Mendy bends a pass in behind for Sterling, who reaches the byline but sees his cutback intercepted.
The early signs suggest that we may get the game we hoped for today - both sides are looking to get forward whenever possible and look confident in possession.
Gundogan clips a ball over the defence and again it is Sterling darting down the left channel. His touch lets him down on this occasion, but the fact that he has got in there twice now may be a slight concern for Nuno.
Ederson comes out to claim a free kick in commanding fashion before trying to launch a quick counter, kicking the ball straight into Bennett. There is a bit of space between the two players so Ederson is perhaps a little fortunate, but those will always be penalised.
Good pace from Laporte as he sprints back before making a well-timed tackle on Costa, who was making ground on him as he tried to latch on to Jimenez's pass.
YELLOW CARD! Kompany picks up an early yellow card for a mistimed challenge on Neves, who had turned away from the Man City captain.
The first real scare for the champions as Wolves come down the left flank before a low ball into the box almost makes it all the way to Costa. Mendy does well to get back in front of the winger, but his clearance is straight to a Wolves man before the ball bounces back into the path of Costa, who is offside.
Fernandinho is a little fortunate not to join his skipper in the book for a foul on Jota, just when it looked as though Wolves could break.
SAVE! Some nice football from City leads to the first save of the game as Mendy lifts an aerial ball to Aguero, who cushions a header into the path of Gundogan. The angle is against the midfielder, though, and Patricio keeps out his tame effort at the near post.
SHOT! A Wolves corner is only cleared as far as Neves, and there is no-one they would rather it fall to around 25 yards from goal. Neves unsurprisingly goes for goal, but this time gets it wrong and slices his effort well off target.
The main area of concern for Wolves right now will be that right defensive channel, where City have broken into on a few occasions with some good movement. So far, the hosts will be delighted with how things are going, though.
DISALLOWED GOAL! It almost gets a lot better for the hosts, but the goal is disallowed for offside! Kompany loses the ball and that sends Wolves racing clean through on goal through Jota.
Jota goes for goal himself but sees his effort deflect into the path of Jimenez, who is left with a simple finish from close range. He had just strayed a yard offside from the initial shot, though!
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OFF THE POST! Man City respond straight away and are inches away from taking the lead just seconds later! A low cross is deflected into the path of Aguero, who fires a low first-time effort crashing against the foot of the post!
OFF THE BAR! This match has really come to life now! City hit the woodwork for the second time in the space of a minute, and this time it is a sensational save from Patricio which keeps them at bay!
The ball drops to Sterling around 25 yards from goal and he takes a touch before unleashing a brilliant, swerving half-volley towards the top corner. Patricio's save is every bit as impressive, though, as he claws it against the bar with one hand.
Wolves appear to have woken the beast with that disallowed goal! City have moved it up a few levels since then and we really do have a game on our hands now!
This match is very finely poised - both sides look dangerous when coming forward and Wolves are not afraid to throw a few punches themselves here.
Bernardo breaks forward past two Wolves defenders before being brought down right on the edge of the box. The officials correctly rule that it wasn't in the area, but City have a free kick in a dangerous position...
David Silva swings the ball into the middle, but it isn't the best delivery and Wolves deal with the danger.
CHANCE! Brilliant defending from Boly! Bernardo slides a clever through-ball in to Aguero, who skips past one defender inside the box and looks to have a clear chance before Boly slides in and makes a very important challenge.
Man City are beginning to gain some control over this game - the last 10 minutes has seen them enjoy 81% possession and Wolves need to get themselves back into now.
Here is the moment which started this fast and furious response from City - the correct decision from the linesman but a blow for Wolves, who thought that they had taken the lead...
CLOSE! Man City's relentless pressure continues and Fernandinho has the chance to open the scoring as the ball breaks to him on the edge of the box. The midfielder takes a touch, but then just drags his effort a little and it bobbles wide of the target.
SHOT! Neves is never one to turn down a shot from range, and with the fans urging him on too he has a go here. Ederson watches it all the way, but in the end it is some way wide of the target.
Better from Wolves now as they begin to offer more in the Man City half once again. Costa whips a low ball into the box from the right flank which Fernandinho has to knock behind for a corner.
CHANCE! Chance for the hosts to take the lead! City deal with an initial corner into the box, but it is hoisted back into the middle and Jimenez takes it down really well at the back post. The angle is against him, but it doesn't matter as he slices his half-volley horribly and it ends up closer to the corner flag.
