The reigning champions are three points clear of Liverpool with just two games to play after a stunning display from their brilliant Belgian talisman.
Arms outstretched and finger curled in a zen pose, Kevin De Bruyne celebration was an attempt to imitate Manchester City’s summer signing Erling Haaland.
It wasn’t his best impression of the Norwegian international in Wednesday night’s 5-1 win at Wolves.
That came in the preceding 24 minutes when he smashed an incredible hat-trick that moved Pep Guardiola’s side to within four points of a fourth Premier League title in five years.
There was even time for a fourth and a goal for Raheem Sterling to boost City’s goal difference and eke out every advantage they could in the title race.
The thought of Haaland and De Bruyne together must be terrifying the rest of the Premier League after the club confirmed the 21-year-old striker will join from Borussia Dortmund.
City will be pairing the deadliest young striker in Europe with probably the most brilliantly creative attacking midfielder of the past five years.
But we will have to wait a little bit longer for that.
For now, De Bruyne decided to take on both roles with an astonishing performance in a potentially dangerous visit to Wolves, where any slip-up would have given Liverpool encouragement for the final 10 days of the season.
Power, precision and remarkable finishing, this was exactly the sort of performance they will hope to get from Haaland when he joins up with the club next season.
Of course, De Bruyne’s incredible passing game was still there, as the Belgian picked out a delicious pass for Phil Foden inside the opening few minutes that drifted just wide.
But then he decided to do the damage himself with the third fastest hat-trick in Premier League history – and few even over 90 minutes will have had as much quality.
The first inside seven minutes was a driving run into the box followed by a fierce clinical shot across goalkeeper Jose Sa.
Then, De Bruyne’s first-time pass picked out Sterling nine minutes later, and when the ball rebounded off the keeper, he smashed in a second.
His third was just a brutal clubbing shot from the edge of the box that powered past Sa before he could properly react.
De Bruyne tested out his borrowed goal celebration in front of the delighted away fans – Foden just smiled and shook his head in disbelief as he patted his team-mate after a stunning contribution.
Goal
