0'
Our ref is Craig Pawson and his line assistants are Perry and Meredith, with Gillett on Fourth official duties.
0'
Wolves: 1 José Sá 22 Nélson Semedo 23 M. Kilman 3 R. Aït-Nouri 24 Toti Gomes 17 Hugo Bueno 5 M. Lemina 6 B. Traoré 8 João Gomes 11 Hwang Hee-Chan 12 Matheus Cunha. Replacements: 30 E. González 61 W. Okoduwa 62 T. Chirewa 27 J. Bellegarde 2 M. Doherty 21 Pablo Sarabia 25 D. Bentley 4 S. Bueno 63 N. Fraser.
0'
Manchester City: 31 Ederson 2 K. Walker 6 N. Aké 25 M. Akanji 24 J. Gvardiol 17 K. De Bruyne 8 M. Kovačić 20 Bernardo Silva 16 Rodri 47 P. Foden 9 E. Haaland. Replacements: 82 R. Lewis 10 J. Grealish 18 S. Ortega 11 J. Doku 3 Rúben Dias 21 Sergio Gómez 5 J. Stones 27 Matheus Nunes 19 J. Álvarez.
0'
Wolves won the last meeting between the two sides earlier this season, the match ending 2-1. City won the previous six League matches, with both results last season ending 3-0.
0'
Wolves have lost three, drawn one and won one of their last five games. Their win was a 2-1 home success over relegation-strugglers Luton!
0'
City have won all five of their last five games in the League, scoring 19 goals to 4. Four of those games saw them score four goals. They must be a nightmare to face.
0'
Wolves are in 11th place, lights year away from the relegation battle, but not in the European scrap either. For them it's a chance to play for fun, for the highest position possible (pride)… and for any extra prize money brought by each higher position in the table they finish (pounds). Sorry, forgot to say that Wolves have 46 points from their 35 matches, and a minus-7 goal difference. City have 79 points from 34 matches and a goal difference of PLUS-50! Staggering. Arsenal are on PLUS-60 though. Ser-i-aaas.
0'
City are four points ahead of third-placed Liverpool… but they have a game in hand over the Reds, whose title tilt has in all reality imploded. As for the leaders… Arsenal have just moved four points ahead of City… but City have two games in hand. Two wins and City are are two points ahead with two games in hand. Massively close, but it would give City that golden advantage. Of course… two wins need to be inked in first!
0'
Wolves: 1 José Sá
22 Nélson Semedo
23 M. Kilman
3 R. Aït-Nouri
24 Toti Gomes
17 Hugo Bueno
5 M. Lemina
6 B. Traoré
8 João Gomes
11 Hwang Hee-Chan
12 Matheus Cunha. Replacements: 30
E. González
61
W. Okoduwa
62
T. Chirewa
27
J. Bellegarde
2
M. Doherty
21
Pablo Sarabia
25
D. Bentley
4
S. Bueno
63
N. Fraser.
0'
Manchester City: 31 Ederson
2 K. Walker
6 N. Aké
25 M. Akanji
24 J. Gvardiol
17 K. De Bruyne
8 M. Kovačić
20 Bernardo Silva
16 Rodri
47 P. Foden
9 E. Haaland. Replacements: 82
R. Lewis
10
J. Grealish
18
S. Ortega
11
J. Doku
3
Rúben Dias
21
Sergio Gómez
5
J. Stones
27
Matheus Nunes
19
J. Álvarez.
0'
But the teams have been announced, so let's run through them.
0'
Welcome to the Etihad Stadium in Manchester. We're at the business end of the Premier League season, with Manchester City fighting tooth and nail to defend their title… but for their visitors today, Wolves, there is only pride to play for as they are safe from relegation and Europe this season!
1'
KICK-OFF! We're underway… and City are attacking, up at the Wolves box, De Bruyne looking to release Haaland, but the ball just gets away from him. Wolves counter immediately and there's a long ball over the top which Ederson rushes out of his box to head clear. I always love it when teams ease into a match slowly.
2'
OOP! José Sá almost gets caught with the ball at his feet right on front of his goal, but the Wolves keeper recovers and clears double-quick.
