Raheem Sterling scored his 100th Premier League goal as Manchester City beat 10-man Wolves 1-0 on Saturday.
Sterling scored from the penalty spot in the second half to give City their sixth straight league win.
Wolves striker Raul Jimenez was sent off for failing to retire 10 yards before a free-kick he had conceded seconds earlier.
Thanks to Sterling’s historic goal, City profited on Jimenez’s mistake to bounce back from last week’s Champions League loss at Leipzig.
Sterling is finally showing signs of regaining the sparkling form that made him such a dangerous force.
Pep Guardiola’s team lead second-placed Liverpool by four points, with a win against Aston Villa at Anfield closing the distance.
Guardiola benched Kyle Walker after criticizing him for his red card against Leipzig.
Guardiola made eight changes from the Leipzig game, with Phil Foden (ankle) and Kevin De Bruyne (coronavirus) coming in as replacements.
Bernardo Silva had six goals in his previous eight league outings when he curled a curler just past the bar in the opening minutes.
In the first half, Joao Cancelo’s lung-bursting runs from right-back troubled Wolves goalie Jose Sa.
Max Kilman and Ruben Neves required extensive care after a horrific head-to-head collision left Kilman with a bloody cut.
Jimenez, who suffered a broken skull in a clash with David Luiz against Arsenal last season, was quick to check on his teammates.
- Raheem Sterling Discusses his Future Amid Speculation About a Move to Arsenal or Newcastle
- Champions League Roundup: Man United, Chelsea Advance
Jimenez was the one who didn’t make it to half-time.
Sacking Rodri, Jimenez foolishly stretched out a foot to stop the free-kick, earning himself a second yellow 48 seconds later.
To his credit, Jimenez took off his protective headgear and flung it about in a rage, but he had no complaints about his own departure.
City had the numerical edge after the break.
Ilkay Gundogan looped a header off the line after Cancelo’s pinpoint cross.
Silva and Sterling came in the path of Oleksandr Zinchenko’s cross.
City’s pressure paid off in the 66th minute.
Joao Moutinho lifted his arm to block Silva’s cross, and VAR confirmed Jon Moss’ ruling after a check.
Sterling smashed the penalty kick into the net for his fifth goal in eight games.
