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How Manchester City could line up against Wolverhampton Wanderers

Sports Mole looks at how Manchester City could line up for Monday night's Premier League trip to face Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux.

Manchester City will finally get their 2020-21 Premier League campaign underway on Monday night when they face Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux.

Pep Guardiola's side are the last of the 20 top-flight teams to begin their campaign, and they could barely have been handed a more difficult start having lost home and away to Wolves last season.

Any dropped points at Molineux would see Man City already playing catch-up in the title race as they look to close the 18-point gap which separated them from Liverpool last season.

Here, Sports Mole looks at how the visitors could line up for the contest.



Possible MNC XI vs. WOL

Out: Sergio Aguero (knee), Ilkay Gundogan (coronavirus)
Doubtful: Riyad Mahrez (coronavirus), Aymeric Laporte (coronavirus), Bernardo Silva (quadriceps)

> Click here for Man City's latest injury and suspension news ahead of this match

City could be without club-record goalscorer Sergio Aguero for another two months after Guardiola confirmed on Friday that the striker is still some way away from match fitness following his knee injury.

Gabriel Jesus will therefore continue to lead the line, with Raheem Sterling expected to feature on the left after topping Man City's scoring charts last term.

Bernardo Silva remains a doubt after picking up a quadriceps injury while on international duty, while Riyad Mahrez is also just short of match fitness having missed some of pre-season after testing positive for coronavirus.

Mahrez should be ready to start on Monday night, but Aymeric Laporte is a bigger doubt after seeing his preparations disrupted by another positive COVID-19 test.

The virus caused more havoc with Man City's plans after they revealed on the morning of the game that Ilkay Gundogan has also tested positive, ruling him out of this match.

Phil Foden's off-field antics while on international duty with England are unlikely to have been looked upon favourably by Guardiola, but Gundogan's absence could force him to use the youngster alongside Rodri and newly-crowned PFA Player of the Year Kevin De Bruyne in midfield.

Nathan Ake is in line for his debut at the back, but fellow summer signing Ferran Torres may need to wait for his first outing for the club.

Should Laporte miss out then Eric Garcia looks most likely to partner Ake at the back, despite having turned down the offer of a new contract with his current deal expiring next summer.

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Who will win Monday's Premier League clash between Wolves and Man City?

Wolves
Draw
Man City
Wolves
0.0%
Draw
0.0%
Man City
0.0%
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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola on July 2, 2020
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