Erling Haaland’s first four-goal haul in the Premier League left Manchester City three wins away from a historic fourth successive English league title.
With no margin for error following Arsenal’s earlier victory over Bournemouth, City delivered the perfect response.
It took the Norwegian to 25 Premier League goals for the season and five clear of Alexander Isak and Cole Palmer in the Golden Boot standings.
Julian Alvarez finished off the scoring five minutes from time to leave City a point behind Arsenal, but now with three games remaining to the Gunners’ two.
He has scored five twice, at Luton in the FA Cup in February and against RB Leipzig in the Champions League in March last year.
Haaland now has nine hat-tricks. His overall tally for the season is 36.
Incredibly, he is now 87th in the all-time Premier League scoring charts with 61, one more than City legend David Silva, who watched this game from the stands, has a statue outside the stadium and was given a standing ovation in recognition of his trophy-ladened 12 years of service to the club.
It can only be imagined what figures Haaland will reach if he remains at City for that length of time.
On paper, City’s visit to Tottenham on 14 May is tough. But, as Arsenal themselves proved last week, Ange Postecoglou’s side are in poor form and on this evidence would be hard pressed to stop Haaland in his tracks.
Erling Haaland has scored 13 of his 14 Premier League penalties, failing only against Sheffield United in August this season
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