Man City 3-0 Wolves – Premier League: Erling Haaland scores a first-half HAT-TRICK in one-sided encounter – as Pep Guardiola’s side look to close the gap on Arsenal in title hunt

Another game, another Erling Haaland hat-trick.

He seems to score a lot of them doesn’t he, well he couldn’t have asked for an easier way to get one today.

Two penalties and a brilliant header. Not a stunning treble, but he won’t care about that.

To be fair to him, he would have scored his third anyway if it wasn’t for Nelson Semedo taking him out for the second penalty.

Watch and enjoy, City fans…

Oliver Holt, Mail Sport Chief Sports Writer, at the Etihad:

The award of the first City penalty was arguable. The award of the second wasn’t. Semedo takes Haaland’s leg out from under him. Clear penalty. VAR gets one right.

Erling Haaland scores goals for fun.

When he gets one, he usually gets a few, and that is certainly the case today.

It may not have been the best hat-trick ever seen, but it was an important one for Manchester City.

With that first-half treble, Haaland now has 21 hat-tricks to his name, he has barely got going in his career.

He’s simply a goal machine.

Well, that was a walk in the park, wasn’t it?

Manchester City are three to the good at the break thanks to a hat-trick from Erling Haaland. I wonder how many that is now?

In truth, Wolves haven’t really given the hosts a game, City have been able to do as they please.

However, the visitors may feel harshly done by the first penalty, it was very soft. However, from then on, Haaland and co have been rampant.

It could be more, and they still have another 45 minutes to endure.

It should be 4-0, I can’t believe it isn’t.

The resulting free-kick causes chaos inside the six-yard box and the ball falls to Josko Gvardiol.

However, the Croatian defender can’t sort his feet out to score a tap in and Wolves get it clear.

I’m not sure Wolves know what has hit them.

They are all over the place, Man City have them chasing shadows.

Also, the amount of fouls they have conceded is crazy. They have just given away another free-kick.

He gets his hat-trick!

Jose Sa guesses the right way this time as Erling Haaland goes the same way, but the power is too much for him.

That should be that now. This could be a rout!

Just as expected, a penalty is given.

That was a stonewall spot-kick, I can’t believe Craig Pawson didn’t give it upon first viewing.

Guess who is about to take the penalty? Erling Haaland of course.

A chance for the hat-trick.

Surely, that should be a penalty?

Erling Haaland is through on goal and Nelson SEmedo is snapping at his heels.

Just as Haaland is about to pull the trigger, Semedo takes him out from behind, but the referee says no.

Oh, hang on, the referee has been sent to the monitor…

This is just too easy for Manchester City.

It feels like a training session, City are just knocking it around the park. They aren’t breaking a sweat.

It doesn’t feel like the high-pressure match that it is.

Manuel Akanji has gone down, but I think he is going to be ok.

It gives me a chance to watch that goal again and see just how high Erling Haaland leaped to head home.

The only two people I can think of who can jump like that are Cristiano Ronaldo and Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

A stunning header.

What a goal that is!

Wolves are the masters of their own downfall. Rodri wins the ball high up the pitch after two Wolves players collide.

He combines with Kevin de Buryne before floating a ball to the back post for Erling Haaland to head home.

I can’t get over how high Haaland just leaped. Any higher and he would have jumped out of the stadium.

Incredibly impressive. Arsenal fans, I think this one may be over.

Joao Gomes, you silly boy.

The Wolves midfielder wipes out Mateo Kovacic to give Manchester City a set-piece in a very dangerous position.

Luckily for Gomes, Sa is fouled as the ball is sent in, so the free-kick comes to nothing.

You can’t be making challenges like that though against City.

Wolves seem to have a bit of their mojo back.

Matheus Cunha sends through Hwang Hee-Chan, but his return ball is cleared but only back to Hugo Bueno.

They work it well again but can’t fashion a chance. Wolves look like they suddenly want to strut their stuff.

Finally, we have a game.

Wolves have finally arrived.

The visitors have pretty much been defending the whole match so far, but they have just gone forward for the first time.

Matheus Cunha whips in a testing ball which is headed straight into the path of Hugo Bueno, but his dink to the back post is caught at full stretch by Ederson.

That was their first touch in the City box…

This could turn out to be a thrashing, you know.

Phil Foden stands over a free-kick and then whips it just past the post. It brings a big ‘ooooh’ from the crowd.

I’m not sure whether he was going for goal or not there

What I do know, is that Man City are suffocating Wolves. They are all over them.

