Manchester City v Wolverhampton Wanderers

Manchester City move up to third in the table and took a step closer to Champions League qualification as they beat Wolves 1-0. De Bruyne, playing in his penultimate match at the Etihad, scored the only goal of the game in the 35th minute after good work from Doku to create the opening. The visitors did have their moments, especially in the first half, but Bellegarde squandered a glorious chance when he was put through on goal while Ait-Nouri struck the post and had a shot cleared off the line in the same sequence. The second-half was a low-key affair, but City were rarely threatened, except for a shot from Cunha which fired against the post midway through. City's xG ended at 0.65 while Wolves generated 0.44. City now have a week's rest before they travel to relegated Southampton while Wolves host Brighton next weekend. That's all from me, thank you and goodbye!

FULL-TIME: MANCHESTER CITY 1-0 WOLVES

Wolves win a corner in the final minute of stoppage time but it's dealt with by the City defence. That will be that.

City make another substitution in stoppage time as Gonzalez comes on for Kovacic.

Guedes manages to dig out a cross from the right but there's no Wolves player on the scene to apply a finish in the box and Silva can clear for the home side. That was the only nervy moment City have encountered in the last 20 minutes.

There will be five minutes of injury time. Can Wolves find an equaliser from somewhere?

Wolves have the ball for the first time in a while but Andre misplaces a diagonal pass aimed for Guedes and it goes out for a throw. He beats the ground in frustration. Any hopes of a draw are slipping from the visitors' grasp as of right now.

There has been a flurry of substitutions from both sides but will they have the desired effect? The half has mostly consisted of heavy City possession and it's still the case right now. Wolves have not been nearly as threatening in this second half.

Pereira makes another substitution as Semedo comes off for Bueno. Not long to go now.

Cunha may have picked up a knock after that challenge with Gvardiol and is replaced by Hwang.

De Bruyne leaves the pitch to rapturous applause with Foden replacing him. The Belgian has just one match left at the Etihad.

Gundogan has had a really quiet game and is replaced by McAtee for the final few minutes.

Marmoush's evening is over as Lewis comes on in his place.

Sarabia curls a pass forward which Akanji miscues at first but then clears. They need to progress the ball up the pitch quickly if they are to grab a late leveller and get something out of this.

Wolves make another change with little time remaining as Guedes comes on for Andre with 10 minutes left.

Nearly 10 minutes of normal time left and City are on the verge of a fourth straight league win. Wolves did have a small spell of pressure in the second half, but that has since subsided. If anything, City look the likelier to add another.

There's now a coming together between Gvardiol and Cunha as both try and win the ball. Both seem ok to continue but the Croatian took too long on the ball on that occasion and was nearly punished for it.

Gomes has made six tackles today and since the start of last season has made 233 tackles in the Premier League, 37 more than any other player. There has been bite and legs in that Wolves midfield but they have struggled to progress the ball from the centre of the pitch to the likes of Cunha.

Silva goes down after being caught on the ankle by Ait-Nouri's challenge. It's reviewed by VAR and it doesn't look great for the defender in slow motion in terms of the contact but it's checked and cleared.

Doku has created three goal-scoring chances for teammates - no other player on the pitch has more than one. Most of the City threat has come through him or De Bruyne this evening.

City have wrestled back control in these last five minutes as Silva shows decent strength to protect the ball from the presence of Ait-Nouri before teeing up Kovacic on the edge of the box but he skewers his effort wide with little pace on the shot.

Some really fine play from City as a cutting-edge pass from Gvardiol picks out an advancing Doku who in turn finds De Bruyne, with the ball eventually played out to Marmoush but he can't get any direction on the shot with his weaker foot.

It's a double change as Bellegarde comes off for Gomes.

Wolves make their first change of the night and it's an attacking one as Doherty is replaced by Sarabia.

Ait-Nouri is continuing to be a presence down that left side for Wolves and his latest run sees him evade a few challenges before De Bruyne gets back to clear it away for a corner. City are then able to deal with the delivery.

De Bruyne wins a corner for the home side but Silva's lofted delivery is easily claimed by Sa ahead of Dias. Neither side have been much of a threat from set-pieces tonight.

60 minutes on the clock and Wolves are just starting to cause a few problems once more for the City backline. Cunha is finding some positions in between the lines and beginning to receive the ball from deep for the first time in the half. They are still very much in this match.

O'Reilly lost the ball moments before the Cunha effort on goal, and its subsequently substituted in place of Akanji.

