Last Update: January 22, 2023, 21:54 IST
Erling Haaland has now scored 23 goals in the Premier League alone. (AP Photo)
Erling Haaland scored 30 goals in all competitions from the penalty spot at the start of the second half after Ilkay Gundogan was fouled by Ruben Neves.
Erling Haaland’s fourth hat-trick in 19 Premier League appearances brought Manchester City to within two points of Arsenal with a 3-0 win over Wolves on Sunday.
Pep Guardiola got the response he expected from the English champions after questioning their hunger to retain the title following Thursday’s 4-2 win over Tottenham.
FIH World cup: India crash out after penalty shootout loss against New Zealand
The hosts had to come from 2-0 down against Spurs in a dramatic second half, but there was little mystery over the destination of the three points after Haaland broke down Wolves’ resistance five minutes before half-time.
Haaland’s scoring rate has slowed marginally in recent weeks, but his header from Kevin de Bruyne’s cross took him level on 23 league goals, with Mohamed Salah and Son Heung-min last season’s golden shared boot.
The 22-year-old scored from the penalty spot early in the second half to make it 30 goals in all competitions after Ilkay Gundogan was fouled by Ruben Neves.
Wolves gifted Haaland his hat-trick just four minutes later when goalkeeper Jose Sa presented the ball to Riyad Mahrez, who unselfishly volleyed home to round his team-mate wide without finding the net.
Australian Open 2023: Azarenka fights her way into the quarters – 2:17 AM
Guardiola quickly took the opportunity to rest his star striker as Haaland was replaced on the hour mark by Julian Alvarez to the relief of Wolves.
City still should have punished Julen Lopetegui’s men further.
Mahrez failed to sustain his run before Gundogan’s superb chance headed over as he was flagged after plunging into De Bruyne’s through ball.
But the three goals were more than three points to put the pressure on Arsenal ahead of their clash at home to Manchester United later on Sunday.
Just a second league defeat since Lopetegui took charge has left Wolves out of the relegation zone on goal difference alone.
Leeds moved one point clear of the bottom three but have remained without a league win since November after a 0-0 draw at home to Brentford.
David Raya denied the Bees a point from the in-form Wilfred Gonto with the best save of the game, which moves them past Liverpool into eighth place.
read all Latest sports news Here
(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)