City close in on another title as Haaland bags four in Wolves mauling

Premier League: Manchester City 5 Wolves 1 

ERLING Haaland scored four goals in the space of 42 minutes to ensure that the destiny of the Premier League title remains in Manchester City’s hands.

After leaders Arsenal’s earlier win, City response now means that victory in their three remaining games - at Fulham and Spurs and at home to West Ham on the last day - will secure a fourth consecutive title for Pep Guardiola’s team.

And, not for the first time in his City career, Haaland was very much at the centre of this emphatic performance.

If his critics believe that Haaland has failed to match last season’s heights they may have a point - statistically, at least.

But as he claimed a first half hat-trick that secured three points and hauled City to within one of the Gunners - with a game in hand - Haaland’s priceless value to his team was underlined again.

Add in a fourth goal just after the restart and Haaland has moved on to 25 goals for the Premier League season, five clear in the chase for the Golden Boot, and that despite having missed seven games so far through injury.

His early goal also steadied City nerves - such as they were - after Arsenal won in the early kick-off to move four points clear at the top.

On 10 minutes, Bernardo Silva’s cross was about to be met by Josko Gvardiol, only for Rayan Ait-Nouri to clumsily hack him to the ground. Craig Pawson paused before pointing to the spot and Haaland calmly converted.

After 35 minutes, it was a neat Rodri chip into the area that showcased another of Haaland’s prodigious talents as the striker rose athletically and connected with a header which flew into the Wolves goal.

And, on the stroke of half-time, Pawson somehow missed Nelson Semedo’s desperate trip on