ERLING Haaland scored a hat-trick at the Etihad Stadium today to fire Manchester City to a 3-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers in their Premier League clash.
It is Haaland’s fourth Premier League hat-trick this season in just his 19th appearance, breaking Ruud van Nistelrooy’s record for Manchester United.
It took the Dutchman 65 games to reach four hat-tricks, which was the earliest in the league before today’s treble from the prolific City hitman.
Haaland struck once in the first half and twice more after the break to take his tally for the campaign to 25 goals in 19 Premier League games.
Last season’s joint-top scorers Mohamed Salah and Son Heung-min netted 23 goals each the whole campaign.
The Norway striker headed City in front five minutes before half-time from Kevin De Bruyne’s cross as the hosts finally broke the visitors’ resistance.
Haaland made it 2-0 from the penalty spot five minutes into the second half and completed the hat-trick four minutes later as City earned their second straight victory after the Manchester derby defeat to United.
With today’s win, City closed the gap on leaders Arsenal to two points, although the Gunners have two games in hand, the first of which they play today at home to Manchester United.
Wolves are 17th, outside the relegation zone only on goal difference.
Also today in the Premier League, Leeds United and Brentford fought to a 0-0 draw at Elland Road in a game of few chances.
Brentford remain comfortably in eighth spot, three points off fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur in the race for a UEFA Europa League ticket, while Leeds are 15th, just one point above the drop zone.
