City took control through first-half goals from Omar Marmoush and Antoine Semenyo, but the match was dominated by controversy after referee Farai Hallam, officiating his first Premier League game, refused to award City a penalty. With the score at 1-0, Marmoush flicked the ball onto Yerson Mosquera's arm in the box, prompting a VAR review. Hallam was sent to the pitchside monitor but stuck with his original decision, ruling the arm to be in a natural position.
Guardiola was furious, suggesting the call was emblematic of a wider issue. "The referee made a huge debut - now everybody will know him," he said. "I think it's the first time they go to the TV and disallow what is a ‘normal' position of the arms. We won despite these decisions."
The City boss also revisited his frustration from last weekend's Manchester derby defeat, when United defender Diogo Dalot avoided a red card for a knee-high challenge on Jérémy Doku - an incident that later ruled the winger out of City's Champions League trip to Bodo/Glimt. Guardiola called on referees' chief Howard Webb to publicly explain both decisions.
Wolves manager Rob Edwards supported Hallam's judgement, praising the referee's composure on debut. "I thought his arm was in a natural position," Edwards said, while questioning the need for a lengthy VAR review.
On the pitch, City's early dominance proved enough, though Wolves showed fight late on, with Mosquera hitting the bar. Guardiola admitted his side faded in the final stages but welcomed the win ahead of a busy schedule, while Edwards insisted the scoreline flattered City despite his side's defeat.
Michael Carrick put a dent in Arsenal's Premier League title hopes with a dramatic 3–2 win, claiming maximum points from his first two games in charge of the club.
Chelsea moved up into the Champions League places and Aston Villa drew level on points with Manchester City as both clubs won important away games in the Premier League on Sunday.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot has suggested that some players 'ran out of energy' in the final minutes of the 3-2 defeat against Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday.
Lyle Foster came off the bench to score as Burnley drew 2-2 against Tottenham Hotspur while Manchester City were back to winning ways in the Premier League after a 2-0 success over Wolves.