Wolves really needed to weather a storm midway through this half, but other than that they have held their own against City and are right back in this game now after a spell on the back foot.
CHANCE! Chance for City here as Mendy whips a devilish ball into the box which Patricio can only push into the path of Aguero. It is a difficult one for him to control, though, and his eventual effort is tame as Patricio collects.
YELLOW CARD! Coady is the first Wolves player in the book this afternoon for a challenge from behind on Aguero.
Now Wolves come storming forward again with Costa stealing the ball off Mendy and then holding the defender off to reach the byline. Costa cuts it back for Neves on the edge of the box, but his first-time effort slams into Kompany.
These Wolves fans are putting plenty of pressure on Mendy now - he did a foul throw moments ago and they are not going to let him forget it in a hurry!
Man City hit Wolves on the break and it looks like danger when Sterling plays the ball into the path of Bernardo, who bundles past a clumsy challenge from Boly but is then crowded out as Coady comes across too.
There will be one minute of added time at the end of this first half.
HALF TIME: WOLVES 0-0 MANCHESTER CITY
We're still goalless at half time at Molineux, then, but that only tells half of the story from what has been a thoroughly entertaining match between these two sides so far.
Wolves have held their own for the most part against the defending champions, but they were on the back foot for a spell in that first half and will no doubt need to survive plenty more pressure if they are to get anything out of this game.
Wolves have had the ball in the back of the net, with Jimenez converting from close range after Jota's shot had deflected into his path.
However, the celebrations were soon cut short by the linesman's flag, and the replays showed that it was a very good decision from the officials. Kompany had given the ball away to spark the attack, but Man City got away with it.
City reacted brilliantly to that scare, though, hitting the woodwork twice in the next couple of minutes. The first came from Aguero, who was sharp to latch on to a loose ball inside the box before thumping his low finish off the bottom of the post.
Patricio was beaten for that one, but the Wolves keeper pulled off a stunning save just a minute later to turn Sterling's brilliant half-volley against the crossbar.
Fernandinho and Aguero have also had chances for the visitors, but Wolves have not been afraid to throw punches of their own and Jimenez and Neves have both had sights of goal for the hosts too.
Wolves will be pretty pleased with their performance from that opening 45 minutes, but at the risk of stating the obvious, the job is only half done. Keeping Man City at bay for 45 minutes is difficult enough - doing it for 90 minutes is something few teams can manage.
KICKOFF: Manchester City get us back underway for the second half at Molineux!
City win an early corner in this second half and Boly can only clear it as far as Walker, who sees his shot from range deflected behind for another corner.
CHANCE! Gundogan whips the corner into the box and Kompany escapes his marker to meet it, but Bennett does just enough and the Man City skipper can only nod it over the crossbar.
Aguero feed a pass in to Sterling, who shows good footwork inside the box with Wolves players all around him but when he eventually digs a shot out he fires it high and wide of the target.
City are enjoying the vast majority of the possession during the early stages of the second half, and it has momentarily quietened this home crowd down too.
The visitors appear to have an element of control over this game since the interval, but there have been no huge chances in this second half so far, with Kompany's header under pressure being the best in the opening 10 minutes.
CHANCE! Huge chance for Wolves to take the lead! Costa breaks in on goal down the left channel but appears to take too long over his finish having burst into the box.
He eventually does get the shot away, but Ederson responds with a fine stop to keep out the powerful effort at his front post.
GOAL! WOLVES 1-0 MANCHESTER CITY (WILLY BOLY)
Incredible scenes inside Molineux as Wolves take the lead against the champions - but that is not the last we will be hearing of this goal!
Moutinho swings a beauty of a ball into the box and one Wolves player gets the faintest touch on it before Boly bundles it into the far corner. It looks like a legitimate - if a little messy - goal in normal time, but the replay shows that the final touch came off the hand of Boly!
Cue the calls for VAR!
PENALTY SHOUT! Man City once again respond quickly and Boly makes one big block to deny Silva before the Man City playmaker goes down in the box under the challenge of Neves. The referee is having none of it, but it was a nervy moment for the hosts!
Almost a chance for City as Gundogan swings a cross into the box, but Fernandinho seems to be unsighted and can't steer his header on target.
MAN CITY SUB: Guardiola turns to his bench in an attempt to get back into this match as Gabriel Jesus replaces Bernardo.