That’s a big save from Jose Sa.

The ball comes the way of Erling Haaland and you just expect him to score with his head, but Sa is there to deny him from close range.

It’s one-way traffic at the moment, Wolves can’t get out.

Man City are in full flow now.

Kevin de Bruyne is getting so much space today, this time he plays a give-and-go before firing a half-volley wide.

The Etihad is so quiet considering they are winning, you could hear a pin drop.

And he doesn’t miss this time either!

It was never in doubt, Erling Haaland sends Jose Sa the wrong way and calmly slots the ball into the bottom left-hand corner.

He runs over to the camera and gives a double thumbs up.

It’s a long way back for Wolves now, and I bet Arsenal fans will be feeling it’s already over.

Wow, Manchester City have a penalty.

This seems very harsh. Rayan Ait-Nouri collides with Josko Gvardiol in the box as he tries to clear the ball, and after a delay, Craig Pawson points to the spot.

That seems like a huge accident, but VAR sticks to the referee’s decision.

Erling Haaland is getting ready, he never usually misses…

We all know that Rodri can hit them.

The ball falls invitingly for the Man City midfielder, but he leans back a bit too much and fires a fierce strike over the bar.

In the past, I have seen him bury those into the top corner, but not today though.

Just as I say that, Kevin de Bruyne is in a dangerous position just like in the opening seconds.

However, once again his touch is poor and Wolves hook it clear.

Very unlike De Bruyne, it’s very rare that he can’t sort his feet out in those areas – he’s already messed up twice.

I feel like I’m watching Manchester City vs Liverpool because Wolves are donning a full red kit. Although, it does have a green trim.

That’s about the most interesting thing I can say about this game so far, the kit…

Kevin de Bruyne is already seeking to make an impact.

It takes just 20 seconds for him to cause problems inside the box, but the ball cannons off his shin and into Jose Sa’s gloves.

That would have been a perfect start if he had kept the ball down.

Wolves are in their away kit, very interesting, I’m pretty sure the home kits don’t clash.

Anyway, that’s irrelevant.

Blue Moon is belted out by the Manchester City faithful as the teams get into their shapes. I say belted out, but more like mumbled.

Right, the away side get us underway!

Well, the stadium filled up rather fast…

They must have just been tucking into some pre-match pies and pints before kick-off, and now they are ready for action.

Manchester City legend, David Silva, comes onto the pitch to say hello but swiftly moves off to allow for the players to enter the fray.

And here they are, the teams come out in front of a huge blue moon…

I must say, I am surprised at just how empty the Etihad is with just over five minutes until kick-off.

They are in the midst of a huge title battle with Arsenal, and the team needs the support of the fans.

I guess they are used to winning, though.

Pep Guardiola, Manchester City manager, speaking to Sky Sports:

We know from in the past with Liverpool and we know it because you see the tendency to how strong Arsenal in every game is. We have to do our job. We have been here in the past and we know perfectly what we have to do.

At the end (of the day), it’s human beings play at 5.30 a football game and see how we perform. How you have done in the past does not give you three points today. We have to do it again and the players know it.

Upon first viewing, I thought Wolves just decided to take a team photo following the warm-up.

However, it’s actually a very lovely picture with the mascot, a lovely gesture from the players.

Going off the pre-game preparations, the visitors are looking in high spirits.

They’ve got nothing to lose. City do though…

I think this child may have pulled the trigger a bit early on this one.

Or maybe I’m wrong, if he is noticed now then maybe he will be promised the shirt after the game?

First and foremost, I imagine he will be hoping his hero bags a couple of goals today. He usually does.

I guess we will find out in the next two hours.

Yep, that shoulder looks fine, doesn’t it?

manchester City are now going out for their final preparations, and as per usual, the players are looking cool, calm, and collected.

It’s going to be interesting how Ederson copes with being flung straight back into the action.

Oliver Holt, Mail Sport Chief Sports Writer, at the Etihad:

There is still half an hour to go but it feels quiet at the Etihad. City are too good, and their fans are too used to winning things, for it to be nerves. Maybe there is just an assumption they will win the league again and that Wolves represent the least of their tests.

Pep Guardiola is too savvy to fall into that trap though. Among his many gifts is his ability to keep his players motivated. City will be ready.

Matheus Cunha and Hwang Hee-Chan seem to be very fond of each other.

I bet the Wolves fans beam when they see both of their names on the teamsheet, do you want to know why?

Wolves have reigned supreme in their last four league matches when both Cunha and Hwang Hee-chan have started up top together.

