Premier League 2025/26: Marmoush and Semenyo score as Manchester City beat Wolves 2-0 to end winless streak

Goals from Omar Marmoush and Antoine Semenyo lifted Manchester City to a much-needed 2-0 home win over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday, moving Pep Guardiola’s men within four points of leaders Arsenal in the Premier League title race for the time being.

City’s first league win in almost a month stands at 46 points after 23 games, while the misery continues for Wolves, who sit last in the table with eight points, 14 points adrift of safety. Arsenal can restore their seven-point lead with a win over Manchester United on Sunday.

Marmoush started for Erling Haaland in his first league match since playing for Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations and put City on the scoresheet in the sixth minute with his first league goal of the season. Matheus Nunes, the target of boos from his former team’s traveling fans, delivered a cross from the right that Marmoush fired home.

“We fought until the end and showed a very good mentality from the start,” said Marmoush. “(Guardiola) wanted us to put our hearts into it and fight for every ball.”

READ | Why did the referee go against VAR to deny Man City’s penalty against Wolves?

Semenyo, signed from Bournemouth two weeks ago, doubled City’s lead through injury in the first half with his first league goal for the club when Bernardo Silva found him on his right. Semenyo took a touch to set up his shot before unleashing a blistering low shot past Jose ⁠Sa.

The win was City’s first in the competition since a 2-1 victory over Nottingham Forest on December 27, with three draws and a derby loss to Manchester United costing valuable points in the title race since then.

Guardiola gave his top scorer Haaland the majority of the afternoon off after recently saying the Norwegian was “exhausted”. Haaland, who came on in the 74th minute, has not scored in nine games.

Centre-back Marc Guehi, signed from Crystal Palace earlier this week, made his City debut and had the Etihad Stadium crowd cheering as he blocked a Wolves shot to keep the clean sheet.

City had four shots on target to Wolves’, with Semenyo almost doubling his tally when he collected a Phil Foden cross late in the match but his shot rattled off the woodwork.

City also shouted for a penalty just before half-time due to a close-range handball, but after a lengthy VAR the on-field review showed there was no penalty.

Published on January 24, 2026