Erling Haaland continued his impressive scoring run as Manchester City went back to the top of the Premier League with a comfortable win against 10-man Wolves at Molineux.
The hosts had only touched the ball once before Jack Grealish put City in front after just 55 seconds.
Haaland scored for the seventh consecutive game and took his tally to 14 in the past nine when he doubled the visitors’ advantage with a long-range effort after 16 minutes.
A spirited Wolves continued to try and attack, even after Nathan Collins was sent off for a high first-half tackle on Grealish.
However, with Raul Jimenez missing through injury and new arrival Diego Costa not deemed fit enough for any involvement beyond meeting some fans before the game, they never looked likely to add to their paltry tally of three league goals.
By contrast, City have 23, with Phil Foden completing their victory by flicking home Kevin de Bruyne’s low cross midway through the second half.
Haaland had scored more goals on his own than 13 of City’s 19 Premier League rivals before kick-off – and by the end the visiting fans were singing “Erling Haaland has scored more than you” at Wolves supporters. The current tally is Haaland 11, Wolves three.
For context, when Mohamed Salah broke the record for goals in a 38-game season in 2017-18, he had found the net on four occasions after seven games.
Haaland’s latest effort was unusual in that he scored it from outside the penalty area.
Erling Haaland became the first player in Premier League history to score in each of his first four away games in the competition
Erling Haaland has scored 14 goals in 10 matches in all competitions for Manchester City so far this season
Receiving possession inside the Wolves half, Haaland was allowed to turn and run before drilling a low shot past Jose Sa.
In doing so, he became the first player to score in their first four Premier League away games.
Haaland also provided the pass from which De Bruyne created Foden’s second-half goal.
While there is too much time left in the season to make concrete judgements, on current evidence it is hard to see how Haaland, or champions City, can be stopped in terms of the title.
(BBC)
