(EPA)
Erling Haaland scored four goals – including a first-half hat-trick – as champions Manchester City crushed Wolves 5-1 to retain control of the Premier League title race.
Pep Guardiola’s side needed to respond to leaders Arsenal’s victory over Bournemouth earlier on Saturday and they did so emphatically, with a clinical take-down of their hapless visitors at the Etihad Stadium.
Haaland struck twice from the penalty spot in the first half, either side of a towering header, before adding a fourth with a stunning strike. Substitute Julian Alvarez also got on the scoresheet, while Wolves’ consolation came from Hwang Hee-chan.
The victory lifted City, chasing an unprecedented fourth successive league crown, back within a point of the Gunners with a game in hand. Haaland’s outstanding display took his tally for the campaign to 36 in all competitions and lifted him to 25 – five clear of his nearest challengers – in the race for the Premier League’s Golden Boot. His hat-trick was also his ninth in City colours.
Relive all the action below:
Manchester City vs Wolves LIVE
Man City beat Wolves 5-1 to keep pace in the title race
GOAL! Alvarez gets in on the act late on (MCI 5-1 WOL, Alvarez 85’)
GOAL! Haaland gets a fourth with a lovely curled finish (MCI 4-1 WOL, Haaland 54’)
GOAL! Hwang gives Wolves hope with a tap-in from Bellegarde cross (MCI 3-1 WOL, Hwang 53’)
GOAL! Haaland converts his second penalty for the hat-trick (MCI 3-0 WOL, Haaland 45+3’)
PENALTY! Semedo brings down Haaland in the box as last man
GOAL! Haaland gets a second with a header from a Rodri cross (MCI 2-0 WOL, Haaland 35’)
GOAL! Haaland covers from the spot to give City the lead (MCI 1-0 WOL, Haaland 12’)
PENALTY! City get a spot kick after Ait-Nouri collides with Gvardiol
Manchester City FC 5 – 1 Wolverhampton Wanderers FC
Erling Haaland shows Man City’s transformation from the recent past
20:15 , Chris Wilson
After a glimpse of Manchester City’s stylish past came an illustration of their powerful present. David Silva was on the pitch at the Etihad Stadium before kick-off, his first return since his 2021 departure allowing the City faithful to pay tribute to an old favourite. Erling Haaland took the field after that, scored four goals in under an hour and left City only requiring three more wins to clinch a record fourth consecutive title.
Silva captained them to the first but if he was upstaged on his return, that is probably how a self-effacing figure prefers it. If there has been a shift in City’s identity, from the small Spanish passer to the giant Norwegian scorer, the midfielder may be far more emblematic of Pep Guardiola’s natural philosophy than the striker. But goals have an eloquence of their own and on days like this, when Haaland is marauding and magnificent, there is a pragmatic logic to recalibrating the side around him.
Erling Haaland shows Man City’s transformation from the recent past
FT: Manchester City 5-1 Wolves
20:00 , Chris Wilson
Guardiola is next to speak to Sky. He says that Haaland was angry with refereeing decisions, rather than his decision to bring the Norwegian off.
“With the long balls sometimes they push him and he is pulled,” he adds.
“It looks comfortable but it was not. In the end we created more chances but in the transition we were not precise in the last pass. But Erling is back to business. Penalties are a guarantee but the second and fourth were unbelievable.
“They are a really, really good team but we made calls in the right moment, especially with the fourth because at 3-1 anything can happen.
“Goal difference is not possible, we cannot draw. The way Arsenal have been playing has been so good and consistent.
“It’s three games, hopefully we win the first and the second and arrive to the third with our destiny in our own hands.”
FT: Manchester City 5-1 Wolves
19:50 , Chris Wilson
Haaland is the first in front of the Sky cameras.
He says that City need to “keep going and focus on next week”.
He says that 25 goals this season is “not bad”, and adds that he finds motivation from “a not so bad manager who pushes me”.
“Look at the players around me, without them it would not be possible.
“I try to develop every single day. I had some problems but let’s not focus on them, focus on the positive things.”
He adds that City need to “look ahead to the next one”.
“We’ve got four finals ahead,” he adds.
When asked about the potential importance of goal difference, he replies: “First of all it’s about winning the games, but of course you want to have the best goal difference”.
