Man City tightened their grip on the Premier League trophy after their 5-0 win over Newcastle United on Sunday but next up, they have to play a tricky tie against Wolves in midweek.
With the win over the Magpies, Man City have managed to open up a three-point gap at the top of the table but this trip to the Molineux will not be an easy one because Wolves go into this tie at the back of a superb draw against Chelsea.
City will very much be the favourites to win on Wednesday night but Pep Guardiola will have some very important players missing for this tie so things can very easily go south for the visitors. Manchester City have kept a clean sheet in their previous five away matches in the Premier League but the probable shuffling of the starting XI might just end this fine record in midweek.
Man City injuries against Wolves:
The manager has suddenly lost three key defenders with Kyle Walker, John Stones and Ruben Dias all ruled out for the rest of the season. Stones is out with a thigh injury while Walker had picked up a knee injury during the Real Madrid game last week.
Pep has updated: “Kyle and John are out until the end of the season. Next pre-season maybe they will be ready.”
Ruben Dias, who has picked up a hamstring issue, and Stones ruled out means Nathan Ake will logically move up the pecking order against Wolves but even he could be an absentee.
Pep Guardiola confirmed that Rúben Dias, John Stones and Kyle Walker are out for the rest of the season.
City have three games left in their quest to retain the Premier League title. pic.twitter.com/0r8fCEgq74
— B/R Football (@brfootball) May 8, 2022
Ake was on the bench for the Newcastle win, but he is carrying a minor niggle so there’s a chance he might not be ready to start on Wednesday night. If Nathan Ake is also unavailable then it will be a massive concern for the Man City boss because Fernandinho will be his next most suitable candidate to play in the central defender’s role.
It was Fernandinho who replaced Dias at half-time on Sunday and the experienced midfielder could do the same at Molineux as well.
Gundogan and Bernardo Silva have been playing in tandem and since Gundogan started against Newcastle United, we expect him to move to the bench in midweek.
Both Jack Grealish and Gabriel Jesus will be rested this week as Phil Foden and Riyad Mahrez come into the side. Sterling scored a brace on Sunday while playing on the right flank but with Mahrez coming in, he will move to the other side.
