'Perfect' Kevin De Bruyne hits four as Manchester City edge closer to title

Premier League leaders thrash Wolves 5-1 to stand four points from another triumph

Manchester City's Belgian star Kevin De Bruyne celebrates after scoring his and his team's fourth goal during the 5-1 Premier League win at Wolves. AFP

Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne celebrates after scoring the first goal. Getty

Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne celebrates scoring the first. PA

De Bruyne celebrates with teammates after scoring the first. EPA

Wolves' Leander Dendoncker levels the scores at 1-1. Getty

Wolves' Jose Sa celebrates after Leander Dendoncker scores. Reuters

Kevin De Bruyne scores City's second goal. AP

Kevin De Bruyne celebrates scoring their second goal with Raheem Sterling. Reuters

Kevin De Bruyne celebrates after scoring City's second goal. AP

De Bruyne celebrates scoring City's third goal with Phil Foden. Reuters

De Bruyne celebrates City's third goal and his hat-trick. Getty

Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne scores their third goal. Reuters

Kevin De Bruyne celebrates after scoring his fourth goal. AFP

De Bruyne celebrates after scoring his team fourth goal. AFP

Raheem Sterling scores City's fin al goal in the 5-1 victory. EPA

Kevin De Bruyne is handed the match ball by referee Martin Atkinson. Reuters

Kevin De Bruyne's incredible four-goal haul kept Manchester City on course for the Premier League title as the defending champions thrashed Wolves 5-1 at Molineux on Wednesday.

Pep Guardiola's stars moved three points clear of Liverpool with two games to play and boosted their goal difference to seven superior to the Reds.

City need just four points from Sunday's trip to West Ham and the visit of Aston Villa on the final day of the season to be crowned champions for the fourth time in five years.

And with De Bruyne on this form, they will take some stopping as the Belgian produced his brilliant best to blow away the hosts with a hat-trick inside 24 minutes.

"We played really well in this stadium we know how difficult it is. Three points, rest and then West Ham," manager Pep Guardiola told Sky Sports.

As for De Bruyne's display, Guardiola added: "He has played the last two or three months especially in the Premier League outstanding, and in the Champions League as well. He has been our key man in this part of the season.

"Today he scored four goals. Unstoppable, brilliant, awesome outstanding, perfect.

"He had the ability to create the special things.

"It is not just what he creates and the goals and everything. He helps us a lot. I am happy because Kevin is so generous and always thinking the best for the team but this year is also the most prolific for him."

City broke the news on Tuesday that they have beaten Europe's top clubs to the signature of Erling Haaland.

However, even the Norwegian goalscoring phenomenon would struggle to match the range of finishes off both feet dispatched by De Bruyne.

In keeping with their form in recent weeks, City looked to have dispelled any early nerves by scoring first as Bernardo Silva teed up De Bruyne to fire first time across Jose Sa.

The visitors, though, were without three key defenders in Kyle Walker, John Stones and Ruben Dias through injury and it showed.

Aymeric Laporte had to make a desperate last-ditch challenge to deny Chiquinho before Wolves levelled on 11 minutes.

Pedro Neto was allowed to gallop clear into the City box and picked out Leander Dendoncker to slot past Ederson.

Parity only lasted another five minutes as De Bruyne was both creator and executioner of City's second.

Raheem Sterling failed to connect with his pass through the heart of the Wolves defence, but Sa could only turn the ball back into De Bruyne's path and he made no mistake.

Wolves vs Man City ratings

WOLVES RATINGS: Jose Sa 4 – Five goals conceded and poor distribution capped a poor evening for the Portuguese stopper. He was arguably at fault for City’s first two goals, De Bruyne punishing the home keeper. Reuters

Conor Coady 6 – A tough evening for the skipper, who seemed to spend much of the game cleaning up the mess left by his fellow defenders. AP Photo

Jonny 4 – Played in a central role and couldn’t track De Bruyne’s movement. Was caught napping for City’s first, and was wasteful when in possession. EPA

Willy Boly 4 – Looked nervous, particularly when put under pressure by City’s forwards, and was guilty of being wasteful in possession. Struggled to contain City’s forwards. EPA

Chiquinho 8 – The wing-back impressed on his debut and was Wolves’ best player by far, causing City’s defenders problems with his aggressive approach. AFP

Leander Dendoncker 5 – Levelled the scores at 1-1 and might have had a second had he shot with Ederson off his line and out of position, rather than passing the ball. PA

