De Bruyne scores four to send Man City clear – Ghana Latest Football News, Live Scores, Results

De Bruyne has scored 19 goals in all competitions for Manchester City this campaign – his best ever goalscoring season for the club since he joined in 2015

Kevin de Bruyne’s stunning four-goal haul helped Manchester City thump Wolves and restored their three-point lead at the top of the Premier League.

Pep Guardiola’s side now need only four points from their final two fixtures to ensure they will finish above Liverpool and win their fourth title in five seasons.

De Bruyne has played a central role in all of those previous triumphs but this was an individual display that must rank among the finest of his stellar collection in a City shirt.

The Belgian started the move that led to his side’s opener, and finished it too, running on to Bernardo Silva’s pass to slot home.

Wolves did not take long to respond, with a rapid counter-attack ending when Pedro Neto found Leander Dendoncker in space on the edge of the box to fire past Ederson.

This was De Bruyne’s stage, however, and he quickly put his side back in front. Again, he played a part in the build-up too, and was in the right place to smash in the rebound after Jose Sa beat Raheem Sterling to his pass.

His third goal – again with his so-called weaker left foot – was the pick of the bunch, and saw him drive towards the edge of the area and curl into the bottom corner.

De Bruyne hat-trick was his first for City and at 24 minutes was the third-quickest in Premier League history.

He celebrated in style by copying the meditation celebration of his soon-to-be team-mate Erling Haaland, who City reached an agreement to sign this week, but he was not finished yet.

City came out for the second half looking for more goals to improve their goal difference, which was already three better than Liverpool’s before kick-off.

Raheem Sterling thought he had extended their lead when he ran clear and beat Sa but an offside flag cut short his celebrations.

It was left to De Bruyne to make it 4-1, typically making no mistake when a Phil Foden cross was deflected into his path and finding the bottom corner with his first right-footed effort of the night.

More chances followed, with Foden hitting the post and Sterling missing an easy chance but eventually someone else did get in on the act, with Sterling tapping into an empty net after Sa denied Joao Cancelo.

This was still the De Bruyne show, however. City are not over the line yet, and their next test is an awkward trip to West Ham on Sunday, but on this evidence they will take some stopping.

Follow live text commentary of Wednesday’s Premier League actionVisit our Wolves pageGo straight to all the best Manchester City content

Laporte injury is a cause for concern

This was a night to savour for Guardiola and City’s travelling fans but the one note of concern was the sight of Aymeric Laporte being forced off with an injury in the second half.

City may have bolstered their attack for next season with their agreement to sign Borussia Dortmund striker Haaland but it is defence where they are short right now.

With Ruben Dias, John Stones and Kyle Walker already out injured for the season and Nathan Ake not fully fit, Guardiola chose to put veteran midfielder Fernandinho in his back-line alongside Laporte at Molineux.

Wolves were set up to make the most of any lack of pace in City’s rearguard and, initially, looked dangerous whenever they broke forward.

When Dendoncker’s equaliser came via that route and left the home fans in raptures, it seemed Wolves would ensure City were in for a difficult night. De Bruyne had other ideas, however.

More to follow.

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Rate players out of 10 throughout or after the game. The rater will close 30 minutes after the final whistle.

Rating range key1 = Give it up10 = Pure perfection

WolvesWolverhampton WanderersWolverhampton WanderersMan CityManchester CityManchester City

Wolverhampton WanderersStarting XIAvgSquad number1Player nameJosé SáAverage rating

5.57

12345678910Squad number19Player nameJonnyAverage rating

5.46

12345678910Squad number16Player nameCoadyAverage rating

5.65

12345678910Squad number15Player nameBolyAverage rating

5.27

12345678910Squad number20Player nameChiquinhoAverage rating

5.56

12345678910Squad number32Player nameDendonckerAverage rating

5.75

12345678910Squad number8Player nameRúben NevesAverage rating

5.56

12345678910Squad number28Player nameJoão MoutinhoAverage rating

5.47

12345678910Squad number3Player nameAït-NouriAverage rating

5.41

12345678910Squad number7Player namePedro NetoAverage rating

5.61

12345678910Squad number9Player nameJiménezAverage rating

5.70

12345678910SubstitutesAvgSquad number11Player nameTrincãoAverage rating

4.77

12345678910Squad number26Player nameHwang Hee-ChanAverage rating

4.59

12345678910Squad number39Player nameCundleAverage rating

4.62

12345678910Share your Wolves player ratings withFacebookTwitterWhatsAppCopy and share linkManchester CityStarting XIAvgSquad number31Player nameEdersonAverage rating

