Match ends, Manchester City 5, Wolverhampton Wanderers 1.
Erling Haaland's first four-goal haul in the Premier League left Manchester City three wins away from a historic fourth successive English league title.
With no margin for error following Arsenal's earlier victory over Bournemouth, City delivered the perfect response.
City were given a helping hand they did not need thanks to a favourable 12th-minute penalty decision from referee Craig Pawson.
Haaland sent Wolves keeper Jose Sa the wrong way, then beat the Portuguese from the spot again just before the break after he had been brought down by Nelson Semedo.
In between, the striker had scored with a superb far-post header, climbing to an amazing height unchallenged at the far post, to send Rodri's cross back across goal and into the corner.
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A minute after Hwang Hee-chan had pulled one back for the visitors, Haaland struck again, powering on to Phil Foden's brilliant lofted pass.
It took the Norwegian to 25 Premier League goals for the season and five clear of Alexander Isak and Cole Palmer in the Golden Boot standings.
Julian Alvarez finished off the scoring five minutes from time to leave City a point behind Arsenal, but now with three games remaining to the Gunners' two.
Free-scoring Haaland
Scrolling back through Haaland's incredible scoring feats since his arrival at Manchester City, it was almost a surprise to learn he has never scored four in a Premier League game until this one.
He has scored five twice, at Luton in the FA Cup in February and against RB Leipzig in the Champions League in March last year.
Haaland now has nine hat-tricks. His overall tally for the season is 36.
Incredibly, he is now 87th in the all-time Premier League scoring charts with 61, one more than City legend David Silva, who watched this game from the stands, has a statue outside the stadium and was given a standing ovation in recognition of his trophy-ladened 12 years of service to the club.
It can only be imagined what figures Haaland will reach if he remains at City for that length of time.
For Arsenal, there was a predictability about Haaland's efforts and the overall outcome, that can only make them wonder just where their rivals will drop points.
On paper, City's visit to Tottenham on 14 May is tough. But, as Arsenal themselves proved last week, Ange Postecoglou's side are in poor form and on this evidence would be hard pressed to stop Haaland in his tracks.
'It's not football any more'
Wolves boss Gary O'Neil watched this game from the directors' box after being given a touchline ban for his verbal volley at the officials after his side were controversially denied an injury-time equaliser against West Ham last month.
It was the latest in a string of decisions O'Neil feels have gone against his side this season, starting in the opening round of fixtures when they were denied a late penalty at Old Trafford.
City's opening goal was another that could be filed in the 'unlucky' tray.
Watching the replays of Josko Gvardiol's collision with Rayan Ait-Nouri as the Croatia defender fired over, the momentum seemed to be with the City man going into his opponent. It could also be argued it was a physical confrontation and neither man should be penalised. Pawson opted to focus on the fact Ait-Nouri had not touched the ball. Under those circumstances, it was not a ruling likely to be overturned by VAR.
However, it was Stuart Attwell, who came under so much scrutiny from Nottingham Forest for missing what they said were three penalty decisions at Everton recently, who stepped in to ensure Semedo bringing down Haaland for City's second penalty was penalised after Pawson had failed to spot it in real time.
However, the wait for the decision was a lengthy one, during which time the Wolves fans chanted 'it's not football any more'.