A deadly combo, so watch out Man City.

This is when you start to get excited as a fan.

When you approach the ground and feel the buzz of your fellow supporters for such a big game. It’s such a rush.

I am feeling like that right now and I am sitting in an office in London, which tells you everything about what this title race is doing to me.

I wonder what kind of atmosphere the Etihad will bring us today?

Kevin de Bruyne isn’t scared of a wolfpack like the rest of us.

In fact, De Bruyne loves a meeting with Wolves, he has scored five goals and assisted another five more in his six starts against them.

The form he has been in recently should have the visitors quaking, he is having his say every week.

I suspect he will be heavily involved today.

I think many of us are surprised to see Ederson starting today.

The thought of him playing today hadn’t even crossed my mind due to the severity of his injury at Nottingham Forest last week.

Six days ago he left the City Ground in a sling, but I guess Manchester City’s magic sponge must have done the trick.

It’s a huge boost for them to have him fit.

As if Wolves’ task wasn’t already hard enough…

The visitors are going to be without their boss Gary O’Neil on the touchline today as he serves a one-match ban.

The reason for this you ask? It’s due to his reaction when his side had a goal disallowed against west ham last month.

This could be a major blow for Wolves.

Just the one change for Wolves.

Hugo Bueno comes into the side replacing Matt Doherty at the back, while Jean-Ricner Bellegarde and Santiago Bueno both make the bench.

Can this team cause City any problems?

Now that is a very strong team.

Phil Foden and Erling Haaland both return to the starting 11 as Pep Guardiola makes three changes.

Mateo Kovacic also comes into the fold while Ederson somehow is fit to start.

Last week the Brazilian left Nottingham in a sling, what a miraculous recovery…

Game faces on!

Wolves have arrived at the Eithad to do battle with the Champions, and they look focused.

One thing I will say though, Mario Lemina’s styling of that hat is very interesting. Is that trendy these days?

It doesn’t really matter though does it, he will just be dreaming of netting a 30-yard screamer to silence the crowd later.

Will he be starting though? We will find out very soon…

I think it’s gone under the radar, but Manchester City are on a crazy unbeaten run at the moment.

In the Premier League, they are on an unbeaten streak of 19 games. If they win today, it would be the fourth time they have managed 20 league games unbeaten under Pep Guardiola.

They just become a machine when they get going, it’s hard to see anybody stopping them at the moment.

Jamie Carragher, former Liverpool defender, on Sky Sports:

You aren’t going to get nerves with (Manchester) City, the results tell you that, not just this season, but in seasons gone by.

If you go back to the home game, they (Wolves) played like the away team. I don’t see it being any different, get numbers behind the ball. It’s not rocket science, it’s just very difficult to do.

There are not many teams that have had this opportunity.

Back in September, Wolves came out 2-1 winners over Manchester City at Molineux, so if today they are vying for the double.

This may surprise you, but Pep Guardiola’s City have been beaten twice in a season by Wolves before, back in 2019-20.

If Wolves win today, they will become the first team to record more than one league double against a Pep Guardiola side.

Can they defy the odds and do it?

Yes, I know, the title race is no longer three-pronged.

I just thought I’d add Liverpool into the mix as they can still technically win the title, but they won’t.

This is the task at hand for Manchester City. Win and keep the initiative, but lose, and Arsenal will be in control.

The stakes are huge today, there is no room for slip-ups.

Whoever you play at this time of the season, it’s never going to be easy.

Manchester City know that they have been here before many times, they rarely blink under pressure.

Now that they have seen Arsenal do the business, they’ll know they need to do the same against a Wolves side who are sitting comfortably in mid-table.

That doesn’t mean anything though, the West Midlands side are one of just three Premier League sides to have beaten City this season in the league.

On their day, they can cause anybody problems. City are going to have to be on it from the word go.

It’s set to be a belting contest.

How will you respond, Manchester City?

This season’s title race is going to be gripping until the very last minute, it still feels like there is another twist in there somewhere.

Arsenal did the business earlier to go four points clear with a 3-0 win over Bournemouth, and now City have the chance to move back within a point of the leaders with the first of their two games in hand.

Wolves are the unlucky team that has to face Pep Guardiola’s side amidst a run-in. It’s never fun to face City this time of the season.

It may be a tough proposition, but Wolves are a team that have turned up at the Etihad before. I’m sure Arsenal fans would love them to do so again.

It’s going to be intense at the Etihad, so brace yourselves. Anyway, I’m ready, are you?

Let’s get cracking!