6.69

12345678910Squad number27Player nameJoão CanceloAverage rating

6.86

12345678910Squad number25Player nameFernandinhoAverage rating

6.65

12345678910Squad number14Player nameLaporteAverage rating

6.73

12345678910Squad number11Player nameZinchenkoAverage rating

6.68

12345678910Squad number16Player nameRodriAverage rating

6.75

12345678910Squad number8Player nameGündoganAverage rating

6.80

12345678910Squad number7Player nameSterlingAverage rating

6.19

12345678910Squad number17Player nameDe BruyneAverage rating

8.93

12345678910Squad number47Player nameFodenAverage rating

7.24

12345678910Squad number20Player nameBernardo SilvaAverage rating

7.33

12345678910SubstitutesAvgSquad number6Player nameAkéAverage rating

7.38

12345678910Squad number10Player nameGrealishAverage rating

6.52

12345678910Squad number26Player nameMahrezAverage rating

6.83

12345678910Share your Man City player ratings withFacebookTwitterWhatsAppCopy and share link

Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text

Line-upsWolves

Formation 3-5-2

1Malheiro de Sá19Castro Otto16Coady15Boly20Tomás Oliveira32Dendoncker8Neves28João Moutinho3Aït-Nouri7Neto9Jiménez

1Malheiro de Sá19Castro Otto16Coady15Boly20Tomás Oliveira32Dendoncker8Neves28João MoutinhoSubstituted forCundleat 85’minutes3Aït-Nouri7NetoSubstituted forMachado Trincãoat 72’minutes9JiménezSubstituted forHwang Hee-Chanat 72’minutes

Substitutes

2Hoever5Marçal11Machado Trincão14Mosquera17Fábio Silva21Ruddy24Gomes26Hwang Hee-Chan39Cundle

Man City

Formation 4-2-3-1

31Ederson27Cancelo25Fernandinho14Laporte11Zinchenko16Rodri8Gündogan7Sterling17De Bruyne47Foden20Bernardo Silva

31Ederson27Cancelo25FernandinhoSubstituted forMahrezat 77’minutes14LaporteSubstituted forAkéat 61’minutes11Zinchenko16Rodri8Gündogan7Sterling17De BruyneBooked at 78mins47FodenSubstituted forGrealishat 81’minutes20Bernardo Silva

Substitutes

6Aké9Gabriel Jesus10Grealish13Steffen26Mahrez56Egan-Riley79Mbete80Palmer90Lavia

Referee:Martin AtkinsonMatch StatsHome TeamWolvesAway TeamMan CityPossessionHome33%Away67%ShotsHome7Away16Shots on TargetHome3Away5CornersHome6Away2FoulsHome2Away10Live TextPost update

Match ends, Wolverhampton Wanderers 1, Manchester City 5.

90’+4’Full Time

Second Half ends, Wolverhampton Wanderers 1, Manchester City 5.

90’+2’Post update

Attempt missed. João Cancelo (Manchester City) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Jack Grealish.

90’Post update

Attempt missed. Hwang Hee-Chan (Wolverhampton Wanderers) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Rúben Neves.

89’Post update

Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) hits the left post with a left footed shot from the centre of the box. Assisted by Riyad Mahrez.

89’Post update

Foul by Jack Grealish (Manchester City).

89’Post update

Chiquinho (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

86’Post update

Foul by Jack Grealish (Manchester City).

86’Post update

José Sá (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

86’Post update

Attempt missed. Raheem Sterling (Manchester City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Kevin De Bruyne with a through ball.

85’Substitution

Substitution, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Luke Cundle replaces João Moutinho.

84’goalGoal!

Goal! Wolverhampton Wanderers 1, Manchester City 5. Raheem Sterling (Manchester City) right footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal.

84’Post update

Attempt blocked. João Cancelo (Manchester City) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jack Grealish with a through ball.

81’Substitution

Substitution, Manchester City. Jack Grealish replaces Phil Foden.

81’Post update

Bernardo Silva (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

81’Post update

Foul by Chiquinho (Wolverhampton Wanderers).

78’Booking

Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

78’Post update

Foul by Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City).

78’Post update

Rayan Aït-Nouri (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

77’Substitution

Substitution, Manchester City. Riyad Mahrez replaces Fernandinho.

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Source: bbc.com