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Erling Haaland launched himself onto English football with jaw-dropping scoring feats.

In comparison, this season has been a bit mundane.

Partly that is because we have seen it once, partly it is because at one stage last term he was on target to beat Dixie Dean's all-time English scoring record for goals in a season before eventually getting to 52.

But now, he is on 25. Ruud van Nistelrooy, Thierry Henry, Harry Kane and Mo Salah all won the Golden Boot with fewer goals.

Haaland's efforts this term have been impressive. And he is hitting top form at just the right time.

We cannot know yet how the title race will work out but it has to be to City's advantage that the most lethal player in English football is on their side.

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Manchester City goalscorer Erling Haaland, speaking to Sky Sports about his Premier League goal tally: "Not bad 25 goals this season, Thanks for that. We keep going!"

On what gives him motivation: "I’ve got a not too bad manager who pushes me and look at the players around me. Without them it would not be possible. Look ahead, look to next one - four finals left for season. We’re going to go for it and focus on Fulham."

On his second goal: "That’s a beautiful goal. My father is going to be happy with that one. A nice celebration, I enjoyed that one. I’m scoring more headers, I try to develop and keep going."

On his fourth goal: "A beautiful goal. I don’t know what more I can say. Great goal, great ball from Phil [Foden]."

On whether Pep Guardiola is thinking about goal difference: "No. First of all it’s about winning the games but of course you want to have the best possible goal difference. Lets not think about that. Think about Fulham."

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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola to Sky Sports: "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 [Haaland] is back to business. Penalties are a guarantee but the second and fourth [goals] 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.

"The 20 minutes he [Haaland] played against Nottingham Forest was really good and today as well. We won, but it was so long an injury. It is welcome he arrived in the right moment. But we arrive together because Erling and Kevin [De Bruyne] have been out, but Phil [Foden] and Julian [Alvarez] have played so well."

On Haaland's reaction after coming off: "He's a little bit frustrated, but I understand. He was frustrated with the referee. With the long balls sometimes they push him and he is pulled. Yes, it is like that.

"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."

• Erling Haaland scored his sixth Premier League hat-trick for Manchester City, with only seven players scoring more in the competition’s history. All six have been at the Etihad Stadium, with only three players netting more at a single venue.

• Manchester City extended their unbeaten run in the Premier League to 20 games (W16 D4). They’ve won each of the last six in a row, scoring four or more goals on five occasions in that run.

• Wolves have kept just two clean sheets away from home in the Premier League this season, though this was the first time they’ve shipped 4 or more goals on the road.

• Man City’s Erling Haaland became the third player to score multiple first-half hat-tricks in Premier League history (also v Nottingham Forest last season), along with Andrew Cole and Michael Owen (2 each).·

• Haaland scored four goals in a Premier League match for the first time. His fourth goal came in the 54th minute today, the second earliest four goal haul by a player in the competition’s history, after Gabriel Jesus in April 2022 (53rd minute against Watford).

• No side has conceded more penalty goals than Wolves in the Premier League this season (8). Only in 2021-22 (9) have they conceded more from the spot in a single campaign in the competition.

Erling Haaland's first four-goal haul in the Premier League left Manchester City three wins away from an historic fourth successive English league title.

City were given a helping hand they did not need thanks to a favourable 12th-minute penalty decision from referee Craig Pawson.

Haaland sent Wolves keeper Jose Sa the wrong way, then beat the Portuguese from the spot again just before the break after he had been brought down by Nelson Semedo.

In between, the striker had scored with a superb far-post header, climbing to an amazing height unchallenged at the far post, to send Rodri's cross back across goal and into the corner.

A minute after Hwang Hee-chan had pulled one back for the visitors, Haaland struck again, powering onto Phil Foden's brilliant lofted pass.

Julian Alvarez finished off the scoring five minutes from time to leave City a point behind Arsenal, but now with three games remaining to the Gunners' two.

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