Manchester City have often struggled at Molineux, and their misfortune there was cemented by a controversial moment in 2018. Fresh off their promotion to the Premier League, Wolves hosted the reigning champions in a match that stirred up plenty of drama.
In the second half, Wolves midfielder Joao Moutinho whipped in a cross that Willy Boly turned into the net for the opening goal. But how he scored it became the center of heated debate. Replays showed the ball had come off Boly’s arm before finding the back of the net. Manchester City players were livid, demanding a handball call, but the officials didn’t oblige. The rules at the time, as outlined by the International Football Association Board (IFAB), only considered a handball an offense if it was “deliberate.” Since Boly had attempted to head the ball before it brushed his arm, the goal stood.
That incident, however, played a role in sparking a significant rule change. For the following season, FIFA approved new regulations where handball didn’t have to be intentional to disallow an attacking goal. The shift in rules quickly came back to bite City. In their very first home game of the next season, a late winner from Gabriel Jesus against Tottenham was nullified because Aymeric Laporte’s arm had accidentally grazed the ball during the buildup. This time, the newly introduced VAR system spotted the infraction, leaving City frustrated once more.
That frustration only deepened during their next visit to Wolves. Despite overcoming a red card for goalkeeper Ederson and leading 2-0 with 10 minutes to go, City collapsed, losing 3-2—a result that seemed to confirm Liverpool’s march toward the title that season.
While City have managed to win three of their last four trips to Molineux, last year’s defeat marked their first Premier League loss of the season, reminding them that Molineux remains a challenging ground for them.
