Erling Haaland scored a pair of goals as Manchester City began the 2025-26 Premier League season with a dominant 4-0 win over Wolves at the Molineux on Saturday.
Tijjani Reijnders had a hand in three goals, recording a goal and an assist, while Rayan Cherki also scored on his Premier League debut and James Trafford kept a clean sheet in place of a reportedly ill Ederson.
WATCH — Wolves v Manchester City full match replay
Vitor Pereira’s Wolves had little going aside from a couple of Jorgen Strand Larsen chances and a pair of dangerous but offside Marshall Munetsi opportunities.
Everybody eats in Man City blowout as gauntlet awaits
It’s difficult to find a passenger in this complete Manchester City performance, as Pep Guardiola’s men went away to a team determined to stifle them and ripped right through them. Erling Haaland’s brace will take the headlines but very few thought he wouldn’t have a good season. Instead, consider Tijjani Reijnders’ incredible performance in doing a half-KDB, half-Gundogan role in the midfield. Oscar Bobb was supposed to have his breakthrough last season but suffered through a long injury absence; The Norwegian was fantastic early versus Wolves. City fans can go on and on, as Nico Gonzalez looked more comfortable, Rayan Cherki scored on debut, James Trafford kept a clean sheet, and Rayan Ait-Nouri looked a natural fit for Guardiola’s system. It’s going to get tougher — Spurs, Brighton, Manchester United, and Arsenal are next, so this season start will be something to behold at City. Look out.
Molineux makes memorable tribute to Diogo Jota
The late Diogo Jota was a star for Wolves before he became a hero at Liverpool, and the Molineux made sure to salute him loudly and proudly on Saturday. From the 18th-minute ovation — Jota wore that number at Wolves before switching to 20 at Liverpool — to singing “Di-o-go” for much of the final quarter-hour, this was a special and emotive stadium.
What’s next?
Man City return home to an intriguing meeting with Tottenham Hotspur at 7:30am ET Saturday, a few hours before Wolves visit Bournemouth.
How to watch Wolves vs Manchester City live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 12:30pm ET Saturday (August 16)
Venue: Molineux — Wolverhampton
TV Channel: NBC
Streaming: Watch live on NBC.com & Stream live on Peacock
Wolves vs Manchester City final score: 0-4
Erling Haaland 34', 61', Tijjani Reijnders 37', Rayan Cherki 81'
Wolves vs Manchester City live updates — by Nick Mendola
Wolves fans sing for Diogo Jota
For at least the past dozen minutes of the game, Wolves fans sang loudly “Di-o-go” for the late Jota in what was a marvelous atmosphere (especially considering Wolves trailed by multiple goals for much of the game).
Class from Wolves and the Molineux.
Rayan Cherki goal — Wolves 0-4 Man City (81st minute)
Smooth, strong finish from the arc, and this game could hardly have unfolded better for Pep Guardiola.
Phil Foden and Rodri aren’t even in the 18, the new boys are all contributing, and it’s 4-0 on Opening Day.
Wolves change four, Haaland exits for City
A new quartet for Wolves in the 72nd minute, as Fer Lopez and Jhon Arias make Premier League debuts while Hugo Bueno and Rodrigo Gomes also head onto the pitch.
Leaving the game are Andre, Ki-jana Hoever, David Moller Wolfe, and Jean-Ricner Bellegarde.
For City, Rayan Cherki enters the game for Haaland.
City subs
Rico Lewis, Jeremy Doku, and Bernardo Silva exit the game.
Matheus Nunes, Omar Marmoush, and Nico O’Reilly enter the fray.
3-0 City in the 66th minute.
Erling Haalang goal — Wolves 0-3 Man City (61st minute)
Tijjani Reijnders is in living color, taking the ball in the midfield with a sublime first touch and turning the play up field.
Reijnders works a 1-2 with Oscar Bobb, sliding the ball across for Haaland to smash past Sa.
So close from Wolves
Jorgen Strand Larsen will wish he tried with his right foot, as Jose Sa springs a 46th-minute chance for Wolves but the Norwegian striker snaps a left-footed effort wide of the near post instead of getting it across goal.