Wolves scored the first goal 32 times in the Championship last season, and they did not lose any of those matches. Can they repeat that in the Premier League today? City have certainly stepped things up since falling behind!
SAVE! Half a chance for Gundogan as the ball arrives at his feet on the edge of the box, but his curling effort is easy for Patricio to collect.
CHANCE! This is a chance by Neves's standards! Wolves hit City on the break and Jota does well to hold the ball up and wait for support. That arrives in the form of Neves, but he drills wide of the target from the edge of the box. Maybe it was too close to goal for him...
Sterling skips away from Neves and goes down under the challenge just outside the area. Free kick for the visitors in a dangerous position...
GOAL! WOLVES 1-1 MAN CITY (AYMERIC LAPORTE)
That is how you header the ball! Man City level things up with a thumping header from Laporte, and what a timely way to open his account for the club!
Gundogan clips the free kick into a perfect area and Laporte attacks it really well. Patricio has no chance with that one. Brilliant header.
City again call for a penalty here as Aguero goes down inside the area, but the referee says no and the replay shows that Aguero went down far too easily.
SHOT! Aguero tries to inspire his side again by working space to shoot and going for goal from outside the area, but his finish ends up comfortably wide of the target.
WOLVES SUB: Interesting change here as Adama Traore comes on for his home debut, replacing Costa. That is some serious pace on the counter for the hosts.
Stoppage in play here as Doherty and Jesus both require treatment following a clash of heads. Both look like they will be fine to continue, though.
CHANCE! Big chance for Man City to take the lead, but Patricio makes the save! Mendy lifts the cross into the box and Jesus meets it with a firm header from close range, but it is straight at Patricio, who still has to react well to keep it out.
MAN CITY SUB: Another change for the visitors as Leroy Sane replaces Gundogan. All out attack for City now!
Better from Wolves as Jota gets down the left flank and plays a beauty of a low cross right along the edge of the six-yard box. The hosts win a corner from it.
Just 10 minutes to go in this one now, and still it is balanced on a knife edge! Wolves are not piling every behind the ball and have not given up on the idea of counter-attacking, but they are surely going to have to withstand some heavy pressure in these closing stages.
Jonny looks to be in a bit of pain here, and he may not be able to see the game out. It eats away some valuable seconds for the hosts, though.
Jonny Castro is still on there and looks like he will try to continue, but for some reason they are not allowing the hosts to make the change Nuno wants to.
WOLVES SUB: Finally, here is the change as Jonny is replaced by Ruben Vinagre.
MAN CITY SUB: Man City also make a change, with Sterling being replaced by Riyad Mahrez.
Mahrez's first action sees him pick the ball up inside the area, but his attempted trick is awful and gifts possession away.
CHANCE! This is what Traore can do! He picks the ball up just inside his own half and skips away from two Man City defenders with sheer pace. The final ball is good this time too, clipping it into the box where Jota collects it on his chest before lashing a half-volley narrowly over the crossbar.
Brilliant again from Traore as he skips past Mendy into the box before drilling a dangerous ball into the box, where Kompany is well placed to put it behind.
It is Wolves pushing for the winner here and their two full-backs combined for a half-chance in the 90th minute as Vinagre swings a cross to Doherty, who can't steer his header on target.
There will be FIVE minutes of added time at the end of this match!
Another free kick for Man City in a dangerous position as Sane leaves about five Wolves defenders in his wake before Aguero is brought down by Moutinho.
OFF THE BAR! Incredible! City hit the woodwork for a third time in the final minute of stoppage time as Aguero hammers the free kick against the crossbar!
FULL TIME: WOLVES 1-1 MANCHESTER CITY
Manchester City drop their first points of their title defence, then, and Wolves gave them a really good game today - better than a lot of teams manager in the Premier League last season.
City can point to a lack of luck for sure - they hit the woodwork three times with really good efforts - but Wolves refused to forsake their own attacking style and were impressive for long spells here.
Willy Boly's opener should not have stood for the hosts after it went in off his hand, but few would begrudge them a point following Aymeric Laporte's thumped headed equaliser.
Right, that is all we have time for this afternoon!
Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for today's early Premier League kickoff as newly-promoted Wolves hold champions Manchester City to a draw at Molineux! I will leave you with our match report, and be sure to stick around for reaction too.
From me, though, it is goodbye for now!
