MAN CITY 5, WOLVES 1
Erling Haaland produced another masterclass in finishing, scoring four as Manchester City beat Wolves to remain hot on the heels of leaders Arsenal.
The Norwegian netted a first half hat-trick – he has become only the third player alongside Andy Cole and Michael Owen to score two trebles in the opening 45 minutes of a Premier League match.
This was also Haaland’s ninth hat-trick for City – six have come in the Premier League and 21st of his career, and he is only 23 years of age.
Haaland now has 25 Premier League goals, five clear of his nearest challengers for the golden boot while he has now netted 201 goals for club and country in the five seasons since he left Norwegian side Molde.
City substitute Julian Alvarez also scored on his 100th appearance for the club while Wolves’ consolation goal came from Hwang Hee-chan.
Guardiola praised Haaland who has scored 36 goals for the season despite absences through injury, but believed his side could have been even more clinical as they recorded a 50th Premier League victory by a margin of four of more goals since Guardiola became manager..
He said: “It looks comfortable, but it was not. In the end we created more chances but in the transition we were not precise in the last pass. But Erling is back to business. Penalties are a guarantee but the second and fourth [goals] were unbelievable.
“They are a really, really good team but we made calls in the right moment, especially with the fourth because at 3-1 anything can happen.
Embed from Getty Images“The 20 minutes he [Haaland] played against Nottingham Forest was really good and today as well.”
Haaland looked unhappy to be substituted and Guardiola explained: “He’s a little bit frustrated, but I understand. He was frustrated with the referee. With the long balls, sometimes they push him, and he is pulled.”
Guardiola also gave his assessment of the battle with Arsenal for the title.
“Nine points [from the last three matches] and we are champions. Six or seven points and Arsenal will be champions,” he said.
Wolves’ manager Gary O’Neill said: “The officials did not affect the result, though I thought the first penalty was a poor decision.
“You get away with mistakes against other teams, but not here where you need to be near perfect.
“We were fully responsible, and our mistakes gave City a lift and they punished us ruthlessly. We were nowhere near at the level to test them.”
Guardiola made three changes from the side that beat Nottingham Forest 2-0 last Sunday.
Phil Foden returned to the line-up after missing the last match through illness and Erling Haaland was also back in the side from the start.
Mateo Kovacic replaced Jack Grealish in City’s other change.
O’Neill served a one-match touchline ban following his reaction to a disallowed goal against West Ham last month.
He made just one change to the side that beat Luton 2-1 last Saturday as Hugo Bueno came in for Matt Doherty in defence.
Jean-Ricner Bellegarde and Santiago Bueno were on the bench after recovering from injury.
City had Wolves under the cosh from the start and their incessant pressure saw the visitors concede a 10th minute penalty following Rayan Ait-Nouri’s rash challenge on Josko Gvardiol.
Haaland stepped up to send keeper Jose Sa the wrong way from the spot for his 33rd goal of the season for City.
And he would have scored a second five minutes later but for a fabulous save by Sa to keep out his header.
Haaland was not to be denied, though, when he doubled City’s lead in the 35th minute with his 200th in the last five seasons for club and country.
Rodri intercepted the ball in midfield and exchanged passes with Kevin De Bruyne before crossing for Haaland to head home at the far post.
Haaland completed a first half treble in stoppage time with his second spot kick of the match which was awarded following a lengthy VAR check on Nelson Semedo’s challenge on the Norwegian.
Foden, the newly crowned football writers’ player of the year, would have netted his 100th City goal for City soon after the restart but for a smart stop by Sa low to his right.
Wolves reduced the deficit in the 53rd minute when substitute Bellegarde’s cross was palmed out by Ederson to Hwang Hee-chan who fired home at the far post.
City immediately restored a three-goal lead when Foden’s raking Crossfield pass released Haaland who turned Max Kilman before firing home a spectacular effort from the edge of the box.
Haaland almost added a fifth on the hour but his effort was superbly tipped over the bar by Sa,
City made their first change with 21 minutes left as Nathan Ake was replaced by John Stones.
Sa pulled off another big stop to deny Kovacic.
City made a triple change with 11 minutes left as De Bruyne, Silva and Foden were replaced by Matheus Nunes, Jeremy Doku and Jack Grealish and soon followed by a fifth as Haaland made way for Alvarez.
Alvarez had not been on the field three minutes when he made it 5-1 racing on to Rodri’s through ball to slot the ball low past Sa, his 18th goal of the season.