4'
CHANCE! De Bruyne is fed the ball inside the Wolves box, the City man trying to get a sight on goal to shoot, but Semedo clips the ball away from him.
6'
A more composed passage of play as City share the ball among themselves.
8'
City still passing and moving the ball around… it's played into the box, then across and is headed down towards Rodri, who slaps a shot but it slides a few feet over the crossbar.
10'
PENALTY! City passing the ball nicely… then it's played into the box, Silva runs into the box from the left, crosses deep in the box to Gvardiol, perfect to strike on goal, but he's clattered into by Rayan Aït-Nouri, with both players going down in agony. Ref has no hesitation pointing to the spot. Clear penalty but unlucky for Wolves as is was an unforced foul, as Rayan Aït-Nouri was watching the ball not Gvardiol
12'
GOAL, MAN CITY, HAALAND! 1-0; After a lengthy break to treat both players, Haaland slides his penalty to the left side of the Wolves goal, as Jose Sa dived right.
14'
City fully controlling possession and looking to push forward.
16'
WIDE! City press itno the box, the ball bounces to De Bruyne and he has to stretch for it to poke a shot on goal, but it squirts wide.
17'
SAVED! Jose Sa blocks a strong header from near the penalty spot from Haaland. Good power on the ball and quite a save from the Wolves keeper.
19'
It's City, City, City passing and trying to work forward… Silva run onto a lovely ball but he's flagged off-side.
20'
FOUL! Wolves bring Rodri down with a push from behind… Rodri not engaging any muscles as he felt the push coming on him, so he went down easily. Foden whips it from near the touchline and in line with the penalty spot… curls hard towards the top far corner… was it a cross or a shot? It is a goal-kick and Wolves clear the ball upfield… as least for a couple of seconds, as City are back on the ball passing up from the back…
22'
Good tackle from Traore and Wolves counter up to near the City box, a good run from Traore before he steps on Rodri's foot over-stretching as the ball ran away from him.
24'
Lovely through ball into the City box for Hwang, but just a fraction too deep as Ederson is off his line to clear.
25'
Lovely turn from João Gomes to beat his man and press up to the City box, feeding it left to Bueno who crosses for a team-mate, but it's not deep enough and Ederson collects.
27'
GREAT RUN! Foden dips and darts through three Wolves defenders into the box before the ball gets away from him and is passed to Jose Sa to clear.
28'
Wolvesbnack on attack down the right, controlling the ball nicely… it's. crossed in from the right touchline and Ederson literally plucks it off the head of Hwang… great football all around.
29'
Bueno to Hwang, lovely cross in from the left this time, City header clear… the ball comes back in again and again City clear. Great play from Wolves who are looking full of pep.
31'
City doing their passing thing now in the middle of the park looking to press forward.
32'
Walker draws a foul from Cunha on the right touchline, but there was just something of the WWE about that foul, Walker going over almost as if scripted. Soft foul, but the England international knew how to draw it.
33'
FOUL! Gvardiol again taking a knock, this time Foden and De Bruyne line the kick up from in line with the edge of the D and the left side of the box… De Bruyne curls it in with the left foot, Jose Sa rises to take it but Akanji clatters into him, and it's a free-kick for the Wolves.
34'
MAAAAAAAAAGNIFICENT! Rodri does brilliantly to win possession from the smallest Wolves slip, he passes to De Bruyne who pushes into the box, passes right to Rodri who crosses to Haaland, the big man rising near the far post, he gets a strong header on it, it's heading towards the far post… (wait for it…)
35'
GOAL, MAN CITY, HAALAND! 2-0; Superb header and what a great team goal after some sustained City pressure.
37'
City press up again, win a corner… it's cleared by Wolves… but Akanji is down in agony… looks like he took a blow from a City team-mate.
39'
CLOSE! De Bruyne doesn't brilliantly to grab possession from Wolves in their box, he tries to turn to cross but is closed down, and Wolves clear the danger (for a few seconds).
40'
YELLOW CARD, WOLVES, LEMINA. The Wolves man catches Foden near his Achilles… looked accidental, but it was heavy and a poor challenge, so heeeeere's your reward… a shiny yellow card.