Player of the match
HaalandErling Haaland
Manchester City
Avg
- Squad number9Player nameHaalandAverage rating
7.47
- Squad number19Player nameÁlvarezAverage rating
7.35
- Squad number17Player nameDe BruyneAverage rating
7.21
- Squad number47Player nameFodenAverage rating
7.10
- Squad number5Player nameStonesAverage rating
6.94
- Squad number10Player nameGrealishAverage rating
6.85
- Squad number11Player nameDokuAverage rating
6.77
- Squad number16Player nameRodriAverage rating
6.57
- Squad number20Player nameBernardo SilvaAverage rating
6.55
- Squad number24Player nameGvardiolAverage rating
6.40
- Squad number27Player nameMatheus NunesAverage rating
6.37
- Squad number6Player nameAkéAverage rating
6.23
- Squad number8Player nameKovacicAverage rating
6.22
- Squad number2Player nameWalkerAverage rating
6.15
- Squad number25Player nameAkanjiAverage rating
6.11
- Squad number31Player nameEdersonAverage rating
6.06
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Avg
- Squad number1Player nameJosé SáAverage rating
6.07
- Squad number11Player nameHwang Hee-chanAverage rating
6.05
- Squad number12Player nameMatheus CunhaAverage rating
5.83
- Squad number8Player nameJoão GomesAverage rating
5.70
- Squad number3Player nameAït-NouriAverage rating
5.65
- Squad number27Player nameBellegardeAverage rating
5.64
- Squad number23Player nameKilmanAverage rating
5.62
- Squad number6Player nameTraoréAverage rating
5.62
- Squad number17Player nameBuenoAverage rating
5.58
- Squad number5Player nameLeminaAverage rating
5.57
- Squad number24Player nameToti GomesAverage rating
5.53
- Squad number22Player nameNélson SemedoAverage rating
5.51
- Squad number4Player nameBuenoAverage rating
5.15
- Squad number62Player nameChirewaAverage rating
5.09
- Squad number21Player nameSarabiaAverage rating
5.03
Line-ups
Man City
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 31Ederson
- 2Walker
- 25Akanji
- 6AkéSubstituted forStonesat 69'minutes
- 24Gvardiol
- 16Rodri
- 8Kovacic
- 20Bernardo SilvaSubstituted forDokuat 80'minutes
- 17De BruyneSubstituted forNunesat 79'minutes
- 47FodenSubstituted forGrealishat 80'minutes
- 9HaalandSubstituted forÁlvarezat 82'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Rúben Dias
- 5Stones
- 10Grealish
- 11Doku
- 18Ortega
- 19Álvarez
- 21Gómez
- 27Nunes
- 82Lewis
Wolves
Formation 3-5-2
- 1Sá
- 22Nélson SemedoBooked at 45mins
- 23Kilman
- 24Gomes
- 3Aït-Nouri
- 8João GomesBooked at 66mins
- 5LeminaBooked at 41minsSubstituted forBellegardeat 45'minutes
- 6TraoréBooked at 64mins
- 17BuenoSubstituted forBuenoat 71'minutes
- 11Hwang Hee-chanSubstituted forChirewaat 87'minutes
- 12Matheus CunhaSubstituted forSarabiaat 76'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Doherty
- 4Bueno
- 21Sarabia
- 25Bentley
- 27Bellegarde
- 30González
- 61Okoduwa
- 62Chirewa
- 63Fraser
- Referee:
- Craig Pawson
- Attendance:
- 52,439
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home58%
- Away42%
- Shots
- Home20
- Away2
- Shots on Target
- Home12
- Away1
- Corners
- Home6
- Away0
- Fouls
- Home4
- Away17
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Manchester City 5, Wolverhampton Wanderers 1.
Post update
Attempt missed. Manuel Akanji (Manchester City) left footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Jérémy Doku.
Post update
Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Toti Gomes.
Post update
Attempt saved. Jérémy Doku (Manchester City) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Substitution
Substitution, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Tawanda Chirewa replaces Hwang Hee-Chan.
Post update
Jack Grealish (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by João Gomes (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
Goal!
Goal! Manchester City 5, Wolverhampton Wanderers 1. Julián Álvarez (Manchester City) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Rodri.
Substitution
Substitution, Manchester City. Julián Álvarez replaces Erling Haaland.
Post update
Jack Grealish (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Santiago Bueno (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
Substitution
Substitution, Manchester City. Jérémy Doku replaces Bernardo Silva.
Substitution
Substitution, Manchester City. Jack Grealish replaces Phil Foden.
Substitution
Substitution, Manchester City. Matheus Nunes replaces Kevin De Bruyne.
Post update
Attempt saved. Erling Haaland (Manchester City) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Bernardo Silva with a cross.
Substitution
Substitution, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Pablo Sarabia replaces Matheus Cunha.
Post update
Foul by Josko Gvardiol (Manchester City).
Post update
João Gomes (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Attempt saved. Mateo Kovacic (Manchester City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Rodri.
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