Manchester City opened their Premier League title defence with a comfortable 3–0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux on 16 August. New signing Tijjani Reijnders marked his league debut with a goal and an assist inside four minutes, underscoring Pep Guardiola’s revamped midfield options. The Netherlands international set up Erling Haaland in the 34th minute with a deft chip that Rico Lewis squared for the Norwegian striker’s first of the season. Three minutes later Reijnders doubled City’s lead with a left-footed finish, before Haaland completed his brace on 61 minutes to seal the result. Haaland has now scored on the opening weekend in each of his Premier League seasons, while Reijnders becomes the first City midfielder since Kevin De Bruyne in 2015 to both score and create a goal on his league debut. The champions’ early statement keeps them level with Liverpool and Chelsea, who also won their opening fixtures.