Man City go three points clear after De Bruyne masterclass
Kevin De Bruyne produced a four-goal masterclass as Manchester City thrashed Wolves 5-1 to move three points clear at the top of the Premier League, while Chelsea consolidated their top-four place and pushed Leeds deeper into relegation trouble on Wednesday.
City had seen second-placed Liverpool go level on points with them after a 2-1 win at Aston Villa on Tuesday.
But De Bruyne’s brilliant display ensured Pep Guardiola’s side responded emphatically as a thrilling title race enters the final furlong.
After De Bruyne put City ahead in the seventh minute from Bernardo Silva’s pass, the leaders were briefly rocked by Leander Dendoncker’s equaliser four minutes later.
But De Bruyne extinguished Wolves’ hopes of a shock win as he completed his hat-trick with two more lethal finishes in the 16th and 24th minutes.
He bagged his fourth goal from close range in the 60th minute and Raheem Sterling put the seal on the demolition with an 85th-minute tap-in.
The Belgium midfielder’s heroics mean City need four points from their last two games to be guaranteed a fourth Premier League title in the last five seasons.
If City can win at West Ham on Sunday, they will climb six points clear of Liverpool before Jurgen Klopp’s quadruple-chasing team next play in the league at Southampton on Tuesday.
City’s second goal spree in four days after the 5-0 rout of Newcastle on Sunday also gives them an important seven-goal advantage over Liverpool in the goal difference column.
Their latest win was even more impressive given City are without injured defenders Ruben Dias, John Stones and Kyle Walker for the rest of the season, with Aymeric Laporte limping off in the second half at Molineux.
While Liverpool have maintained a blistering pace in pursuit of City since January, Guardiola’s team have been up to the challenge.
After drawing with Liverpool on April 10, City have won five successive league games, scoring 22 times and conceding only twice.
