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Erling Haaland struck four goals, including a first-half hat-trick, as champions Manchester City crushed Wolverhampton Wanderers 5-1 to retain control of the Premier League title race.
Pep Guardiola’s side needed to respond to leaders Arsenal’s comfortable victory over Bournemouth earlier in the day and they did so emphatically, with a clinical take-down of their hapless visitors at the Etihad Stadium.
Haaland struck twice from the penalty spot in the first half, either side of a towering header, before adding a fourth with a stunning strike.
Substitute Julian Alvarez also got on the scoresheet, while Wolves’ consolation came from Hwang Hee-chan.
The victory lifted City, chasing an unprecedented fourth successive league crown, back within a point of the Gunners with a game in hand.
Haaland’s outstanding display took his tally for the campaign to 36 in all competitions and lifted him to 25, five clear of his nearest challengers, in the race for the Premier League’s Golden Boot. His hat-trick was also his ninth in City colours.
City will be assured of the crown if they win their three remaining league matches, all against London opposition. They go to mid-table Fulham next Saturday, visit Tottenham the following midweek and finish with a home match against West Ham on May 19.
“It looks comfortable but it was not,” City boss Pep Guardiola told Sky Sports. “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 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. Goal difference is not possible, we cannot draw. The way Arsenal have been playing has been so good and consistent.
“It’s three games, hopefully we win the first and the second and arrive to the third with our destiny in our own hands.”
Earlier in the day Arsenal have maintained their pursuit of the Premier League title with a 3-0 win over Bournemouth.
Bukayo Saka converted a penalty in the 45th minute after a trip on Kai Havertz before Leandro Trossard and Declan Rice added second-half goals at Emirates Stadium to secure Arsenal’s fourth straight victory in the league.
Arsenal, seeking a first league title since 2004, have two matches still to play, at Manchester United and home against Everton.
© AAP
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