Manchester City began their Premier League season with a commanding 4-0 victory over Wolves, highlighted by debut goals from Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki. Erling Haaland continued his prolific scoring record, while Reijnders also provided an assist, mirroring Aguero’s debut feat. Wolves, despite a tribute to Diogo Jota, struggled against City’s dominant performance.
Manchester City kicked off their Premier League campaign in spectacular fashion, securing a resounding 4-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux. New signings Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki marked their debuts with impressive goals, contributing to a dominant performance that saw City climb to the top of the early league standings.
The match began with Manchester City asserting their control, although Wolves initially displayed resilience in containing the City attack. Erling Haaland, despite missing an early opportunity, broke the deadlock in the 34th minute. Rico Lewis delivered a precise cross, which Haaland expertly tapped in, setting the tone for the rest of the match.
Tijjani Reijnders, who proved to be a standout performer, played a pivotal role in the opening goal. His clever pass over the top found Lewis, initiating the attack. Just three minutes later, Reijnders himself found the net with a confident, first-time finish. This goal followed a poor pass from Wolves’ Emmanuel Agbadou, which put the home side in immediate trouble, allowing Reijnders to capitalize and extend City's lead.
Wolves had a brief moment of hope earlier in the game when Marshall Munetsi scored a header, but it was disallowed due to offside. The second half saw Wolves attempting to mount a comeback, with Jorgen Strand Larsen creating a couple of promising chances. However, their aspirations were effectively dashed in the 61st minute when Manchester City extended their lead further.
Once again, Reijnders was instrumental in the build-up. He executed a neat one-two with Oscar Bobb before setting up Haaland, who skillfully finished past Wolves' goalkeeper Jose Sa. This goal not only showcased City's attacking prowess but also highlighted the seamless integration of new players into Pep Guardiola’s system.
The scoring was completed by another debutant, Rayan Cherki, who came off the bench to add his name to the scoresheet. In the 81st minute, Cherki received the ball outside the box, shifted it onto his favored right foot, and unleashed a pinpoint shot into the bottom-left corner, underscoring City's comprehensive victory.
The match also held emotional significance for Wolves fans, who paid tribute to former player Diogo Jota before the game. A stunning tifo of Jota covered the South Bank, acknowledging his contributions to the club. However, the game itself offered little for the home fans to celebrate, as their team ended the day at the bottom of the table.
Data Debrief: Debutants Shine as Haaland Continues Dominance
While several changes have been implemented at Manchester City as Guardiola aims to challenge Liverpool's title aspirations, Erling Haaland remains a consistent and formidable presence in attack. Haaland's goal-scoring record continues to impress, marking his presence in the league. He has now scored in all four of his Premier League matchday one appearances, a feat surpassed only by Mohamed Salah, who scored in six consecutive opening matches from 2017-18 to 2022-23.
Moreover, Wolves have become one of Haaland's preferred opponents. He has scored a total of 10 goals against them in the English top flight, surpassing his previous record of nine goals against West Ham. The seamless integration of debutants Reijnders and Cherki into the squad has added another dimension to City's attacking lineup.
Reijnders distinguished himself by becoming only the second player in Manchester City’s history to score and assist on his Premier League debut, following in the footsteps of Sergio Aguero, who achieved this against Swansea City in August 2011.
Cherki also made a notable entry into the record books, becoming the second-youngest player to score for City on his Premier League debut, at 21 years and 364 days. Only Bradley Wright-Phillips, at 19 years and 269 days, achieved this at a younger age against Middlesbrough in December 2004. These debut performances underscore the promising future and depth of Manchester City's squad as they embark on their Premier League journey.