Wolves vs Man City LIVE: Premier League result and final score as Kevin De Bruyne nets four
Relive the action as Pep Guardiola’s men extended their lead at the top of the Premier League
Kevin De Bruyne scored four goals as Manchester City restored a three-point lead at the Premier League summit with a 5-1 win at Wolves.
The playmaker rattled in a left-footed hat-trick inside the opening 24 minutes and added another on the hour as City demonstrated the firepower they have even before Erling Haaland arrives next season.
City’s victory was also an emphatic response to title rivals Liverpool’s success over Aston Villa the previous night and tightened their grip on the title race with just two games to play.
The De Bruyne show was briefly interrupted by a Leander Dendoncker strike early on but a late Raheem Sterling tap-in ensured they would score five for a second successive game.
With the extra insurance of a goal difference now plus seven better than their Merseyside rivals, City are closing in on their fourth title in five seasons.
Kevin De Bruyne scores four as Manchester City thrash Wolves to close in on title
It was supposed to be Liverpool who were doing the quadruple, not Kevin De Bruyne. But, just as Manchester City agreed to sign a scorer, De Bruyne proved they already have one, borrowing Erling Haaland’s prolific streak and his trademark celebration. The £51 million Norwegian should be a guarantee of goals next year but De Bruyne has garnished his all-round excellence with four in a game to make this the most productive season of his stellar career. He took his tally to 19 with a performance of extraordinary dominance. On nights like this, City may not need Haaland. With displays like this, a fourth league title in five seasons should be theirs at some stage in the next 11 days.
By Richard Jolly at Molineux
Kevin De Bruyne scores four as Manchester City thrash Wolves to close in on title
Wolves 1-5 Manchester City: The brilliant Belgian scored the third-earliest hat-trick in Premier League history, and then added one more, as Pep Guardiola’s side took a huge step closer to beating Liverpool to the title
FT: Wolves 1-5 Man City
Here was Manchester City’s fifth goal of the evening courtesy of Raheem Sterling.
FT: Wolves 1-5 Man City
Full-time: That’s full-time. A Kevin de Bruyne masterclass has inspired Manchester City to a comprehensive victory at Molineux.
The Belgian scored a 17-minute hat-trick in the first half and also added another after the break in a quite mesmerising performance.
Raheem Sterling also hit the back of the net when the game was already sewn up - a five-goal tally which was countered only by Leander Dendoncker’s first half equaliser.
The champions regain their three-point advantage in the title race. Liverpool’s hopes of a slip-up are dwindling.
Wolves 1-5 Man City
90 mins: Three minutes of stoppage time. Three too long for the hosts. City in cruise control.
Wolves 1-5 Man City
90 mins: SO CLOSE TO FIVE FOR DE BRUYNE!
City win the ball back deep in the Wolves half and they find De Bruyne on the edge of the area. He curls one towards the bottom corner but it rattles the post!
Wolves 1-5 Man City
88 mins: A blue flare has been thrown on the pitch and the game is temporarily stopped.
For Wolves, I feel like this match ended some time ago.
Wolves 1-5 Man City
87 mins: It’s been a thoroughly comfortable night for the Premier League champions.
GOAL! Wolves 1-5 Man City (Sterling 84)
84 mins: GOAL! Sterling gets in on the act.
City break at pace as Ederson pumps long to Mahrez who flicks it to Cancelo and the Portuguese defender is away. He plays a delightful one-two with Silva and then scuffs a shot which falls to Sterling two yards out and he taps home.
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