Manchester City increased their lead over Liverpool to three points with two games remaining courtesy of a 5-1 thumping win over Wolverhampton Wanderers. Kevin de Bruyne scored four times – thrice before the interval itself – as City ran riot on their way to a comfortable win.
The Belgian put his side ahead seven minutes in with an arrowed shot into the corner after being played through by Bernardo Silva. However, their lead did not last for long, as Wolves equalized just four minutes later through Leander Dendoncker’s strike following a quick break.
From then on, De Bruyne ran the show, grabbing a second in the 16th minute after Jose Sa’s parry fell into his feet inside the box. Eight minutes later, the midfielder completed his treble with a thumping, low finish from outside the box.
De Bruyne added a fourth on the hour-mark, following through with a strike into an empty net after some last-ditch defending by the opponents. Finally, Raheem Sterling capped off a five-star City performance with a fifth in the 84th minute.
Elsewhere, Chelsea’s Champions League qualification hopes received a boost – thanks to a 3-0 win over Leeds United. Mason Mount opened the scoring in the fourth minute itself with a stunning strike from the edge of the box. The Englishman timed his run to perfection to meet a Reece James lay-up and thumped a first-time shot past Illan Meslier into the top corner.
To make matters worse, Leeds had Dan James sent off for a reckless challenge on Mateo Kovacic midway through the first half, forcing them to play with a man fewer for the majority of the game for the second time this week.
Chelsea capitalized on their personnel advantage by grabbing a second through Christian Pulisic in the 55th minute. Mount was instrumental again, supplying the assist to the American with a flick around his marker, which the latter guided into the bottom corner with his weak foot.
And, there was to be a late goal for Romelu Lukaku, too; the Belgian kept his composure when played through by Hakim Ziyech before powering a shot through a horde of bodies from close range.
The win left the Blues needing a point to return to the Champions League next season. Leeds, meanwhile, were left perilously close to the drop.