42'
City stream upfield after a great ball from Walked, De Bruyne with three men in support has his pass intercepted and Wolves clear what looked like being goal three.
43'
VAR rules penalty which is probably fair. But the ref is going to his pocket as he walks towards Semedo…
43'
CLOOOOOOOOOOOOSE… Haaland is sent forward into the box, just the keeper to beat with Semedo on his heels… Haaland shapes to shoot but falls to the ground, missing the ball… VAR is having a look, it's called the ref… it's not the clearest of contacts but there does look like contact…
44'
YELLOW CARD, WOLVES, SEMEDO. Well, that is EXCELLENT defending. Could so easily have been a red by most refs, but Semedo was genuinely trying to play the ball and the contact was slight. Excellent officiating… and the game hasn't been ruined by Wolves being 2-down and losing a man. Well done ref and VAR.
45'
HALF-TIME, MAN CITY 3-0 WOLVES. It's all been City, and some incredible finishing by Haaland. Tough 45 minutes for Wolves who have played well, but right now they're a one-finned clownfish trying to outswim a Leopard Shark. Second half (and probably buckets of goals!) to follow shortly.
45'
Into four minutes of extra time… City with a corner, the ball falls loose in the six-yard box at the feet of Gvardiol, all he has to do is get a good poke on it and it's into the back of the goal… but he can't sort his feet out and it trickles into the hands of Jose Sa. What a blistering half. There's the half-time whistle.
45'
GOAL, MAN CITY, HAALAND! 3-0; Haaland goes to the left again, Jose Sa goes the right way and gets a hand to it, but there's too much meat on that kick and it breaks through into the net. That should be the match and the Golden Boot, as Haaland is now four clear of the field… and has 45 minutes more and three more games. That's his ninth City hat-trick and his sixth in the League. An absolute goalscoring monster.
46'
KICK-OFF! The action continues.
48'
Wolves playing it out from the back now, but taking a while to break out of their half… and as soon as they do, it's won back by City who country up to the Wolves box immediately…
50'
… Wolves defence is tight so City have to pass the ball back before returning into the Wolves half and passing, passing, passing…
51'
Rodri wins good ball near the Wolves box, pushes into the box and passes to Foden who drags the ball from behind him to shoot… it's on target and heading to the far corner, but lacks power and Jose Sa dives across to palm it wide of his goal.
52'
UNLUCKY! Wolves slip pass Akanji and look to drive through to the City goal, but they are just off-sides.
53'
GOAL, WOLVES, HWANG! 3-1; Lovely cross into the box from the right touchline, Ederson rises high and flaps it away… it away but it lands at Hwang and bounces up in front of him… he hits it on the ump around knee high and slaps it into the goal, with Ederson unable to get back to cover his goal. Brilliant response from Wolves.
54'
GOAL, MAN CITY, HAALAND! 4-1; The big man is making up for lost time this season. Released into the Wolves box after good work from Foden, Haaland twists and turns his man, then strikes a superb left-footer that curls into the far left corner - Jose Sa has no hope of getting that. Haaland struck it from just four or five feet into the box - a mighty finish, a what a nasty response to Wolves' brave effort at getting back into this match.
55'
Haaland has scored five for City in the FA Cup and Champions League… but this is the first time he has scored four in a Premier League match.
57'
JUST WIDE! Haaland is fed the ball inside the box and shoots on sight from the right side of the box, but it's deflects off a Wolves foot and away for a corner. Not shy of taking a shot, this chap.
59'
SAVED! Haaland put through again and again shoots on sight, Jose Sa pushing it over for a corner… from the corner Gvardiol is fed the ball inside the D, has a smack with his right foot, but it skids over the top of the crossbar.
61'
City with control off the ball again, passing beautifully among one another.
63'
Foden races forward and tries to feed Haaland but the ball is just too far behind the giant Norwegian. De Bruyne comes driving forward 30 seconds later, only to be brought down 20 metres short of the box by Traore… and the ref has a present for him.
64'
YELLOW CARD, WOLVES, TRAORE.
65'
YELLOW CARD, WOLVES, GOMES. And YOU get a yellow card… Gomes brings Gvardiol down in almost the same position. Four Wolves names in the book, tra-lala-lala.
