Reijnders makes his mark for City

It is very early in the season but Man City's dominant performance against Wolves puts them top of the table, where they have finished in six of the past eight campaigns.

At the heart of their brilliance was midfielder Tijjani Reijnders, who was making his Premier League debut having played three times for City at the Club World Cup in the summer.

His display showed why he may become a fans' favourite for City.

An action-packed performance from the 27-year-old laid the platform for fast starters City to record their 14th opening-game victory in the past 15 seasons.

The visitors were finding it difficult to make inroads on the back five of Wolves early on, but Reijnders' delightful piece of skill contributed to breaking the deadlock and they took total control thereafter.

The former AC Milan man showed quick feet before lifting a sumptuous ball through to Rico Lewis, who fed Erling Haaland to convert the simplest of finishes from close range.

City lacked athleticism in the middle of the park last season and the second goal showed what Reijnders will bring to this team, bursting forward and coolly slotting in from Oscar Bobb's lay-off.

And he displayed his guile with a cleverly disguised pass for Haaland's second goal as the City striker took his tally to 87 Premier League goals in just 98 games, while Rayan Cherki netted a fourth from outside the box a day before his 22nd birthday.

For Wolves, it was a disappointing start to the new campaign and Vitor Pereira's men have now gone five games without a win in the league.

It could have been a different story had Marshall Munetsi not wandered offside for his disallowed goal, and they have now been beaten in 10 of their past 11 meetings with City.

Wing-back David Moller Wolfe was given his first start while Fer Lopez and Jhon Arias came off the bench to make their Wolves debuts, but City were out of sight by then.