Ruben Neves 5 – Hasn’t been the same since returning from injury, and was once again under par. Didn’t track his runners, just looked off the pace. Reuters

Joao Moutinho 5 – Had a tough evening trying to derail compatriot Silva, but was second best throughout with Wolves’ midfield overrun. Looked tired. AP Photo

Rayan Ait-Nouri 6 – Impressive in glimpses going forward, but poor defensively. He was at fault on one occasion, but fortunately for him De Bruyne struck the post. One of Wolves’ better performers. Reuters

Pedro Neto 5 – Supplied the cross to Dendoncker to equalise but was largely quiet. AFP

Raul Jimenez 5 – Was integral to Wolves’ equaliser after controlling the ball and playing a neat pass to Neto, but did little else. Action Images

SUBS: Hwang Hee-Chan (Jimenez, 72) N/A – Didn’t see much of the ball after coming on, but was guilty of losing possession when he did. Couldn’t get into the speed of the game. AP Photo

Francisco Trincao (Chiquinho, 72) N/A – Looked eager and busy when he came on but didn’t have many touches. Getty Images

Luke Cundle (Moutinho, 85) N/A – His fresh legs were welcome, and he’ll have loved getting some game time. AFP

MANCHESTER CITY RATINGS: Ederson 6 – Didn’t have much to do and could do little about the goal, but he did make a good save to deny Coady, though the Wolves defender was later adjudged offside. Was caught in no-man’s land later, but Dendoncker couldn’t punish. AP

Joao Cancelo 8 – Sold at the back but, as ever, but it was his forward runs and Hollywood passing around the Wolves box that caused the home side issues. Getty Images

Fernandinho 7 – Played well until substituted in the 76th minute, the old hand using his experience to keep Wolves at bay. His injury could be a concern this weekend. Getty Images

Aymeric Laporte 8 – His night was brought to an abrupt end when he suffered a knee injury. Until then, though, he had been superb, making two vital interventions. AP

Oleksandr Zinchenko 7 – Had his hands full attempting to keep Chiquinho quiet, but like Cancelo got forward when possible, and was involved in two of the goals. Getty

Rodri 6 – Looked more comfortable going forward than he did marshalling the space in front of his own defence. Action Images

Ilkay Gundogan 7 – Was the better of the two players in City’s double pivot, and controlled the game. Reuters

Raheem Sterling 7 – Scored City’s fifth but perhaps could and should have had five himself. Caused Wolves so many problems, but missed a hatful of chances. Reuters

Kevin De Bruyne 10 – Scored four goals, including a 24-minute hat-trick, came close to a fifth, and single handedly destroyed the home side. Absolutely scintillating, a masterclass. PA

Phil Foden 7 – Always involved, always teasing. Was involved in a lot of City’s attacks and on another day would probably have walked away with his name on the scoresheet. AFP

Bernardo Silva 8 – Was a threat all evening, finding pockets of space in attacking areas, and stretching the game with Wolves chasing the match in the second half. EPA

SUBS: Nathan Ake (Laporte, 61) 7 – Solid showing, and could be key given the injuries to Laporte and Fernandinho. AP Photo

Riyad Mahrez (Fernandinho, 77) N/A – Would have been frustrated not to get on earlier. Game was over when he came on. Reuters

Jack Grealish (Foden, 81) N/A – Showed glimpses of what he can do in his nine-minute cameo. Seems to be hitting his peak right at the season’s end. Getty Images

The best was yet to come from the 30-year-old as he took aim from outside the box and arrowed a shot into the bottom corner to complete a hat-trick, with all three goals scored by his supposedly weaker left foot.

De Bruyne's was the third quickest hat-trick in Premier League history and his first since he played for Genk 11 years ago.

But there was even more to come after the break as he slotted home on his right foot after Phil Foden's cross was deflected into his path.

An injury to Laporte was the only negative of the night for City as he limped off after a heavy challenge from Raul Jimenez.

Yet, any defensive deficiencies are being masked by the firepower of Guardiola's stars.

Since a 2-2 draw with Liverpool left the title race still on a knife edge last month, City have scored 23 goals in five games.

Foden hit the post and Sterling missed a sitter with the goal gaping at the back post.

But he could not miss another open goal when Joao Cancelo's deflected cross fell his way six minutes from time.

De Bruyne nearly had time for a fifth of his own in the final minute as he curled a shot off the post.