“But don’t think about that – think about Fulham.”
FT: Manchester City 5-1 Wolves
19:42 , Chris Wilson
For the home side, attention turns to their trip to south London on 11 May. They face Fulham in the early kick-off next Saturday, before a midweek trip to Tottenham for their game in hand.
Wolves also travel to south London next week, for a game against Crystal Palace.
Real Madrid are La Liga champions!
19:37 , Chris Wilson
Meanwhile in Spain, Catalan giants Barcelona have been beaten 4-2 by regional rivals Girona. That result means that Real Madrid are La Liga champions after beating Cadiz 3-0 today!
Girona have also guaranteed themselves Champions League qualification for the first time.
FT: Manchester City 5-1 Wolves
19:35 , Chris Wilson
(Getty Images)
(Getty Images)
(Getty Images)
(Getty Images)
FT: Manchester City 5-1 Wolves
19:29 , Chris Wilson
FULL-TIME! The ref blows the whistle and City have strolled to another win. There’s one point in the title race once more.
A comprehensive home victory, and they’re one behind with a game in hand. Business as usual for Guardiola’s side.
Manchester City 5-1 Wolves
19:28 , Chris Wilson
94 mins: Grealish spreads it wide to Doku, who beats Ait-Nouri again as he surges into the box. He cuts a cross back, but Alvarez hits it behind. That’ll be that.
Manchester City 5-1 Wolves
19:26 , Chris Wilson
92 mins: City still on the attack as Rodri and Doku look to create something, but nothing else yet.
The Belgian beats Ait-Nouri down the right, but his cross is headed behind.
Manchester City 5-1 Wolves
19:24 , Chris Wilson
90 mins: Nunes has a chance to extend the lead further as he tries to control Doku’s cross, but it runs to the ‘keeper. Should have hit it first time.
There’ll be four minutes of added time.
Manchester City 5-1 Wolves
19:21 , Chris Wilson
88 mins: City want six as Doku skips past Ait-Nouri’s challenge, but his shot is weak and straight at Sa.
Manchester City 5-1 Wolves
19:21 , Chris Wilson
87 mins: Wolves make a change, as Hwang Hee-Chan comes off for Tawanda Chirewa.
GOAL! Manchester City 5-1 Wolves
19:19 , Chris Wilson
84 mins: GOAL! Job done, as if it wasn’t already.
Rodri intercepts it deep into the Wolves half after Toti’s sliding challenge. He lays it to his left to Julian Alvarez, who has all the time in the world to aim his shot and drag it into the far corner past Sa.
Manchester City 4-1 Wolves
19:16 , Chris Wilson
83 mins: Haaland does come off in the end. He doesn’t look happy about something, but not sure what.
Job done for the Norwegian and City, as he comes off for Julian Alvarez, who makes his 100th appearance for the club.
Manchester City 4-1 Wolves
19:14 , Chris Wilson
81 mins: Guardiola must really want Haaland to get that fifth goal. No other reason to leave him on at the moment!
Gomes tries to scoop a ball in to the overlapping Hwang, but it’s too close to Ederson.
Manchester City 4-1 Wolves
19:13 , Chris Wilson
79 mins: Ait-Nouri fizzes an early cross across the box to Sarabia, but the Spaniard can’t connect with it at the far post.
Guardiola makes two more changes, with De Bruyne, Foden and Bernardo Silva coming off in place of Matheus Nunes, Jack Grealish and Jeremy Doku.
Manchester City 4-1 Wolves
19:11 , Chris Wilson
77 mins: Haaland tries the ridiculous, Chicharito-esque backwards header from Silva’s cross, but it causes Sa no trouble.
Manchester City 4-1 Wolves
19:09 , Chris Wilson
76 mins: For Wolves, Cunha comes off for Pablo Sarabia.
Manchester City 4-1 Wolves
19:08 , Chris Wilson
75 mins: Wolves have really improved in the second half, but it was too little too late after Haaland’s first-half hat-trick.
The game is really slowing down now as City close out the result.
Manchester City 4-1 Wolves
19:06 , Chris Wilson
72 mins: Excellent play from City collects the ball near the penalty area and lays it off to Foden, but his shot is blocked and goes behind for a corner.
Foden’s corner is collected by Rodri, and this time he lays it off to Kovacic, who forces a good save from Sa.
