Manchester City 3, Wolves 0
Erling Haaland scored his fourth hat trick of the season as Manchester City ruthlessly despatched Wolves at the Etihad Stadium.
There was certainly more atmosphere at the Etihad as the Norwegian striker, who is now on 31 goals for the season, might have been joined on the score sheet by Riyad Mahrez but the Algerian was flagged offside.
City had earlier had a penalty claim for Jack Grealish turned down – a controversial decision that VAR decided not to overturn despite pictures showing Grealish was entitled to go down.
PLAYER RATINGS – Manchester City 3, Wolves 0
Ederson: 7. Great save to deny Daniel Podence in the second half after a quiet first hour.
Rico Lewis: 7. Playing his usual inverted full back role in advanced midfield, unflustered while targeted for the usual physical stuff. Tried to get balls into the box too. Taken off at half time as City re-organised following a Wolves reshuffle.
John Stones: 7. Came across to help out with spaces at right back with Rico Lewis upfield. Switched to right back after Nathan Ake came on.
Manuel Akanji: 7. Some good switches of play. Rare mistake allowed Daniel Podence a free run on goal.
Aymeric Laporte: 7. Comfortable up against Adama Traore. Mistake allowed Pablo Sarabia a chance to shot but recovered to finish well.
Rodri: 7. Mainly sat in front of back line protecting the defence but also had a punt in the first half – it went over the bar.
Kevin De Bruyne: 8. Set up Erling Haaland early on from his number 10 role, he also had another ball cleared by Nathan Collins before inevitably sending in a cross that Haaland scored off. Much improved and better movement with more attacking balls forward.
Ilkay Gundogan: 7. Taken out by a deliberate foul by Max Kilman after 10 minutes. Constantly probing for space to pass through and headed a Rico Lewis cross over the bar. Had a shock cleared off the line. Won a clear penalty off Ruben Neves, which Haaland converted and headed over the bar with the goal at his mercy.
Riyad Mahrez: 7. Rare use of both feet while attacking the right flank. Set up Erling Haaland’s hat trick after being gifted the ball by Jose Sa. And he lifted the ball over Sa after a great move involve Ilkay Gundogan and Kevin De Bruyne but it was ruled out for offside.
Jack Grealish: 8. All action display down the left. Had a couple of long range shots saved when he moved inside and sent some good balls into the box. Looked to have won a penalty off Nathan Collins but VAR did not intervene.
Erling Haaland: 9. Early chance saved by Jose Sa and had another great through ball by De Bruyne cleared by Nathan Collins before he could get on it. Pressed well and got a goal before half time before completing his hat trick after 54 minutes.
Nathan Ake (on for Rico Lewis, 46) 7. Switched to left back to allow Aymeric Laporte to switch to centre back in a more orthodox back four. Great block to deny Pablo Sarabia.
Julian Alvarez (on for Erling Haaland, 61): 6. Denied a goal by a save from Jose Sa. Worked hard after coming on and left Nelson Semedo in his wake as he tried to create another chance.
Bernardo Silva (on for Kevin De Bruyne, 77): No time to mark.
Kalvin Phillips (on for Rodri, 77): No time to mark.
Cole Palmer (on for Riyad Mahrez, 81): No time to mark
GOALS – Manchester City 3, Wolves 0
Man City 1, Wolves 0: 40. Erling Haaland rose above Nathan Collins and headed home from close range after connecting with Kevin De Bruyne’s cross into the box.
Man City 2, Wolves 0: 50. Erling Haaland sent Jose Sa the wrong way from the penalty spot, slotting the ball into the bottom left corner after Ilkay Gundogan was tripped by Ruben Neves.
Man City 3, Wolves 0: 54. Erling Haaland completed his hat trick, slotting into the bottom left corner again after Riyad Mahrez slipped him the ball in the box.
MATCH STATS – Manchester City 3, Wolves 0
Man City: Ederson, Lewis (Ake 46), Stones, Akanji, Laporte, Rodri (Phillips 77), De Bruyne (Bernardo Silva 77), Gundogan (C), Mahrez (Palmer 81), Grealish, Haaland (Alvarez 61)
Man City Subs not used: Ortega, Walker, Dias, Cancelo
Booked: Rodri 25 (dissent)
Goals: Haaland 40, 50 pen, 54
Wolves: Sa, Semedo, Collins, Kilman, Bueno (Ait-Nouri 81), Nunes, Neves (C), Lemina (Podence 67), Hwang Hee-chan (Sarabia 46), Traore (Moutinho), Jimenez (Cunha 46)
Wolves Subs not used: Sarkic, Jonny, Toti, Gomes
Booked: Kilman 10 (foul on Ilkay Gündoğan); Lemina 13 (dissent)
Manager Booking: Julen Lopategui 14
Referee: David Coote
Attendance: 53,282