Probable Lineups

4-4-2
Wolverhampton Wanderers
4-2-3-1
Manchester City
© WhoScored.com

Probable Lineups Statistical Comparision

(40) 28 Goals 45 (91)
(25) 11 Assists 49 (71)
(6.3) 6.4 Average Ratings 7.1 (6.8)
27.1 Average Age 27.2
180.7 Average Height (cm) 180.2
(0.9) 0.8 Shots pg 1.4 (1.4)
(47%) 48% Aerial Duel Success 60% (54%)
(0.4) 0.4 Dribbles pg 0.6 (0.7)
(1.3) 1.3 Tackles pg 1.3 (1.5)
* Values in brackets (x) are overall player statistics in Premier League.

Missing Players

Player Reason Status Rating
Stephen Hunt Out 6.36
Jody Craddock Out 5.48
Jamie O'Hara Out 6.8
Wayne Hennessey Out 6.79
Player Reason Status Rating
Mario Balotelli Out 7.01

Team News

Wolverhampton Wanderers
  • It was announced this week that Wolves 'keeper Wayne Hennessey has sustained a serious knee injury and will be out of action for 6 months, meaning he will not play again until October, when, it seems likely, his side will be playing Championship football. Dorus de Vries will deputise.
  • Stephen Hunt has undergone successful surgery but, along with Jamie O'Hara and Jody Craddock, is unlikely to play again this season.
  • Relegation seems a certainty for Wolves, but they will be playing for pride here and will put up more of a fight than they have done on far too many occasions this season.
Manchester City
  • Mario Balotelli serves the third of his 3 match suspension after being sent off against Arsenal. He will be fresh to return against United next week, but with Carlos Tevez having scored a hat-trick last week, Balotelli could well miss out anyway, and Roberto Mancini has hinted he might not select Balotelli again this season.
  • Mancini has no other absentees to contend with, and will be confident of picking up the 3 points and keeping up the pressure on rivals United.

Prediction

  • Manchester City sit 5 points behind Manchester United at the top of the table, and with the rivals facing off next week, City be desperate to take all three points here, with it a distinct possibility that the Red Devils could win the title at the Etihad. By the time this game kicks off, Utd will have played their game against Everton - whatever the result was there though, City will be motivated to win here. If Utd win, City will have to win to keep up with them, but if they drop points, the chance to win the title will spur them on.
  • Wolves are in a strikingly different position. Bottom of the Premier League and 8 points from safety, their relegation could be confirmed this weekend if they fail to win and other results don't go their way. Even if they are not relegated after this game, it is only a matter of time for them. Their fans will want the team to show some pride and fight for the last few games of the season, while Terry Connor is hoping for a chance to remain manager next season. A positive result against City would help his cause massively.
  • Before last week's 6-1 mauling of Norwich, City had only scored 3 goals in their last 8 away Premier League matches and looked set to peter out of the title race. However, will Carlos Tevez back in the team, Sergio Aguero seems to have found form again, and questions have been asked what the story of the season might have been had Tevez not been frozen out for the majority of it. That is not something they can dwell on though and must get on with the job, and can't afford to drop any more points before the end of the season. They should comfortably take all three here, potentially sealing Wolves' fate.
© WhoScored.com

Latest Comments

 
  • Thypot

    Wolves are unfortunately doomed. City will win 4-1.

    1 year ago
       -1 Report
  • Holmesiee

    Hopefully wolves win, only because I put them on a bet by mistake!

    1 year ago
       -1 Report
See all 2 comments

Head to Head Stats

R Team W D L Pts Form
1 M. City 28 5 5 89 wwwwww
20 W. Wanderers 5 10 23 25 ldlddl

Top Players

Wolverhampton Wanderers
Manchester City
J. O'Hara 6.8
W. Hennessey 6.79
M. Jarvis 6.67
D. Silva 7.56
S. Agüero 7.46
Y. Touré 7.41
S. Fletcher 12
M. Jarvis 8
K. Doyle 4
S. Agüero 23
E. Dzeko 14
M. Balotelli 13
K. Doyle 7
M. Jarvis 4
S. Ebanks-Blake 3
D. Silva 15
S. Nasri 9
S. Agüero 8

Match Forecast

Manchester City will score a long shot  
Manchester City will score from a fast break situation  
Manchester City will score from a wingplay situation  
Manchester City will create many scoring chances  
Manchester City will score as a result of an opposition error  
Manchester City will score as a result of a through ball  
* Match forecast is generated from clashes in team characters.

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Data sources: Data Sources