Manchester City 4-1 Wolves
19:04 , Chris Wilson
69 mins: Foden does brilliantly to skip past Semedo and then outrun him as he charges towards the box. He delivers an inviting cross towards Haaland, but just before the Norwegian tries the spectacular overhead effort, Toti gets a touch to take it away from him.
Moments later, Hugo Bueno comes off for Santiago Bueno (no relation).
Manchester City 4-1 Wolves
19:01 , Chris Wilson
67 mins: A lull in activity as City are happy to keep the ball. The home side make a change as Nathan Ake comes off for John Stones.
Manchester City 4-1 Wolves
18:58 , Chris Wilson
65 mins: Another City free-kick and Wolves booking as Gomes slides through Ake.
Manchester City 4-1 Wolves
18:57 , Chris Wilson
64 mins: foden tries to slip it through to Haaland for his fifth, but Toti intercepts.
Moments later, Traore is booked for bringing down De Bruyne as City countered.
Manchester City 4-1 Wolves
18:55 , Chris Wilson
62 mins: Bellegarde does well to win a foul, and Wolves have an opportunity to deliver the ball in, but they go short.
Soon after, Bellegarde slips it through to Ait-Nouri, but his attempted back-heel is cut out.
Manchester City 4-1 Wolves
18:53 , Chris Wilson
59 mins: Cunha’s cross makes it all the way across the box to Bueno, but City manage to clear and Rodri counters.
He finds Gvardiol, who threads it to Haaland on the edge of the box. He lets it run across his body before the touch takes it away from Kilman, but his shot is too close to Sa.
Manchester City 4-1 Wolves
18:51 , Chris Wilson
57 mins: Brief hope is almost instantly extinguished for Wolves.
City are threatening for a fifth too, as De Bruyne finds Haaland, whose shot is deflected behind for a corner.
GOAL! Manchester City 4-1 Wolves
18:49 , Chris Wilson
54 mins: GOAL! An instant reply.
Foden lobs it to Haaland from his own half, and the Norwegian brings it down before cutting inside and bending an effort around Jose Sa and into the top corner. Lovely finish.
GOAL! Manchester City 3-1 Wolves
18:48 , Chris Wilson
53 mins: GOAL! Out of nowhere again, and Wolves have a goal!
Gomes spreads the ball wide to Bellegard, whose looping cross beats Ederson and leaves Hwang with a tap-in to an open goal!
Manchester City 3-0 Wolves
18:45 , Chris Wilson
53 mins: No clear-cut opportunities for either side so far in the second half. City are content with keeping possession, with Wolves having come out a lot more aggressive out of possession in the second period.
Manchester City 3-0 Wolves
18:44 , Chris Wilson
50 mins: De Bruyne threads through a pass towards Rodri, which the Spaniard gets to after Ait-Nouri slides in. He squares it to Foden, who takes a first-time shot that Sa manages to save low to his right.
18:42 , Chris Wilson
48 mins: Rodri picks out De Bruyne as the Belgian runs into the box, but his touch lets him down and drags him wide.
City recycle back to the defence, before play is stopped as Kovacic is fouled.
Manchester City 3-0 Wolves
18:40 , Chris Wilson
46 mins: Something else worth considering is goal difference, which could decide the title if City draw one fixture and Arsenal win their final two.
The Gunners currently have a seven-goal advantage there.
KICK-OFF! Manchester City 3-0 Wolves
18:39 , Chris Wilson
KICK-OFF! Wolves make a half-time change, with Bellegarde coming on for Lemina.
We’re underway in the second half.
HT: Manchester City 3-0 Wolves
18:35 , Chris Wilson
City will just need more of the same in the second half in order to finish the day just a point behind Arsenal once more.
The home side have strolled to a 3-0 lead that you’d imagine would be impossible to turn around for Wolves. Nevertheless, the home side still need to see this game out. Four more wins for a fourth consecutive title.
The Cityzens’ game in hand comes against Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham side on 14 May.
HT: Manchester City 3-0 Wolves
18:32 , Chris Wilson
Alexander Isak scored his 20th league goal of the season to draw level with Cole Palmer and go one behind Haaland before this evening’s kick-off, but that first half may have secured a second consecutive golden boot for the Norwegian striker.
