Wolverhampton Wanderers face one of the toughest challenges in the Premier League this weekend as they prepare to host defending champions Manchester City at Molineux.
Wolves have had a dismal start to the season, securing just one point from their opening games and currently sitting at the bottom of the table.
In a recent piece for Metro, Premier League legend Alan Shearer shared his views on Wolves’ situation under manager Gary O’Neil and offered his prediction for the upcoming match. While Shearer backed City to walk away with all three points, he also expressed his hope that O’Neil would be given more time to turn things around.
“Wolves are under huge pressure after a poor start to the season,” Shearer noted. “This is not the fixture you want to see when you are desperate for your first win of the season. I can’t see them taking anything from the game – City will get the three points.”
Addressing O’Neil’s situation, Shearer emphasized the importance of context in judging a manager’s performance:
“You have to look at the bigger picture for Gary O’Neil. If teams are showing promise and being unlucky, then 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.”
As Wolves continue to struggle on the pitch, injuries are compounding their woes. Key players like Yerson Mosquera, Boubacar Traore, Enso Gonzalez, Sasa Kalajdzic, and Hwang Hee-Chan are expected to miss Sunday’s fixture.
Manchester City also face absences, with Kevin De Bruyne, Nathan Ake, Rodri, and Oscar Bobb ruled out for the long term.
