Page 2 - Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-3 Manchester City: 5 Talking Points as Cityzens open with away win

#3 Manchester City were vulnerable in the second half

Raul Jimenez scored Wolves's only goal of the day

After playing some champagne football in the first half, City found themselves on the receiving end of some sustained Wolves pressure after the break.

Even before Jimenez scored, the hosts would have wondered how they had not got back on level terms at least.

There were at least three presentable opportunities for Wolves, but Daniel Podence, Neves and Jimenez all failed to really work Ederson. The common theme for all those Wolves pressure, was that they targetted Benjamin Mendy, who started as the left-back for City.

Boith Traore and Pedro Neto were too hot to handle for the Frenchman, so Wolves will regret that they created opportunities but just failed to take them.

In fact, despite all the chances they had, Wolves did not manage a single shot on target apart from the goal scored by Jimenez.

#2 Manchester City's first-half dominance

Phil Foden scored his first league goal of the season

For the first 45 minutes of the game, City played some majestic football, and were simply untouchable. It helped them that Wolves played possibly their worst half of football in a long time. But for a side playing their first competitive game of the season, City looked ultra-sharp, and pinged the ball around with ease.

They kept targeting the channel between Traore and Boly, and really found joy with Sterling in that area. They were gifted the penalty by Saiss being daft and diving in, but the lead, at the time, was richly deserved.

The second goal was beautifully crafted down the left flank, as De Bruyne set Sterling on his way, and with Patricio rushing out to close the angle, the winger played a smart cut-back that gave Phil Foden an empty net to slot in to.

#1 Manchester City will get stronger with key players returning

Sergio Aguero and Bernardo Silva are both currently injured

Aymeric Laporte and Ilkay Gundogan were missing altogether from the matchday squad, while Riyad Mahrez only made the bench. All three had been diagnosed with COVID-19, with Mahrez having recovered from it.

Bernardo Silva and Sergio Aguero are also injured, while City are also waiting on the return of Oleksandr Zinchenko, to bolster Guardiola's options in the left-back position.

With the return of those players, City will only get stronger, which is why these initial games are as much a challenge for them as they are an opportunity to lay down a marker.

They have started off on the right note, negotiating a tough away fixture at Molineux, with panache, and sometimes, luck.