Kevin De Bruyne gave a defining recital by scoring four of the goals with which leaders Manchester City crushed Wolverhampton 5-1 on Wednesday to restore their three-point lead over Liverpool in the Premier League title bid.
De Bruyne completed the hat-trick before 24 minutes and celebrated by striking the “Zen” pose, perhaps alluding to the celebration made famous by Erling Haaland, the forward who would join City from Borussia Dortmund next season.
The Belgian midfielder rounded off the game at game time, nailing the ball in the lower corner. Leander Dendoncker gave the Wolves a temporary equalizer in the 11th minute.
Raheem Sterling put definitive numbers at 84. It was the second successive game in which City had scored five goals, having just beaten Newcastle 5-0 on Sunday.
More importantly, City increased their goal difference over Liverpool, now to seven, meaning that Pep Guardiola’s team would only need to win one of their last games — against West Ham on Sunday and Aston Villa the following week — to retain the title.
Liverpool, who beat Aston Villa 2-1 on Tuesday, close out the season against Southampton and Wolverhampton.
Also on Wednesday, Everton moved away from the relegation zone after drawing an insipid 0-0 draw at Watford, a team that lost the category beforehand.
Everton sit 16th, two points above third-bottom Leeds, who lost 3-0 to Chelsea.
In another result, Jamie Vardy scored a brace as Leicester beat Norwich 3-0.