On-loan Manchester City and England midfielder Kalvin Phillips' hopes of rejoining Leeds United this summer depend on the Elland Road side earning promotion back to the Premier League. (Football Insider), external
Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesErling 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.
Image source, Getty ImagesManchester 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."
Image source, Getty ImagesManchester 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.
Were you at the match or did you follow it from elsewhere?
City fans - let us know your thoughts on the game here
Chris Sutton is making predictions for every Premier League game this season against a variety of guests.
For this weekend's matches, he takes on Kings of Leon drummer Nathan Followill.
Sutton's prediction: 3-0
It definitely helps Manchester City that they are not in the Champions League because their full focus can be on this game.
City boss Pep Guardiola says his players are tired but they are unlikely to get much sympathy about that when they can bring Erling Haaland off the bench, like they did against Forest.
Wolves beat them at Molineux in September, but that is not going to happen again. Gary O'Neil's side saw off Luton last week but their form has fallen away in recent weeks and this should be comfortable for City.
Nathan's prediction: 4-1
There are five Premier League matches taking place today and we will keep you updated on all of them.
Full commentary:
Burnley v Newcastle, 15:00 - BBC Radio 5 Live
Man City v Wolves, 17:30 - BBC Radio 5 Live
Image source, Getty ImagesRico Lewis says there is "no reason" why Manchester City cannot finish the season as FA Cup winners and Premier League champions.
Pep Guardiola's side are pursuing an unprecedented fourth title in a row and know victory in their final four games will set up the opportunity for a domestic double when they face neighbours Manchester United at Wembley on 25 May.
"That's part of being at City - it's not enough, it's never enough," Lewis told the BBC's Dan Ogunshakin.
"This season we want to go and strive to do more and part of that's winning the Premier League and winning the four in a row, which has never been done before, which is, again, going to be another record which we want to go and break.
"It's part of being at Manchester City. Two Premier Leagues in a row wasn't enough, three isn't enough, four won't be enough, next season we will be wanting even more.
"I think especially with the experience that the team's got in these kind of last stages of the season and the quality of players that we've got, I think there's no reason why that we can't [win the Premier League and FA Cup].
"It's in our hands and we've just got to focus on each game at a time and winning each game."
Lewis, 19, has featured 26 times in all competitions for City this season and is embracing the trust placed him by Pep Guardiola and the Spaniard's management style.
"It's definitely intense," he added. "It's probably 10 times more intense than you think coming from outside. But he's also got the other side where that intensity doesn't come from nowhere.
"He's so hard-working, he's so obsessed with winning and that's a credit to his character because he's won so much everywhere he's been.
"It would be easy for him to just say 'you know what, I've won enough and I can just lay off this season or I can just not put as much hard work in', but from the two years that I've been with him, the intensity has only got higher and higher.
"You wonder when it can stop, but it just keeps on going."
Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter
Pep Guardiola has spoken to the media before Manchester City's Premier League game with Wolves.
Here are the main lines from his news conference:
Guardiola confirmed Ruben Dias and Phil Foden are fit and Erling Haaland could start after coming off the bench at Nottingham Forest last weekend.
In addition, goalkeeper Ederson's shoulder problem is not as bad as initially thought and the Brazilian could play, despite leaving the City Ground with his arm in a sling.
On Phil Foden being named Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year: "Congratulations for the writers and him. He played really good this season."
On guiding Foden's development from a young academy player: "When he was 17 or 18, Kevin de Bruyne was here, also (David) Silva, (Ilkay) Gundogan... playing in a team that won a lot of Premier Leagues and in the final stages of other competitions. It's not easy. As managers we can suggest something but it belongs to them. The minutes they play with his mates, the work ethic, the mentality. The talent is there. It belongs to the players."
What is next for Foden? "It depends on him. It is as simple as that. Has he the mentality to want it more and do it again. Will he live 24 hours for the profession?"
On preparing for Wolves after a full week off: "It was good. We had days off and then three really good training sessions. We have fresh legs and minds and are ready for the game tomorrow."
Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences
Image source, ReutersManchester City and England midfielder Phil Foden has been voted as the Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year.
Foden, 23, has scored 24 goals at club level this season, including 16 in the Premier League, and helped City to victory in the Fifa Club World Cup and Uefa Super Cup.
He claimed 42% of the vote, with Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice second and Foden's City team-mate Rodri third.
Foden said the award is a "huge honour" and added: "We have a very special squad of players at City, and I’m privileged to be a part of that group.
"I'm immensely proud to have won this award. Now I am focused on seeking to finish the season as strongly as possible and to try to help City win more trophies."
It was double glory for City as Khadija Shaw took the equivalent Women's Footballer of the Year award.
Shaw is the top scorer in the Women's Super League with 21 goals as City close in on the title.
Image source, Getty ImagesWolves have confirmed the signing of Manchester City’s Tommy Doyle on a permanent basis.
The midfielder signed on loan at the start of the season but the Midlands club have now taken up the clause to sign him permanently for just under £5m.
The deal does not officially go through until 1 July 2024, which makes Doyle still ineligible to play against his former club when the two sides meet this weekend.
Barcelona manager Xavi has told the club he wants Manchester City and Portugal midfielder Bernardo Silva, 29, with Bayern Munich also interested. (Sport - in Spanish), external
Manchester City were one of the teams who scouted Borussia Dortmund's Dutch full-back Ian Maatsen, 22, currently on loan from Chelsea, on Wednesday. (TBR Football), external
Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column
Here are the key facts and figures before Saturday's game between Manchester City and Wolves in the Premier League.
Manchester City have won seven of their past eight home Premier League matches against Wolves, losing the other 2-0 in October 2019.
Wolves have completed one Premier League double over City since Pep Guardiola joined the club in 2016, which happened in 2019-20. No side in Guardiola's entire league managerial career has completed more than one double over the Spaniard.
Manchester City are unbeaten in their past 31 games in all competitions (W25 D6). The last Premier League team to have a longer run were Manchester United, who went 33 games without defeat between December and May in the 1998-99 campaign.
All five of Wolves' Premier League away wins this season have been against either teams starting the day in the relegation zone (two) or London clubs (three). They have lost 18 of their 20 Premier League away games against sides in the top two, winning the others at Tottenham (December 2018) and City (October 2019).
Kevin de Bruyne's two assists in City's 2-0 win against Nottingham Forest last time out took his overall tally in the Premier League to 110; he is now just one behind second-placed Cesc Fabregas in the all-time ranking in the competition.
Both Hwang Hee-chan and Matheus Cunha have scored 11 Premier League goals for Wolves this season. There has been just three times a player has scored more for the club in a campaign - Steven Fletcher in 2011-12 (12) and Raul Jimenez in 2018-19 (13) and 2019-20 (17).