Halftime — Wolves 0-2 Manchester City
Possession is 68% Man City, with shots 9-2 in favor of the leading visitors.
Tijjani Reijnders goal — Wolves 0-2 Man City (37th minute)
It’s a 3v2 rush led by Bobb, who has been wonderful.
He’s got Reijnders on his left and Haaland on his right, and opts for the former.
Reijnders snaps into a left-footed shot across goal and the ball bounds past Sa and into the side netting.
Erling Haaland goal — Wolves 0-1 Manchester City (34th minute)
Welp.
City cut through Wolves in lethal fashion, as Tijjani Reijnders makes a neat shake and chips a pass over the back line to meet Rico Lewis’ run.
Lewis slides a pass through the six and you just know Erling Haaland’s going to be at the end of it.
1-0.
Wolves score, but offside
Marshall Munetsi neatly turns a massive cross past James Trafford, but John Stones pushed ahead to leave the Zimbabwean star offside in the 27th minute.
The Molineux salutes Diogo Jota
Diogo Jota was Wolves’ No. 18, and the Molineux is cheering as the clock hits that number to salute the Portuguese forward killed in a traffic accident this summer.
Oscar Bobb lively
Man City’s right side is buzzing a bit, and Oscar Bobb seems to be at the heart of it.
John Stones has often been in the midfield and helps unlock Bobb for a chance that nearly leads to a corner.
Now Bernardo Silva swirls a cross that Erling Haaland nods wide of the far post.
Scorless after 18 minutes at the Molineux.
Signs of what’s to come
Jeremy Doku has won a second-minute corner as Wolves already appear set to sit deep and soak up City.
Wolves lineup
Sa, Hoever, Doherty, Agbadou, T. Gomes, Wolfe, Andre, J. Gomes, Bellegarde, Munetsi, Strand Larsen
Manchester City lineup
Trafford, Lewis, Stones, Dias, Ait-Nouri, Gonzalez, Silva, Bobb, Reijnders, Doku, Haaland
Wolves vs Manchester City preview — by Joe Prince-Wright
After a rollercoaster of a season, City ended up winning seven of their last 10 games to finish third in the Premier League table. After winning four titles in a row before that, last season was obviously a disappointment. But a huge squad overhaul in January and the summer sees the dawn of a new era. Losing the FA Cup final to Crystal Palace and being knocked out of the Club World Cup by Al-Hilal in shock fashion shows there’s plenty of work for Guardiola to do with his new squad. But you can never bet against City and they’ll likely be title contenders again.
Wolves have had a rough summer, as Vitor Pereira’s reward for keeping them up last season was losing three of his best players. Matheus Cunha, Rayan Ait-Nouri and Nelson Semedo have all moved on and Wolves fans will have concerns they will be dragged into a relegation scrap this season. They have enough quality to survive and Pereira proved himself a shrewd tactician in setting up a counter-attacking team. But losing Cunha in particular was a big blow.
Wolves team news, focus
It’s up to Jorgen Strand Larsen to be the main attacking threat for Wolves and his hold-up play will be key. Supporting him in attack will be new signings Fer Lopez and Jhon Arias. Wolves will aim to keep it tight and pick City off on the counter.
OUT: Leon Chiwone (knee), Yerson Mosquera (knee), Fabio Silva (thigh)
Manchester City team news, focus
City have doubts over plenty of key players heading into this game but their squad is stacked and hungry to prove themselves. Erling Haaland will lead the line with Omar Marmoush, Rayan Cherki and Jeremy Doku supporting him. New signing Tijjani Reijnders has been really good in midfield over the summer, while the main concern for City is in defense as they have to find some extra solidity this season. Goalkeeper Ederson has been linked with a move away and he will not feature in this game with new signing James Trafford set to start.
OUT: Mateo Kovacic (calf), Claudio Echeverri (ankle)| QUESTIONABLE: Phil Foden (ankle), Rodri (hip), Josko Gvardiol (knock)
Wolves vs Manchester City prediction
This feels like it will be tight but City’s extra attacking options should get them over the line. Wolves 1-2 Manchester City.