Haaland is now on 24 goals, with Isak and Palmer behind on 20 and Watkins one behind them.
HT: Manchester City 3-0 Wolves
18:30 , Chris Wilson
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(Getty Images)
(Getty Images)
(Getty Images)
HT: Manchester City 3-0 Wolves
18:23 , Chris Wilson
HALF-TIME! 3-0 at the break, and City go down the tunnel with the job done already.
Pep Guardiola showing no emotion, but he’ll be delighted.
Manchester City 3-0 Wolves
18:22 , Chris Wilson
51 mins: De Bruyne swings in a cross which Rodri meets. He heads it back across goal and Ake almost turns it in before it drops to Gvardiol, but Kilman manages to block before Sa collects.
18:21 , Chris Wilson
50 mins: Haaland drops deep to start the counter this time, and De Bruyne races through but he doesn’t have the pace to go 1-on-1 with Sa. Eventually he passes to Gvardiol, who can’t get the cross away.
Manchester City 3-0 Wolves
18:20 , Chris Wilson
49 mins: There were initially four minutes added on, but we’ll get more I’m sure.
Wolves are next to attack as Cunha spreads it wide to Ait-Nouri, but Ederson catches his cross.
GOAL! Manchester City 3-0 Wolves
18:19 , Chris Wilson
48 mins: GOAL! Haaland steps up, takes a short run up and blasts his penalty into the same corner as the first one. Sa dived the right way and got a hand to it, but the power took it past him.
21st hat-trick of Haaland’s senior career there, and it’s come inside one half.
Manchester City 2-0 Wolves
18:17 , Chris Wilson
46 mins: PENALTY! It’s given, and Haaland will have the chance to bag his hat-trick.
Semedo is booked too.
Manchester City 2-0 Wolves
18:16 , Chris Wilson
45 mins: On the replays, it’s a clear penalty. Semedo clips Haaland just before he shoots, knocking him off balance. It looks like it’ll be given.
Manchester City 2-0 Wolves
18:16 , Chris Wilson
44 mins: VAR CHECK! Haaland receives the ball and he’s one-on-one with Sa, with Semedo racing back to try and win the ball. Haaland manages to get across him and it looks like Semedo brings him down, but nothing given. Craig Pawson is checking.
That looked like more of a penalty than the first incident.
18:14 , Chris Wilson
43 mins: De Bruyne wins the ball on halfway and drives diagonally to the edge of the box before slipping the ball in for Foden, but he can’t get a shot away.
Manchester City 2-0 Wolves
18:13 , Chris Wilson
42 mins: Some Wolves players – Cunha, Gomes, Traore, for example – look comfortable in possession, but the others far less so, and the away side are missing someone to link defence and attack.
Manchester City 2-0 Wolves
18:11 , Chris Wilson
40 mins: First booking of the evening as Lemina clips Foden.
Manchester City 2-0 Wolves
18:10 , Chris Wilson
39 mins: Traore almost gives City another chance as De Bruyne intercepts his pass, but he does well to recover and win it back.
City dominating now, and they look extremely comfortable here.
Manchester City 2-0 Wolves
18:09 , Chris Wilson
38 mins: Akanji is briefly down after a challenge when fighting to meet Foden’s corner, but he’s okay.
GOAL! Manchester City 2-0 Wolves
18:06 , Chris Wilson
36 mins: GOAL! Haaland again.
Cunha’s loose touch loses the ball to Rodri, who exchanges passes with De Bruyne before clipping in a cross to the back post. Haaland meets it with a header across goal, which lands in the opposite corner of the net!
Manchester City 1-0 Wolves
18:05 , Chris Wilson
35 mins: A graphic flashes up that shows that Wolves have conceded the most shots from turnovers in the league this season, which you can understand from watching them. another one is coming up here…
Manchester City 1-0 Wolves
18:04 , Chris Wilson
32 mins: Free-kick in a dangerous position on the edge of the box after Gomes is late with his challenge.
De Bruyne swings it in and Sa fumbles it before Ake knocks it back across goal, but the Wolves ‘keeper was fouled by Akanji.
Manchester City 1-0 Wolves
18:02 , Chris Wilson
31 mins: City win the ball again after a wayward long ball from Lemina., and that ends a decent spell of Wolves possession.