OFF THE POST! Wolves haven't had an effort at goal for a while but they nearly equalise out of the blue! Cunha receives the ball for the first time in a while and decides to let fly from outside the area but his shot cannons off the woodwork!

Wolves advance forward into City's half for the first time this half with Ait-Nouri finding a bit of space to deliver a cross from the left but Nunes makes a fine block to deflect it out for a throw to the visitors.

No player has been involved in more Premier League goals against Wolves than De Bruyne (six goals, five assists - level with Mohamed Salah). His goal remains the difference between the two sides.

City keep the ball again, with Marmoush producing a fine nutmeg to get in front of Toti on the far touchline before a tangle of legs between the pair. The Egyptian stays down after contact on his ankle from the defender and needs treatment from the medical staff.

City have dominated possession during the first few minutes of the second half but any momentum is stalled as Nunes overhits a pass intended for De Bruyne and the ball trickles out for a goal-kick to Wolves.

The task for Wolves is a pretty huge one as City have lost just one of their last 49 home PL games when ahead at the break.

Wolves get us under way for the second half. No changes from either side.

Despite not being at their best, the live win probability has Man City's chances of holding onto their lead at a commanding 84.1%, with the possibility of a draw at 12.4% and the prospect of a Wolves comeback and victory at just 3.6%. Second half is coming right up.

Manchester City lead Wolves 1-0 at half-time of their Premier League match. Despite the score, the visitors had two truly wonderful chances to take the lead but Bellegarde fluffed his lines after overhitting a pass to Munetsi when through on goal while Ait-Nouri struck the post with a shot and then saw his rebounded effort saved on the line from Gvardiol. City hadn't threatened for much of the half but ended the first 45 strongly and got their goal through De Bruyne after excellent work from Silva and then Doku. City have created 0.52 xG in comparison to 0.40 for Wolves.

HALF-TIME: MANCHESTER CITY 1-0 WOLVES

There will be one minute of added time for the second half.

All four of De Bruyne's Premier League goals this season have come at home, while all four of his goals last season were scored away from home. He's been one of his side's best performers in this one so far.

Wolves are now struggling to even progress the ball up the pitch now as they are forced to deal with the relentless pressing from City, which starts with the likes of Marmoush and Doku from the front. The home side don't want the half to end now.

City, buoyed by the goal, are taking hold of the ball with purpose now and keeping Wolves at bay. Pep Guardiola will be delighted with his side being in front after a half that has been lacklustre and lacking in quality at times.

City have lost just one match in the league this season after scoring first at the Etihad. Unfortunately, that occured against their city-rivals Manchester United in December last year.

As it stands, City would move into third place ahead of Newcastle on 64 points. There's still a long way to go in this one and Wolves have already shown how much of a threat they can be with a few attacking sequences tonight.

Doku went on the outside of Doherty and managed to pick out De Bruyne with his weaker foot. The Belgian is inconsistent at times but always seems to cause a problem or two.

City threaten properly for the first time today as Doku isolates Semedo before threading through a pass for the advancing O'Reilly but his shot is tipped over the bar by Sa! Wolves are able to deal with the set-piece moments later.

Wolves have won each of their last four Premier League away games. They last won more consecutive league games on the road in October 2013 when they were in League One, while they last did so in the top-flight in April 1980.

Nearly 30 minutes have passed and Wolves have created two glorious opportunities to take the lead. City have lacked incision and guile going forward and haven't produced anything of note as of yet.

ANOTHER BIG CHANCE! The visitors probe again as Ait-Nouri and Cunha combine before the latter backheels the ball into the path of the wing-back but he strikes an effort against the far post! He gets a second bite of the cherry but Gvardiol then manages to save it on the line!

All six of Marmoush’s Premier League goals for Man City have come at the Etihad Stadium. It’s the most goals a player has scored this season with 100% of them coming at home.

WHAT A CHANCE! WOLVES SHOULD BE IN THE LEAD! It's all too easy as City's last line of defence is cut open by a simple Cunha pass into the path of Bellegarde - he tries to square it to Munetsi as he advances through on goal but he overhits the pass and his teammate can't reach it! Big let off for City.

It's all coming from De Bruyne as he operates on the left this time to deliver a teasing cross which Toti can only clear into the path of Marmoush but he blasts his effort over from just inside the box.

