Manchester City 5-1 Wolves: What Were The Main Talking Points As The Sky Blues Breezed Their Way To A Premier League Romp At The Etihad?

Making another title statement of intent on Saturday evening, Manchester City put in a rampant performance at the Etihad as they stormed their way to a 5-1 victory against Wolves.

Although Arsenal might have extended on their own title charge earlier in the day as they secured a 3-0 win against Bournemouth, Pep Guardiola’s men came flying out of the traps here.

With the record-breaking Erling Haaland converting from the spot after just 12 minutes, it will certainly be City’s talismanic number nine who rightfully steals all of Saturday’s headlines.

Along with bagging a remarkable first-half hat-trick here, the ex-Borussia Dortmund striker eventually left the Etihad with a quartet of Premier League goals as he produced a thunderous effort nine minutes after the restart.

Although South Korean international Hee-Chan Hwang might have bagged a minor consolation strike in the blue half of Manchester, Wolves failed to find any kind of stability and have now recorded just a single victory from any of their previous nine appearances across all competitions.

With Julian Alvarez coming off the bench late on and notching City’s fifth of the evening, the Sky Blues are still sat in the driving seat to make more domestic history this season.

In a showdown that was one-way traffic at the Etihad, we have taken a look at the main talking point.

Manchester City are showing no signs of a stutter

While Manchester City might have suffered Champions League heartbreak last month as they relinquished their maiden European crown, Guardiola’s side have only embarked on another stunning domestic romp.

Although the Sky Blues might have watched on as bitter title rivals Arsenal claimed a routine 3-0 victory against Bournemouth earlier in the day, Saturday’s hosts aren’t showing any signs of a phycological stutter.

Knowing that they are still sat in the driving seat to claim a history-making fourth consecutive Premier League trophy this season, the former Barcelona boss has now seen his side win all of their last four straight showdowns against top-flight opposition by an aggregate score of 12-1.

Booking their spot in the final of this year’s FA Cup on April 20th as they landed a gritty 1-0 victory against Chelsea at Wembley, the reigning champions have also not suffered a single domestic defeat since the start of December.

Finding a major clinical edge in the final third and handing their goal difference a healthy boost here, Guardiola’s men should certainly be relishing a trip to Fulham next weekend as they look to take another giant step towards this season’s crown.

Haaland set for another Golden Boot

While Haaland might have come under some mild scrutiny this season after dealing with a couple of respective injury issues, the Norwegian icon has only embarked on another record-breaking run among England’s elite.

Eventually leaving the Etihad with four goals to his name and notching a quartet of Premier League goals in a single game for the first time, Haaland has only continued to cement his spot as world football’s most clinical marksmen.

Now registering 25 Premier League strikes this season and taking a giant step towards defending his domestic Golden Boot, the former Borussia Dortmund superstar has also hit top gear at a crucial time.

With City’s history-making number nine once again firing on all cylinders, Haaland has made it abundantly clear that his sole focus is on spearheading Guardiola’s charge for more domestic history.

Recording 17 goals across all formats since opening the New Year, it is no surprise that the 23-year-old has more than a leading role to play over the final few weeks.

Wolves come crashing back down to earth

While Wolves might have claimed a much-welcomed boost last week as they eventually clung to a 2-1 victory against leading relegation scrappers Luton, Gary O’Neil’s men would have always been aware that they faced a monumental challenge here.

Although Saturday’s guests might have sprung a famous upset when they welcomed City to the Midlands for their reverse Premier League meeting on September 30th as they secured a 2-1 victory on home soil, Wolves failed to make any kind of impact this weekend.

Completely blown away in the blue half of Manchester and crashing back down to earth in a worrying fashion, the former Bournemouth boss will be concerned by his side’s extended issues of late.

In fact, aside from last weekend’s 2-1 win against Luton, Wolves have failed to claim a single victory from any of their previous eight appearances across all competitions – a rut that stems all the way back to March 9th.

Suffering an infamous FA Cup collapse at Molineux prior to March’s international break as they were hit with a 3-2 defeat against Championship outfit Coventry, Wolves do have the feel of a squad limping their way over the finishing line.

Match Report

Manchester City: Ederson, Walker, Akanji, Ake, Gvardiol, Rodri, Kovacic, Silva, De Bruyne, Foden, Haaland

Subs: Stones, Grealish, Doku, Alvarez, Nunes

Wolves: Sa, Semedo, Kilman, Gomes, Bueno, Traore, Lemina, Gomes, Ait-Nouri, Hwang, Cunha

Subs: Bueno, Sarabia, Bellegarde, Chirewa

Goals: Manchester City: Haaland (12’ P, 35’, 45+3’ P, 54’), Alvarez (85’) – Wolves: Hwang (53’)

Yellow Cards: Gomes, Lemina, Traore, Semedo

Red Cards: N/A

Referee: Craig Pawson