Manchester City returned to winning ways with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, January 24, 2026. After a recent slump that saw them go four Premier League games without a win, including a humbling defeat to Manchester United and a UEFA Champions League loss to Bodø/Glimt, Pep Guardiola's side was in desperate need of a response.
The victory, however, wasn't without its talking points, as a rare VAR intervention regarding a potential handball added a layer of intrigue to the match. In the 35th minute, Omar Marmoush, who was selected ahead of Erling Haaland, latched onto a long ball and struck the post. Before the shot, the ball appeared to glance the outstretched arm of Wolves defender Yerson Mosquera, prompting a VAR review.
Referee Farai Hallam, officiating his first Premier League game, consulted the pitch-side monitor but decided against awarding a penalty. Hallam explained his decision, stating that the ball hit Mosquera's arm, but it was in a natural position. The Premier League supported the decision on X (formerly Twitter), reiterating Hallam's reasoning.
Despite the VAR controversy, Manchester City delivered a dominant performance. Former Wolves player Matheus Nunes provided a precise cross for Omar Marmoush to score the opening goal in the 6th minute. Antoine Semenyo, a January addition to the team, extended the lead just before halftime with a low, well-placed shot.
Wolves struggled to create clear-cut chances throughout the match. A free-kick attempt from André went just over the bar, and a header from Mosquera was kept out by Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. Semenyo nearly added a third goal for City in the second half, but his shot hit the crossbar.
The win closes the gap between Manchester City and league leaders Arsenal to four points. Guardiola will be encouraged by his team's performance, especially the contributions of Marmoush and Semenyo in the absence of Haaland. Wolves, on the other hand, remain at the bottom of the table and will need to find solutions to their attacking struggles if they are to climb out of the relegation zone.
