Wolves vs Man City live: Haaland scores twice as visitors demolish hosts in Premier League opener
Wolves 0-4 Man City: Pep Guardiola’s men start their season well with a comfortable win in the midlands
Manchester City cruised to a big 4-0 win over Wolves on the opening weekend of the Premier League season to jump straight to the top of the table in an announcement that their previous troubles are behind them.
Pep Guardiola’s side stuck doggedly to their task against a stubborn Wolves side at Molineux and held a high defensive line which proved useful in catching Marshall Munetsi offside when he thought he’d scored the opening goal.
Instead that honour went to Erling Haaland who arrived at the back post to tap home a squared pass before adding another in the second half. In between Haaland’s brace, Tijjani Reijnders, on his Premier League debut, proved a more than suitable replacement for Kevin de Bruyne with a crisp finish of his own to make sure City were comfortable in the game.
Rayan Cherki came off the bench with 20 minutes to go and become the second City debutant to find the back of the net and inflict defeat on a Wolves side who looked far from their best after the first goal went in.
Reliv all the action from Molineux as Wolves take on Manchester City:
Pep Guardiola’s summer rebuild has restored Manchester City’s old swagger
The winds of change are blowing through Manchester City but some things remain the same.
Different faces and a different time - but that old familiar swagger returned at Molineux. Three thousand travelling supporters, basking in the sunshine along the foot of the Steve Bull Stand, sang: “City are back.”
Had they ever really been away?
Pep Guardiola’s summer rebuild has restored Manchester City’s old swagger
Wolves need additions
It was only their first match without Matheus Cunha, Nelson Semedo and Rayan Ait-Nouri but Wolves look like a team that need to strengthen in the next couple of weeks.
They need a goalscorer which is easier said than found. If they can’t find one it could be a long season for them.
FT Wolves 0-4 Man City
Manchester City cruised to a big 4-0 win over Wolves on the opening weekend of the Premier League season to jump straight to the top of the table in an announcement that their previous troubles are behind them.
Pep Guardiola’s side stuck doggedly to their task against a stubborn Wolves side at Molineux and held a high defensive line which proved useful in catching Marshall Munetsi offside when he thought he’d scored the opening goal.
Instead that honour went to Erling Haaland who arrived at the back post to tap home a squared pass before adding another in the second half. In between Haaland’s brace, Tijjani Reijnders, on his Premier League debut, proved a more than suitable replacement for Kevin de Bruyne with a crisp finish of his own to make sure City were comfortable in the game.
Rayan Cherki came off the bench with 20 minutes to go and become the second City debutant to find the back of the net and inflict defeat on a Wolves side who looked far from their best after the first goal went in.
Full-time! Wolves 0-4 Man City
90+7 mins: Gonzalez is on his feet and gives a nod that he’s okay. He’s walking gingerly though stretching out his arm.
The match comes to a tame end but in truth it was over a long time ago.
Manchester City are back and they’re back with a bang.
Wolves 0-4 Man City
90+3 mins: Ouch, Nico Gonzalez lands awkwardly on his elbow after a tussles with Munetsi and the midfielder calls for the medical staff.
He’s grimacing in pain, his arm twisted at the elbow as he landed, this could take the shine off Man City’s day.
Wolves 0-4 Man City
90 mins: Tijjani Reijnders got a goal and an assist and was heavily involved in the first goal as well.
All three goal contributions leading to him being named player of the match and rightly so.
It’s been a fantastic debut for the creative midfielder.
Seven minutes of added time to play yet.
Wolves 0-4 Man City
87 mins: Wolves are searching for a consolation goal now but they know the jig is up.
The two first half goals effectively put their challenge in the bin after they were caught out making errors.
A developing and promising performance fell apart due to City’s ruthlessness and clinical finishing.
GOAL! Wolves 0-4 Man City (Rayan Cherki, 81')
Wow!
Manchester City’s finishing has been incredible today and Rayan Cherki is the latest to prove that.
City were coasting through the half but an injection of pace and some fine footwork on the edge of the box sees Cherki work the ball into space and he drills a low effort across the box and past Jose Sa.
City have four and it seems the issues of last season are long behind them.
Wolves 0-3 Man City
77 mins: The substitutions have made the game a little disjointed as the players try to get up to the pace of proceedings.
Wolves are seeing more of the ball but they can’t get close to the final third.
Wolves 0-3 Man City
72 mins: Into the final 20 minutes now and Wolves will be hoping to keep City quiet for the remainder.
It’ll help that Erling Haaland has been replaced with Rayan Cherki.
Cherki comes with plenty of excitement so Guardiola has a bit of time to see how he’ll fare in the top flight.
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