Manchester City have history in their sights as the runaway leaders bid to take a huge step towards the Premier League title in Sunday's showdown with fading challengers Manchester United.
City are 14 points clear of United with 11 games left and victory in the derby would effectively end their second placed rivals' faint hopes of catching them.
Pep Guardiola's side have been so dominant since the end of last year that it is the landmarks they can shatter on the way to a third title in four seasons that now hold the greatest interest.
They are unbeaten in 28 games and will set a new club record if they avoid defeat this weekend.
That could be the first of many milestones to fall for City, who are on an English top-flight record run of 21 successive wins in all competitions.
The only teams from the top five European leagues ever to record longer winning streaks in all competitions are Bayern Munich (23) and Real Madrid (22).
City can edge closer to Bayern's tally if they clinch a 16th successive Premier League victory this weekend, which would also take them to the brink of their own record of 18 consecutive Premier League wins, a mark shared with Liverpool.
Guardiola's team are six wins short of equalling the world record for consecutive victories in all competitions by a top-flight side - set by Welsh team The New Saints in 2016.
City's incredible run is all the more remarkable given their troubled start to the season.
When they were held to a 0-0 draw at United in December, they were a point behind their rivals in ninth place and the death knell was ringing for their title hopes.
But, aided by some clever tactical tweaks from Guardiola, including the use of full-backs Joao Cancelo and Kyle Walker as auxiliary attackers, they have been perfect since then.
City have not trailed in a league fixture for 19 games despite being without the injured Sergio Aguero and Kevin De Bruyne for long periods.
While United's inconsistencies and the collapse of champions Liverpool have contributed to City's surge to the top, the leaders' supremacy has not been restricted to the league.
An unprecedented quadruple is within City's reach, but Guardiola is determined to keep his players from getting complacent.
"To do what we have done in these four years, still winning, these guys have something special like my time at Barcelona and Bayern Munich," he said.
Manchester City v Wolves ratings
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MANCHESTER CITY RATINGS: Ederson, 6 – Had one save to make in the first 68 minutes and didn’t make it as Conor Coady’s pinpoint header crept into the corner. Thankful to see Pedro Neto head over late on before City finished with a flurry. EPA -
Kyle Walker, 7 - Forced a dramatic fourth late on when his fizzed low cross from the right was deflected by Coady and Gabriel Jesus was on hand to finish. Reuters -
Ruben Dias, 6 – Produced an important block to deny Adama Traore but didn’t have a great deal else to do in another comfortable outing. AFP -
Aymeric Laporte, 6 - Brought into the starting XI at the expense of John Stones and thought he’d become the third City centre-back to get on the scoresheet in just two games, only for VAR to chalk off what would have been the perfect poacher’s finish. Getty -
Joao Cancelo, 7 – Saw more of the ball than anyone in the opening ten minutes and was frequently at the heart of free-flowing attacks in another high-energy display. Free to attack the Wolves penalty area and was up to the task of marshalling Neto at the other end. Getty -
Kevin de Bruyne, 7 - Like Cancelo, he was involved in almost everything in the opening stages. The Belgian asked questions of the Wolves centre-backs with a collection of hanging crosses and saw a strike of his own deflected wide of Rui Patricio’s right post. Rusty, but still classy. EPA -
Rodri, 6 - A sublime pass from Rodri that picked out Mahrez in space on the right for the opener. He could have undone his hard work when he clipped Joao Moutinho who got back to his feet to assist the equaliser. PA -
Bernardo Silva, 8 - Raced back to the halfway line to steal back possession when Wolves looked to counter early. Twice denied an attacking return by the excellent Patricio who kept out his downward header before thwarting Jesus who had been cleverly slipped through by the midfielder. EPA -
Riyad Mahrez, 9 - Wolves defenders were up against it all night with Mahrez, who crafted the opener when he stole a yard on Jonny and fired in a low cross which Dendoncker stabbed into his own goal. Capped a fine evening with a smart finish into the corner to kill the game. EPA -
Gabriel Jesus, 7 - Not enough questions asked of Patricio in the opening 80 minutes, but then finished with a flurry and ended the night with a well-taken brace. EPA -