Other than the penalty, the home side haven’t really found a way through Wolves stubborn defensive block yet.
Manchester City 1-0 Wolves
18:01 , Chris Wilson
28 mins: Wolves are attacking with purpose when they do get the ball. This time, a cross from the right just escapes the head of Hwang Hee-Chan.
Manchester City 1-0 Wolves
17:58 , Chris Wilson
27 mins: Almost an excellent run from Foden as Akanji finds him with a lovely ball between the defensive lines. He skips past one challenge and into the box, but Wolves manage to dispossess him and it runs to Sa.
Manchester City 1-0 Wolves
17:56 , Chris Wilson
24 mins: Wolves try playing out from the back again and this time it works brilliantly, with Toti, Traore and Cunha combining well on the left-hand side.
They work the ball to the left and back to Bueno on the right, before Cunha clips in a cross. Ake clears and Bueno crosses in the follow-up, but Ederson catches it easily enough.
Manchester City 1-0 Wolves
17:54 , Chris Wilson
23 mins: Gomes and traore combine to win possession in the middle of the park, but Cunha fouls Rodri as he attempts to dribble into the box.
Manchester City 1-0 Wolves
17:52 , Chris Wilson
20 mins: Wolves are trying the style of the play that Guardiola has made so popular in England since his arrival, with Lemina, Ait-Nouri and Semedo playing it between themselves in defence.
However, Sa sells it short to Bueno and City win the ball high, eventually winning a free-kick near the edge of the box. Foden whips it in towards the far corner, but it goes wide of the post.
Manchester City 1-0 Wolves
17:50 , Chris Wilson
19 mins: City still keeping the ball well, with Haaland just inches from connecting with a ball into the box from the wing.
Now Silva is offside, and Wolves have a chance to breathe.
Manchester City 1-0 Wolves
17:48 , Chris Wilson
17 mins: Wolves had made quite a confident start, but they’re struggling to get out of their half now.
Silva clips in another cross to the far post, and Haaland heads it goalwards but Sa makes an impressive diving save down to his left.
Manchester City 1-0 Wolves
17:47 , Chris Wilson
16 mins: City are getting into their rhythm now. The ball bounces back to De Bruyne after he tried to clip in a cross, but his volleyed attempt is skewed wide.
Manchester City 1-0 Wolves
17:46 , Chris Wilson
15 mins: Wolves fans will probably feel aggrieved in a similar way to Bournemouth fans after Havertz was awarded a penalty earlier. Both soft, but once they were given they were never going to be overturned. It’s something to learn for Art-Nouri and Travers respectively.
Shortly after kick-off, Kilman is close to bringing down Kovacic in the box, but luckily his challenge is clean.
GOAL! Manchester City 1-0 Wolves
17:43 , Chris Wilson
12 mins: GOAL! Haaland steps up and rolls his penalty to the right of Sa, having sent the Wolves ‘keeper the wrong way.
1-0!
PENALTY! Manchester City 0-0 Wolves
17:42 , Chris Wilson
9 mins: PENALTY! Out of nowhere almost!
De Bruyne finds Silva on the overlap in the box. The Portuguese clips in a cross to the far post, and as Rayan Ait-Nouri goes to clear it, he collides with Gvardiol – who has won the challenge to get the shot away – and the penalty is given!
A short check, and the decision stands. Probably a little soft.
Manchester City 0-0 Wolves
17:39 , Chris Wilson
8 mins: Wolves are happy to leave the wide areas free when defending, with Gary O’Neil’s side clearly told to be compact in the middle in defence.
City attack again and the ball bounces out to Rodri on the edge of the box, but the Spaniard’s half-volley flies over.
17:37 , Chris Wilson
6 mins: Silva does well to dispossess Cunha and win a throw-in from the Brazilian, but it was wasteful from Cunha in truth.
Not a frantic opening from either side.
Manchester City 0-0 Wolves
17:35 , Chris Wilson
4 mins: Almost an opening for Haaland now after De Bruyne slips the ball through to him, but Toti is there to intercept and clear.
Manchester City 0-0 Wolves
17:33 , Chris Wilson
2 mins: Silva pressures Sa into the loose touch and the Wolves ‘keeper is forced to clear in a shaky moment. City with the majority of the ball as you’d expect, and Wolves sitting in a back five when the home side have the ball.
