Manchester City’s habit of conceding first in Premier League matches this season is becoming an unsettling trend.
Erling Haaland left the pitch all smiles, exchanging fist bumps with his teammates after City snatched a late victory against Wolves thanks to John Stones’ dramatic winner. It was a hard-fought three points, but City once again took the scenic route to victory. After Wolves scored the opener, City’s players looked deflated—Haaland could only grab the ball and walk back to midfield, a familiar scene in recent weeks.
Jorgen Strand Larsen’s early goal marked the fourth time in eight Premier League matches that City have conceded first. Wolves joined Ipswich, Brentford, and Fulham in taking the lead against the reigning champions. With just one clean sheet in the league so far, City’s defensive vulnerabilities, often exposed by their expansive playing style, are starting to raise eyebrows.
Despite these concerns, Pep Guardiola expressed satisfaction with his team’s performance at Molineux, particularly their calmness and persistence against a defensively compact Wolves side. Their patience paid off with a late goal, securing yet another comeback victory.
City’s resilience is undeniable. Their win against Wolves extended their unbeaten streak in the Premier League to a club-record 31 matches. Even more impressive is their ability to recover from setbacks; they’ve now gone 12 games unbeaten when conceding first, winning 10 of those—a Premier League record. With stats like that, it’s difficult to criticize the team too harshly.
However, the pursuit of perfection is what separates champions from challengers, and City knows they can’t afford to relax. With Liverpool leading the pack and Arsenal close on their heels after two seasons of intense competition, the pressure is on.
There’s a sense that City’s reliance on late heroics might eventually catch up with them. Their resilience has served them well so far, but the question lingers: how long can they keep pulling off these Houdini acts? Whether it’s a mental lapse, a tactical flaw, or simply tough opponents taking advantage, the risk is growing. City will hope to shake this comeback routine before it costs them.
