Erling Haaland’s second first-half hat trick of the Premier League season was part of a four-goal day as the Norwegian led Manchester City to a 5-1 blowout of Wolves at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
Julian Alvarez also scored and Rodri had two assists for City, who matched Arsenal’s earlier win to stay a point back of the Gunners with a match-in-hand. Arsenal have 83 points with two matches left in their season, while City have 82 and three remaining league fixtures.
WATCH MANCHESTER CITY vs WOLVES FULL MATCH REPLAY
Haaland firmed his grip on a second-successive Premier League Golden Boot by running his lead over closest competitors Cole Palmer and Alexander Isak to five goals. His 25 goals in PL play give him 61 in just under two seasons.
Wolves got a late goal from Hee-chan Hwang, his 12th of the Premier League season, but fail to win for the seventh time in eight matches. Wolves’ 46 points keep them 11th, five points off eighth and six clear of 14th.
Haaland, City send another reminder
Erling Haaland’s injury deprived him of the chance to challenge his single-season Premier League record for goals, but his four-spot on Saturday run his goal-per-minute to one for every 91.88 minutes in league play. While that’s about a quarter-hour off from debut season — one for every 77.14 minutes — it is still pretty darn good and comes in a season in which Kevin De Bruyne missed the first 20 PL games and Haaland missed matches 16 through 21. While other good teams missed plenty more stars this season, City was without two FIFA Best XI players for considerable stretches of this hopeful fourth-straight title run. What’s more? Twenty-four year old Julian Alvarez has come into his own, now onto 10 goals and nine assists in PL play this season. Pep Guardiola rebuilds on the fly as well as anyone, and City could seal a title while looking to the league and saying, “Is that the best you could do?”
Manchester City 5-1 Wolves player ratings (from fotmob.com)
Manchester City 5-1 Wolves player ratings (from fotmob.com)
What’s next?
City go to Fulham on Saturday, then Spurs on May 14 (Tuesday) before hosting West Ham on Championship Sunday (May 19).
Wolves host Palace on Saturday before going to Anfield on Championship Sunday for Jurgen Klopp’s final game as Liverpool boss.
How to watch Manchester City vs Wolves live, stream link and start time
Kick off: 12:30pm ET Saturday
TV Channel: NBC/Peaco*ck
Online: Watch live online via NBC.com & Peaco*ck Premium
Manchester City vs Wolves live updates — By Nick Mendola
Manchester City vs Wolves final score: 5-1
Goalscorers: Haaland (pen 13', 35', pen 45+3', 54'), Hwang (53'), Alvarez (85')
Julian Alvarez goal — Manchester City 5-1 Wolves (85th minute)
Oh, it’s an acute finish. Alvarez rolls a low shot beyond the reach of Jose Sa to make it 5-1.
It’s another Rodri assist. His nine trail only four players in the Premier League this season.
Erling Haaland goal — Manchester City 4-1 Wolves (54th minute)
A brilliant past from Phil Foden. A ruthless finish off the turn by Haaland.
It’s Foden’s eighth PL assist this season and Haaland’s 25th goal. His Golden Boot lead now stands at five over Cole Palmer and Alexander Isak.
Haaland scores fourth on world-class finish
Erling Haaland immediately responds to Wolves' goal with one of his own to give himself -- and Manchester City -- four goals on the day.
Hee-chan Hwang goal — Manchester City 3-1 Wolves (53rd minute)
Jean-Ricner Bellegarde’s cross to Hee-chan Hwang is nice, and the South Korean nabs his 12th PL goal of the season to sully Ederson’s clean sheet.
Halftime — Manchester City 3-0 Wolves
City only needed a bit more than half of the ball (53% possession) to build a three-goal lead.
Haaland’s three goals are almost half of City’s seven shot attempts, while Wolves have failed to attempt one.
He might’ve claimed the Golden Boot defense in this 45 minutes, and Rodri’s up to eight assists on the season.
Man City penalty, Erling Haaland goal — Manchester City 3-0 Wolves (45+3' minute)
Haaland is behind Nelson Semedo, who is trying not to foul the Norwegian while he follows him into the box.
Haaland hits the deck and feels like he was fouled, but there’s no call. VAR takes a look and sees contact on the back of forward’s leg.
It’s a penalty.
Are we in for a first-half hat trick? We are.
Haaland earns hat trick with another penalty
After Erling Haaland was brought down in the box, the Manchester City star was the only choice to take the penalty. Haaland slotted it in for a first-half hat trick against Wolves.
Erling Haaland goal — Manchester City 2-0 Wolves (35th minute)
It’s a brace for Haaland, as Rodri and Kevin De Bruyne trade the ball.
The Spaniard stands a big cross up for Haaland, who gets way up and hangs in the air a la LeBron James to pound a perfect header just inside the far post.
Haaland goes upstairs for header on second goal
Manchester City strike with deadly precision, and Erling Haaland finishes the attack by rising up for a big-time header to take a 2-0 lead over Wolves.
Man City penalty, Erling Haaland goal — Manchester City 1-0 Wolves (13th minute)
Josko Gvardiol is kicked in the box by Rayan Ait-Nouri and Man City go to the spot.
Erling Haaland finishes with emphasis and the champions are up early at home.
Haaland scores early penalty for Manchester City
An early foul on Rayan Aït-Nouri gives Erling Haaland a chance to take the lead for Manchester City as he secures the penalty.
Manchester City lineup
Ederson, Walker (C), Akanji, Ake, Gvardiol, Rodrigo, Kovacic, De Bruyne, Foden, Bernardo, Haaland
Wolves lineup
Sa, Semedo, Toti, Kilman, H. Bueno, Traore, Gomes, M. Lemina, Ait-Nouri, Hwang, Cunha
Manchester City focus, team news
QUESTIONABLE: Ederson (shoulder)
Wolves focus, team news
OUT: Craig Dawson (groin), Leon Chiwone (ankle) | QUESTIONABLE: Jean-Ricner Bellegarde (knee), Noha Lemina (thigh), Santiago Bueno (hamstring), Pedro Neto (hamstring)
