Manchester City headed into the game on the back of a superb comeback vs Tottenham in midweek.
However, City were still five points off Arsenal having played one more game than the Gunners.
So, with Arsenal facing Manchester United later on Sunday, the Sky Blues needed a win vs Wolves to pile the pressure on their title rivals.
And when all was said and done, Man City came away with a comfortable win.
Manchester City began the tie in complete control, having 94 per cent possession in the opening stages.
City’s first decent chance of the game came 18 minutes in. Jack Grealish won the ball high up the field and Erling Haaland was played in but his shot was saved well by Sa.
But the duo would eventually link up 39 minutes in to hand City the lead. Riyad Mahrez laid the ball off for De Bruyne, who swang a cross into the box for Erling Haaland to plant a header low into the net.
Haaland added his second of the day from the spot 49 minutes in when Ruben Neves tripped Ilkay Gundogan.
But the Norweigan robot was not done there as he added his and City’s third 55 minutes in to bag his 4th hat-trick of the campaign and allow Pep’s men to see out the game with ease.
📰 Table Of Contents
Player ratings
Manchester City
- GK: Ederson (6.5)
- RB: Rico Lewis (6.5)
- CB: John Stones (7)
- CB: Manuel Akanji (7)
- LB: Aymeric Laporte (7)
- CDM: Rodri (7)
- CM: Kevin De Bruyne (8)
- CM: Ilkay Gundogan (7.5)
- RW: Riyad Mahrez (7)
- ST: Erling Haaland (10)
- LW: Jack Grealish (7.5)
Substitutes
- Nathan Ake (5.5)
- Julian Alvarez (5)
- Bernardo Silva (5)
- Kalvin Phillips (4.5)
Wolves
- GK: Jose Sa (4)
- RB: Nelson Semedo (5)
- CB: Nathan Collins (5)
- CB: Max Killman (4)
- LB: Hugo Bueno (4.5)
- CM: Ruben Neves (4)
- CM: Matheus Nunes (5)
- CM: Mario Lemina (5)
- RW: Adama Traore (5)
- ST: Raul Jimenez (4.5)
- LW: Hee-Chan Hwang (4.5)
Substitutes
- Joao Moutinho (4.5)
- Ait Nouri (4.5)
- Pablo Sarabia (4)
- Matheus Cunha (4)
- Daniel Podence (4.5)
Match reaction
Adama Traore’s arms. 😭 pic.twitter.com/aT9lkLUk2w
— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) January 22, 2023
How much did Man City pay the refs today then? #MCFC
— Tarun (@tarun1886) January 22, 2023
12v11 today then with David Coote as referee. #WWFC
— 🐺 WeAreWolves 🐺 (@WeAreWolves_com) January 22, 2023
Possession after 15 minutes in Manchester City vs Wolves:
◉ Man City: 92.2%
◎ Wolves: 7.8%The home side want all of the ball. ⚽️#MCIWOL
— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) January 22, 2023
16 – No player has scored more home goals in a single Premier League season for Man City than Erling Haaland, who has 16 goals in 11 appearances at the Etihad Stadium this term (level with Sergio Agüero in 2011-12). Hunger. pic.twitter.com/wtoZjvJYzP
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 22, 2023
Kevin De Bruyne has now provided more assists than any other player in Europe’s top five leagues this season:
🅰️ 11 – KDB
🅰️ 10 – Lionel Messi
🅰️ 10 – Neymar
🅰️ 10 – Randal Kolo Muani🔙 🔛 🔝
— William Hill (@WilliamHill) January 22, 2023
Erling Haaland has now scored SIXTEEN senior career hat-tricks.
Why Always 3? 😀 pic.twitter.com/eQwBntBFN3
— Squawka (@Squawka) January 22, 2023
4 – Erling Haaland has scored his fourth Premier League hat-trick in just his 19th appearance, breaking Ruud van Nistelrooy’s record (fourth hat-trick in 65th app).
19 – Erling Haaland
65 – Ruud van Nistelrooy
81 – Luis Suárez
86 – Alan Shearer
89 – Robbie FowlerPlayground. pic.twitter.com/4rg2aHuP7a
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 22, 2023
Manchester City vs Wolves betting tips: Premier League preview, predictions, team news and odds
Juventus vs Atalanta betting tips: Serie A preview, prediction and odds
