Man City Blasts Wolves, Keeps Nipping at Liverpool's Heels
Fresh after two total annihilations befitting of big brands against minnows, Manchester City set its firepower on a fellow Premiership member in another command performance.
The Sky Blues' cup victories were mere scrimmages:
- They laid Rotherham United to waste, 7-0, in the FA Cup, and then
- They nuked Burton Albion, 9-0, in the League Cup.
Pep Guardiola's side kept their pedal to the metal against that Portuguese legion from Wolverhampton, swatting them aside, 3-0, to keep the heat on Premiership leaders Liverpool.
The Citizens kicked off the match as expected, in the classic Guardiola style with intense, offensive football, and an early opener seemed close.
It was. It only took ten minutes to get on the board.
Aymeric Laporte got possession, picked out Leroy Sané down the left lane, allowing the German international to fee Gabriel Jesus. Dude had no problem firing home past Portuguese goalkeeper Rui Patricio:
Spunky side that they are, Wolves accelerated their work rate in an attempt to equalize but wound up with their collective backs even firmer against the wall only nine minutes later.
That's when a violent tackle on Bernardo Silva by Willy Boly produced a straight red card.
With the Citizen juggernaut was up a man, the pressure on Wolves accelerated. It ultimately resulted in a penalty due to Ryan Bennett's challenge on Raheem Sterling.
Jesus stepped up, wrongsided Patricio, and smashed home:
After the break, Guardiola introduced Kevin de Bruyne, and the Belgian International played a major role in City's third score.
As in drilling a bank shot that would've put a tear in Minnesota Fats' eye.
Speaking of ... did you know Paul Newman's classic film The Hustler was inspired by the Fat Man?
Wolves knew they weren't being hustled. They were simply taking their turn at the Etihad as being the latest opponent to get dismantled.
Anyway, back to the play in question in the 78th minute, de Bruyne's cross deflected off Conor Coady, killing any chances for Patricio to attempt a save:
And the heat stays on Manager of the Month Jürgen Klopp and his band of merry men.