City are almost in behind as De Bruyne makes a penetrative run in the centre right channel of the penalty area but his cutback can't reach Marmoush as Doherty makes a fantastic interception. The ball ends up falling for Doku but he is dispossessed at the vital moment.

Wolves threaten as a cross from Semedo is cleared by Bernardo but only into the path of Andre from the edge of the area but he can't keep his shot down. The midfielder believes his side should have won a corner but the referee is not interested.

Unsurprisingly, City have dominated possession in the early exchanges but they've struggled to convert that into anything meaningful when it comes to creating chances.Wolves seem pretty settled in their defensive shape.

Bellegarde produces a wonderful bit of skill on the near touchline to deceive Silva and Nunes, with Ait-Nouri winning a foul just a few seconds later for the visitors. Wolves are playing with confidence, which is unsurprising considering their blistering form.

Some neat interplay from City as De Bruyne quickens the play up with a forward pass for Nunes down the right but Sa is positioned well to gobble up the inswinging cross from the ex-Wolves man. Excellent positioning from the goalkeeper.

For just the third time this season, only one English player has been named in the starting XIs in a Premier League match, with Man City’s O’Reilly the only Englishman. The other two times it’s happened have also involved Wolves – against Liverpool and Fulham in February.

Semedo makes a superb run to get himself out of danger deep in his own half before he goes down under the challenge of De Bruyne, with Wolves being awarded a free-kick. They've made a pretty confident start at the Etihad.

This is only City's 12th Premier League game on a Friday, with the Citizens losing just two, winning six and drawing three so far, with one of those defeats coming against Wolves under Guardiola in December 2019 away when they lost 3-2.

Marmoush shows great defence endeavour and strength to wrestle the ball away from Bellegarde and see it out for a goal-kick. Dias appreciates the effort from City's forward there.

Decent chance for Wolves as sloppy play from Nunes gifts the ball to Cunha who shows good strength but after steadying himself, he balloons a shot over the crossbar. The ball bobbled just as he was about to pull the trigger.

City's first attack of the match sees them keep possession down the left before the ball falls to Dias from around 25-yards out but his shot swerves away from goal and goes wide.

Man City get us under way on this Friday evening at the Etihad!

The players are now walking out onto the pitch and kick-off is fast approaching in Manchester!

Jorgen Strand Larsen is missing for the visitors after picking up a groin strain. Bellegarde is given a start with Cunha moving into the central striker position. Sasa Kalajdzic, Enso Gonzalez and Yerson Mosquera are all still on the road to recovery from long-term injuries.

Haaland makes his return to the matchday squad after being out injured for three weeks. Rodri, Nathan Ake, John Stones and Oscar Bobb are all still missing. Ederson was a doubt prior to the match due to injury but is passed fit. De Bruyne is handed a start as he continues his City farewell tour.

WOLVES SUBS: Santiago Bueno, Hwang Hee-Chan, Rodrigo Gomes, Tommy Doyle, Pablo Sarabia, Dan Bentley, Goncalo Guedes, Nasser Djiga, Pedro Lima

MANCHESTER CITY SUBS: Erling Haaland, Jack Grealish, Nico Gonzalez, Stefan Ortega, Manuel Akanji, Savinho, Phil Foden, Rico Lewis, James McAtee

Wolves are in unbelievable form during this final stretch of the season. They have won six matches on the trot - the joint-longest of any side in the division as their 1-0 victory away to Manchester United was backed up by a comfortable 3-0 win over Leicester City at Molineux. Only once have they won six on the bounce in England's first division and that was over 80 years ago so Vitor Pereira's side are very close to making real history. Wolves have been fighting for survivial throughout the whole season but another victory would put them just one point behind Crystal Palace in 12th, who they are still to play away from home this season. Their recent form against City is pretty ugly however, with eight losses from their last nine matches after completing the double over Guardiola's men in the 2019/20 season.

Man City enjoyed two crucial results last week, as they edged a step closer to Champions League qualification with a late 2-1 win against Aston Villa and then reached their third FA Cup final in succession with victory over Nottingham Forest at Wembley. They did officially cede their control of the Premier League crown after a record-breaking four titles on the trot but Pep Guardiola's men have won their last three matches and are enjoying an upturn in form as we approach the end of the season. They can climb up to third with a win this evening, while it would also ensure four league wins a row since the very beginning of the season, which just goes to show how inconsistent City have been this campaign.

Hello and welcome to live coverage of this Premier League match between Manchester City and Wolves at the Etihad Stadium!