TheCable

Erling Haaland scored four goals as Manchester City defeated Wolverhampton Wanderers 5-1 in their English Premier League (EPL) encounter at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.

The EPL defending champions continued on their quest to retain the title, and Haaland was on hand to score twice in each half, including two penalties,  as the Citizens steamrolled managerless Wolves.

Julian Alvarez scored the final goal for City while Hwang Hee-Chan briefly reduced the deficit for the visitors.

Haaland opened scoring from the penalty spot in the 12th minute before doubling his team’s advantage with a thumping header just past the half-hour mark.

The Norwegian international completed his hat trick late in the first half with his second spot-kick of the day. He slotted his kick in the same direction as the first, and Man City went into the interval with a 3-0 lead.

The hattrick is Haaland’s ninth in less than two seasons at the club, and the striker leads the EPL scorers chart with 25 goals.

Hee-Chan tapped into the net from an Ederson Moraes error nine minutes after the restart, but Haaland restored the three-goal lead two minutes later with a thunderous rising shot for his fourth goal.

Alvarez then slotted into the bottom far corner late on when played through on goal to seal the five-star Man City display.

Pep Guardiola’s side remain second with 82 points from 35 matches, one point behind leaders Arsenal who defeated Bournemouth 3-0 earlier in the day and have played a match more.

Elsewhere, Newcastle United defeated Burnley 4-1 to boost their European football hopes while pushing the Clarets to the brink of relegation while

Nottingham Forest won 3-1 away at Sheffield United to improve their chance of survival.

RESULTS

• Arsenal 3-0 Bournemouth
• Burnley 1-4 Newcastle United
• Manchester City 5-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers
• Brentford 0-0 Fulham
• Sheffield United 1-3 Nottingham Forest