Wolverhampton Wanderers are gearing up for what could be their most daunting challenge of the Premier League season as they face off against Manchester City this Sunday at Molineux.
Gary O’Neil’s Wolves side have endured a tough start to the campaign, managing just one point and sitting at the bottom of the table. Hosting the reigning four-time champions isn’t exactly the scenario most would choose when desperately seeking a change in fortune.
Unsurprisingly, most experts and pundits are backing Manchester City to comfortably secure a win. Among them is Premier League icon Alan Shearer, who recently weighed in on the match and shared his thoughts on O’Neil’s future with Wolves.
Shearer Expects a Man City Win but Advocates Patience for O’Neil
Writing in the Metro, Shearer was clear in his belief that City would leave Molineux with all three points. While he didn’t specify a score, the former striker emphasized the uphill battle Wolves face against Pep Guardiola’s well-oiled machine.
“Wolves are under huge pressure after a poor start to the season,” Shearer remarked. “This is not the fixture you want to see when you’re desperate for your first win.”
Shearer added, “I can’t see them taking anything from the game – City will get the three points.”
However, Shearer was quick to express his hope that Gary O’Neil would be granted more time to turn things around at Wolves, given his achievements last season. “You have to look at the bigger picture for Gary O’Neil,” he continued. “If teams are showing promise and being unlucky, that’s one thing. But if you look at a team and they’ve got no pattern, no understanding or confidence, then you must judge that.”
“However, with what he did at Wolves last season, I hope he has got a little bit of time on his side and gets the chance to pull Wolves out of trouble.”
Wolves vs. Man City: Team News
Adding to O’Neil’s woes is an ever-growing injury list. Key players including Yerson Mosquera, Boubacar Traore, Enso Gonzalez, Sasa Kalajdzic, and Hwang Hee-Chan are all expected to miss the crucial fixture against City.
Meanwhile, Manchester City aren’t without their own injury concerns. Star midfielder Kevin De Bruyne and defender Nathan Ake remain sidelined, and Rodri and Oscar Bobb are also set to miss the game due to long-term injuries.
With injuries mounting and pressure building, Wolves will need more than just luck to prevent a City triumph. However, the bigger question might be whether Gary O’Neil can buy himself more time to steer the club away from trouble.
