Tijjani Reijnders enjoyed a Premier League debut to remember, producing an instrumental performance as Manchester City got their quest to reclaim the Premier League title off and running with a 4-0 win at Wolves.
After City were emphatically dethroned by Liverpool last season, Reijnders was one of several players added to Pep Guardiola’s squad ahead of the Club World Cup.
That tournament did not give much of a window into how the likes of Reijnders, Rayan Cherki and Rayan Ait-Nouri would gel into the City side, but at Molineux Reijnders provided a clear illustration of the influence he could have for Pep Guardiola’s men this season, having a hand in three of the four goals.
He was a primary architect of Haaland’s opener, which saw the Norwegian continue his run of scoring on every opening day since joining City. Reijnders then doubled City’s lead soon after, and the Dutchman was to the fore again as he laid off for Haaland to fire a third beyond Jose Sa and put the game beyond doubt.
Cherki then came off the bench to add gloss to the scoreline with his first Premier League goal late on as City laid down an early marker in their bid to reassert their dominance of English football.
Wolves v Manchester City
After an emotional pre-game tribute to former Wolves star Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva following their tragic deaths in July, Wolves enjoyed periods of ascendancy in the first half. Indeed, after Haaland wasted a gilt-edged chance by heading over from close range, Marshall Munetsi looked to have put the hosts ahead, only for his effort to be correctly ruled out for offside.
Wolves paid the price for not capitalising on spells where City looked fragile, Haaland punishing them by tapping home a 34th-minute opener after Reijnders had evaded several Wolves players and lifted the ball to Rico Lewis to pull back for the Norwegian.
Three minutes later, Reijnders marked his debut with a goal, his first-time finish proving too much for Jose Sa after Oscar Bobb had pounced on sloppy play in the Wolves midfield to tee up the former AC Milan midfielder.
Wolves started the second half brightly, with Jorgen Strand Larsen firing into the side-netting before seeing an effort tipped over by City goalkeeper James Trafford.
Once again, though, Wolves’ profligacy was punished as Reijnders combined neatly with Bobb and laid the ball off for Haaland, whose low strike proved too hot for Sa to handle.
City were in cruise control thereafter, and substitute Cherki joined Reijnders in marking his debut with a goal, his intricate link-up play with Nico O’Reilly concluded by an effort that he arrowed into the bottom-left corner.
