Manchester City v Wolves: Inside track on the Premier League champions

We spoke with Simon Bajkowski, Man City writer for the Manchester Evening News, and Ric Turner of Bluemoon-mcfc.co.ukto get a proper take on the Cityzens.

See what they had to say here...

What have you made of Man City's start to the season so far?

SB: It has been positive enough without really getting the feeling that City have been in top form.

They've hit some high scores but their best performance was probably at home to Tottenham, where poor finishing saw them draw a ridiculously one-sided game 2-2.

It's surely too early to be drawn into a two-way battle with Liverpool even if those sides look to have pulled even further away from the rest of a chasing pack that appears to have alarmingly regressed.

If there have been enough positives to suggest they can be even better this year, the defence issue remains critical while Aymeric Laporte is injured.

RT: It's been a decent start to the season, with us largely carrying on where we left off last season.

There were blips at home to Spurs and more notably away to Norwich, but hopefully those have served to focus minds within the squad.

It doesn't look like Liverpool will drop many points this season, so there is little margin for error.

They'd had some eye catching results and performances already this season, would you say Man City have improved on last year?

SB: Guardiola so rarely stands still and it was clear in summer that the team were working on new ideas and shapes.

They seem to have a card-deck full of different ideas to unlock defences and regularly add new threats.

But additions can also create insecurity - Rodri, for instance, is not the same player as Fernandinho and has needed time to adjust - and while the squad in most positions looks stronger than it has ever done, the failure to bring in a centre-back in summer looked risky at the time and has already cost them in the Premier League.

RT: I think it's too early to say, to be honest.

We've enjoyed two incredible seasons (amassing 100 and 98 points respectively), and it'd be a remarkable achievement to get close to that points tally for a third consecutive season.

We look a bit more vulnerable defensively this season though, with the injuries to Laporte and Stones, whilst Vincent Kompany is a big loss on and off the pitch.

Are there any injury worries heading into the game this weekend?

SB: Kevin De Bruyne is the big one.

Wolves away last season was one of the first game that his magic was visibly missed and City are undoubtedly a better team for him in it. Stones, Laporte and Sane are all expected to miss out.

RT: Leroy Sane, John Stones and Aymeric Laporte are all long term absentees.

Kevin De Bruyne missed the victory against Dinamo Zagreb with a groin problem, and is unlikely to be risked on Sunday.

Who've been the stand out performers for City this season so far and why?

SB: Raheem Sterling and Sergio Aguero have got the goals but De Bruyne, Riyad Mahrez and Gabriel Jesus have been some of the best performers.

De Bruyne and Mahrez are untouchable when they are on song and Jesus has returned to the all-action performances that saw him oust Aguero from the first team when he first arrived at the club in 2017.

Rodri has also impressed and is fun to watch, although can get caught on the ball.

RT: Raheem Sterling has started the season outstandingly, and has become perhaps our most important forward.

He continues to improve under Guardiola's tutelage, and is becoming one the best players in the world.

Riyad Mahrez endured a difficult first year at City, but the injury to Sane has given him more game time and he is flourishing as a result. He's starting to look like the player he was at Leicester again.

Rodri, signed in the summer from Atlettico Madrid, has been a revelation in the holding midfield role.

What's your predicted XI for this game?

SB: Guardiola is a master at killing team predictions/fantasy football picks so apologies in advance, but... Ederson, Walker, Otamendi, Fernandinho, Zinchenko, Rodri, Gundogan, Silva, Mahrez, Sterling, Jesus.

I'd expect De Bruyne to play if fit though.

RT: Ederson, Walker, Otamendi, Fernandinho, Zinchenko, Rodri, Gundogan, David Silva, Mahrez, Sterling, Aguero

Wolves got a hard earned point at home to City last season before a 3-0 defeat to them at the Etihad in January, do you think Pep Guardiola will take those games into consideration this time around?

SB: I think it will reinforce his message to the players not to lose their focus.

It is very much about getting through periods with their key defender injured and if they can round off this section of the season with a sixth straight win after that upset at Norwich it will be a strong positive for them.

They know how dangerous Wolves can be, as their four recent games can attest to.

RT: The game at Molineux last season was particularly tough, so there is little chance that Guardiola will underestimate Wolves.

I don't think the previous games will have any great bearing on Sunday's encounter though.

What have you made of Wolves from afar this season, how do you think they'll manage battling on domestic and European fronts?

SB: I was fortunate enough to see them in pre-season in China and thought they were absolutely brilliant.

They were impressive and last season and, while they were slightly ahead of the other teams in terms of preparations, looked even better.

It has been a surprise for me then to see them having only won one of their first seven games this season.

There's all kind of stereotypes to fall into, but from afar it looks more down to the extra European commitment than Premier League teams causing them different problems.

RT: Teams often struggle when having to play every Thursday & Sunday, but I thought Wolves would have a squad strong enough to cope with the extra demands that European football puts on you.

It's been a difficult start to the season for Nuno Espírito Santo's side, but I think it is a temporary blip rather than the start of a longer malaise.

I expect them to comfortably finish in the top half of the table.

Your match prediction?

SB: 3-1 City

RT: I think it will be a difficult game, but City are formidable at home. I think we'll run out 3-1 winners.

You can read Simon's work by following him on Twitter here, whilst Ric can be followed here.