67'
Gomes brings Foden down 15 metres short of the box, but as it's from behind City have a free-kick… they run it but Wolves press them back into their own half. City press up again…
68'
Gvardiol with a great cross across the box but no-one was there and it's flicked away for a City throw.
69'
SUBSTITUTION, MAN CITY. Stones comes on for Ake, who is struggling after taking a knock
70'
INCREDIBLE! Foden with a magical touch to get around Semedo, and he drives forward then, at full sprint, and it's curling perfectly for Haaland to do a half-bicycle shot at goal… but a Wolves defender gets the slightest of hair follicles to it as he rises, and it's enough to just deflect the ball away from where Haaland expected it to come. BRILLIANT cross from Foden. That deserves its own highlights reel.
71'
SUBSTITUTION, WOLVES. Santiago Bueno comes on for Ugo Bueno.
72'
SAVED! From the corner Rodri gets the ball near the edge of the box, he does a backheel for Gvardiol to run onto and he toe-pokes it hard on goal… it's on target, flashing through a couple of defenders… but Jose Sa has a great hand stuck out to block it. Exceptional football all around.
75'
City making a meal with starters trying to pass the ball out from the back, but they manage to escape with their three-goal cushion unscathed.
76'
SUBSTITUTION, WOLVES. Cunha is replaced by Sarabia.
77'
City chase up the right again, a cross in, too high for Haaland, but he's hungry for five and he rises high as he can to header it, but it loops up benignly to Jose Sa to claim on his goalline. Well… the header was on target.
79'
Wolves drive forward, lovely cross into the box, but it bounces a bit high and Bueno just can't get it on target - pity as he was right in front of goal with just Ederson to beat. I say 'just'…
80'
SUBSTITUTIONS, MAN CITY. Oh dear, Pep is withdrawing De Bruyne, Foden and Silva… I hope that doesn't weaken the City XI too much… nope, on come Nunes, Grealish and Doku. Not a bad swap.
82'
SUBSTITUTION, MAN CITY. Oh dear, lip-readers, please keep it to yourself what Haaland is saying as his number comes up and he is forced to swap with Alvarez. He gives Pep the customary handshake and manly shoulder bump that says I LOVE YOU in Man, but his handbag is flapping around and all its contents are flying around. Pep looks at him, bemused, and can be seen to mouth the word FOUR. You got four goals mate, the match is won… yes, records… but we have to close the League down and then the Cup.
83'
Guardiola substituted him on his own to get an ovation, but you also need to give other players game time as you never know what happens tomorrow.
85'
GOAL, MAN CITY, ALVAREZ! 5-1; Rodri with a lovely ball releasing Alvarez into the box, slightly running away from goal, but he strikes it beautifully with his left foot and it skids past the diving Jose Sa. Sensational finish, and his 35th goal for City in his 100th appearance.
86'
SUBSTITUTION, WOLVES. Hwang is replaced by Chirewa.
88'
City press forward, looking for more… Wolves concede a throwin on the right…
90'
Wolves win possession and counter up to the halfway line, only for City to steal the ball back… they press up to the box, Kovacic releasing Doku up the right, he crosses back into centre where it seems to catch Nunes by surprise, the City man getting a touch on it and it dribbles softly to Jose Sa to collect.
92'
City passing around the Wolves box looking for angles, but Wolves press them back… City come again and win a corner on the right.
94'
Doku with some great work in the box, pushing and pressing, he slips through to the byline and crosses in short to Akanji at the near post but it's scuffed out of play… and there's the final whistle.
95'
FULL-TIME, MAN CITY 5-1 WOLVES. Such a tough break for Wolves, who put themselves about and gave City quite a bit to think about in the first half, but al in all they were steam-rolled by a side that is peaking with perfection at the business end of the season. They're broken their record of 43 home games unbeaten in a row, Haaland is back scoring for fun, and City are now one point behind Arsenal but with a game in hand… and they have reduced Arsenal's goal deficit in one match from 10 to 6… that has the taste of champions about it. Thanks for following a thrilling match with us and enjoy the rest of your sporting weekend.
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