Raheem Sterling, 8 - Early cut-back was hacked away by Coady, but the forward’s presence was enough to panic Dendoncker who diverted the ball past Patricio. Clipped the outside of the post with a stunning effort in the 78th minute. Getty -
SUB: Ilkay Gundogan, N/R - Replaced Bernardo Silva for the final six minutes and still had an important contribution to make when he tracked back to clear away Neto’s inviting delivery before his effort was spilled by Patricio and converted by Jesus. EPA -
WOLVES RATINGS: Rui Patricio, 7 – Produced a hat-trick of super stops to keep out efforts from Bernardo Silva, Kevin de Bruyne and Jesus before denying Mahrez with another flying save to his right. Comfortably his side’s man of the match despite conceding four goals. AFP -
Ki-Jana Hoever, 5 - Didn’t enjoy himself too much against a City side who were clearly in the mood. He did his best to press de Bruyne but the City No 17 was just too classy. The one time he was able to push forward he could only put his cross into the stand. AP -
Romain Saiss, 5 – Didn’t do too much wrong, but like his teammates he just couldn’t contain a blistering City attack and he was fortunate not to be punished when his attempted clearance was blocked by Mahrez. Getty -
Conor Coady, 6 - A dogged performance, but a careless one too and despite his work, he was guilty of giving away possession cheaply on more than one occasion. Dragged his side on terms when he powered his header beyond Ederson, only for Jesus to restore City’s advantage when he pounced on a kind deflection off the defender. EPA -
Leander Dendoncker, 6 – A calamitous start from Dendoncker who gave possession straight to Sterling in a dangerous area and put his next touch into the back of his own net. In fairness he couldn’t really do much else, such was the quality of the cross from Mahrez. Reuters -
Jonny, 4 - Second best to Mahrez all night. Couldn’t match the Algerian’s pace or precision and all too often failed to stop the cross as the City man’s deliveries wreaked havoc. Withdrawn shortly after the restart. Getty -
Ruben Neves, 5 - There’s no doubting his ability, but he never really got going in this one. Withdrawn for the final moments. Getty -
Nelson Semedo, 6 - Pinned inside his own half for the bulk of the contest which made it almost impossible for his side to get out. To his credit, he produced a vital block to deflect an ambitious - and probably goalbound - de Bruyne effort safely behind for a corner. Getty -
Joao Moutinho, 7 - Didn’t get going until the final half hour when he flicked a switch and started to link up nicely with Neto. Teed up Coady to level the scores with a calculated delivery into the box after he was clipped by Rodri. EPA -
Adama Traore, 7 - Hardly touched the ball in the first-half. Grew into the game as it progressed and caused more problems after the break, including a powerful effort that was glanced wide by the knee of Dias before he unforgivably smashed over moments later. Getty -
Pedro Neto, 7 - A spectator for much of the first half. When he did look to burst forward he was quickly hunted down by three sky blue shirts and ended up heading back towards his own goal. The tricky forward did his best to run at City defenders but he couldn’t get the better of his compatriot Cancelo. AP -
SUBS: Fabio Silva, 5 - Replaced an exhausting looking Jonny in the 56th minute, but he had little impact. EPA -
Owen Otasowie, N/R - Replaced Ruben Neves for the final few minutes but Mahrez put the game to bed about 30 seconds later following a mistake from the midfielder. Getty
"We are in a really good position. I did not expect to be in this position two or three months ago but we need to be calm."
United have stumbled recently, drawing four of their past five league games, and their title ambitions faded into the south London fog during Wednesday's goalless stalemate at Crystal Palace.
Even so, United are unbeaten in their past 21 away league games and Guardiola is well aware of the threat they could pose.
United are the only side in any of the top five European leagues yet to lose an away league match this season, while Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has won on both of his visits to the Etihad since taking charge in 2019.
"I know how difficult United are," said Guardiola. "More than one year not losing away and they have good results at the Etihad."
Realistically United, who are five points clear of fifth-placed Everton, have to focus on qualifying for the Champions League, either via a top-four finish or winning the Europa League.
"Our focus is just on this one game and not where we're going to end up," Solskjaer said.
"They're ahead of us by a fair distance at the moment, so Sunday is a chance to test ourselves against a very good team."