Manchester City 0-0 Wolves
17:31 , Chris Wilson
1 min: Almost an opening right away for City, but the ball just overruns De Bruyne as he was charging into the box.
KICK-OFF! Manchester City 0-0 Wolves
17:30 , Chris Wilson
KICK-OFF! Guardiola does look deep in thought though, as ‘Blue Moon’ plays across the tannoy.
The away side get us underway.
17:28 , Chris Wilson
The team are in the tunnel and ‘Hey Jude’ is ringing around the Etihad.
A reminder that Wolves won the reverse fixture in September – surely they can’t do a double over the defending champions?
Pep Guardiola is a man who tends to learn from his first mistakes.
Manchester City vs Wolves
17:25 , Chris Wilson
So, a full-strength City side start the game four points behind Arsenal, but safe in the knowledge that a win tonight – and one more in their final game in hand – would take them top of the Premier League once more.
They face a Wolves side that has experienced a solid Premier League season so far, though one that very few expect to have a say in this game and the wider title race.
Despite a disappointing exit to Real Madrid in the Champions League, Pep Guardiola’s side are bidding for another double of league and FA Cup, as well as an unprecedented fourth Premier League title in a row.
17:20 , Chris Wilson
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Is Manchester City v Wolves on TV?
17:15 , Chris Wilson
With just 15 minutes until kick-off, a reminder of how you can watch tonight’s game.
The game is due to kick off at 5.30pm BST at the Etihad Stadium, and viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the match live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League. Subscribers can stream the action via Sky Go.
Is Manchester City v Wolves on TV? Kick-off time, channel and how to watch
Man City vs Wolves prediction: No let up from title favourites
17:05 , Chris Wilson
City will look to clear another hurdle in their Premier League title bid at home to Wolves tonight.
Guardiola’s side are priced at 1/8 to get the win, with a draw offered at 11/1 and a Wolves win given at a huge 22/1.
The Premier League odds show City are odds-on to win the title for the fourth season in a row and they enter the game four points behind Arsenal but with two games in hand.
City are currently 1/2 to win the league, with Arsenal offered at 13/8.
Man City vs Wolves prediction: No let up from title favourites
16:55 , Chris Wilson
Team news
16:44 , Chris Wilson
For Wolves, Gary O’Neil makes just one change. Hugo Bueno replaces Matt Doherty at left wing-back.
Team news
16:41 , Chris Wilson
For the home side, there are three changes from the team that beat Nottingham Forest 2-0 last week.
Foden returns to the line-up in place of Jack Grealish, while Kovacic comes in in place of Doku and Haaland starts ahead of Julian Alvarez.
Team news
16:34 , Chris Wilson
MAN CITY XI: Ederson; Walker, Akanji, Ake, Gvardiol; Rodri; Kovacic, Bernardo, De Bruyne, Foden; Haaland.
SUBS: Ortega, Dias, Stones, Doku, Grealish, Alvarez, Gomez, Nunes, Lewis.
Your City side for #MCIWOL 🩵
XI | Ederson, Walker (C), Akanji, Ake, Gvardiol, Rodrigo, Kovacic, De Bruyne, Foden, Bernardo, Haaland
SUBS | Ortega Moreno, Dias, Stones, Grealish, Doku, Alvarez, Gomez, Nunes, Lewis#ManCity | @etihad pic.twitter.com/xgEh7s59fO
— Manchester City (@ManCity) May 4, 2024
WOLVES XI: Sa; Semedo, Kilman, Toti; Bueno, Lemina, Gomes, Traore, Ait-Nouri; Cunha, Hwang.
SUBS: Bentley, Doherty, Bueno, Sarabia, Bellegarde, Gonzalez, Okoduwa, Chirewa, Fraser.
Team news
16:23 , Chris Wilson
A reminder of the early team news and we approach the announcement of the line-ups.
Manchester City had feared that Ederson may miss the rest of the season after suffering a shoulder injury against Nottingham Forest, but Pep Guardiola allayed concerns over the goalkeeper on Friday, and he may well be fit to start. Phil Foden and Ruben Dias could return after illness.
Tommy Doyle, who will join Wolves permanently at the end of the seaosn, is for now ineligible to face his parent club but Santiago Bueno, Jean-Ricner Bellegarde and Pedro Neto have returned to training and might feature.
Man City will not be distracted by Arsenal’s games in title race, insists Nathan Ake
16:15 , Sonia Twigg
“For me it doesn’t matter really,” Ake said. “It’s in our hands so we’re not depending on what they do.
“That’s the difference from last year, we were still depending on what they were doing.
“This season it’s in our hands. We know if we win the next four we are champions. The only thing we have to do is focus on the next one.
“I think everyone’s got the experience but in the end experience doesn’t really make a difference.
“It’s about now, what we do now. At the moment it’s going well but we know what we have to do in the end — win four games and we can be champions again.”
Man City will not be distracted by Arsenal’s games in title race, insists Nathan Ake
16:00 , Sonia Twigg
Nathan Ake has no problem with Manchester City playing the hunter as the Premier League title race with Arsenal heads for a thrilling finale.
City reeled the Gunners back in with a 2-0 win at Nottingham Forest where goals from Josko Gvardiol and Erling Haaland reduced the gap at the top to one point, with a game in hand.
That could be back to four points again by the time Pep Guardiola’s side play Wolves on Saturday evening next as Arsenal are in action earlier in the day against Bournemouth.
Chasing can often increase the pressure, but City know if they win their four remaining games they will be champions for an unprecedented fourth successive season.
Wolves agree permanent deal to sign Tommy Doyle from Man City
15:45 , Sonia Twigg
Wolves have activated the option to turn midfielder Tommy Doyle’s loan into a permanent deal.
The 22-year-old has spent the season on loan from Manchester City but has penned a four-year contract to tie him at Molinuex until 2028, with the option of another two years.
Doyle, who made seven appearances for City having come through the youth system, has played 30 times for Wolves this season as they look set for a mid-table finish in the Premier League.
Foden and Shaw notch Man City double at Football Writers’ Awards
15:30 , Sonia Twigg
Manchester City midfielder Phil Foden has been named the Football Writers’ Association’s men’s player of the year, while City forward Khadija Shaw won the women’s award for the 2023-24.
England international Foden, 23, who has scored 24 goals in all competitions this season, including his goal in their Club World Cup final victory, won 42 per cent of the vote, ahead of Arsenal’s Declan Rice and his City teammate Rodri.
Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard, Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins and Chelsea forward Cole Palmer made up the rest of the top six, while Foden becomes the third City player in the last four years to win the award, following Erling Haaland’s victory in 2023 and Ruben Dias’s 2021 triumph.
Is Man City vs Wolves on TV?
15:15 , Sonia Twigg
When is Manchester City vs Wolves?
Manchester City vs Wolves is due to kick off at 5.30pm BST on Saturday 4 May at the Etihad Stadium.
How can I watch it?
Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the match live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League, with coverage on the channels from 5pm. Subscribers can stream the action via Sky Go.
If you’re not a Sky customer you can grab a NOWTV Day Pass here to watch without a subscription.
Early Man City team news
15:10 , Sonia Twigg
Team news
Manchester City had feared that Ederson may miss the rest of the season after suffering a shoulder injury against Nottingham Forest, but Pep Guardiola allayed concerns over the goalkeeper on Friday, and he may well be fit to start. Phil Foden and Ruben Dias could return after illness.
Tommy Doyle, who will join Wolves permanently at the end of the season, is for now ineligible to face his parent club but Santiago Bueno, Jean-Ricner Bellegarde and Pedro Neto have returned to training and might feature.
Man City vs Wolves
15:00 , Sonia Twigg
Manchester City welcome Wolves to the Etihad Stadium as they look to take another step towards the Premier League title.
Pep Guardiola’s side are seeking a fourth consecutive crown and control their own destiny with four games left in their season.
Guardiola will be well aware of the threat that the visitors pose, though, particularly after a 1-0 defeat at Molineux earlier in the season.
Wolves will not have Gary O’Neil on the touchline, though, with the manager serving a ban for his conduct following the 2-1 defeat to West Ham.
Man City vs Wolves
14:48 , Sonia Twigg
Good afternoon and welcome to The Independent’s live build up and coverage of the Premier League clash between Manchester City and Wolves at the Etihad Stadium.
