Erling Haaland delivered a brutal, three goal masterclass to fire Manchester City past Everton, while Chelsea survived a heart stopping finale and a hugely controversial VAR call to snatch a vital win at Wolves on a Premier League night packed with drama.
Haaland Turns Clock Back to Sink Sorry Toffees
Manchester City shrugged off an early scare to dismantle Everton 4-1 at the Etihad, with Erling Haaland at his devastating, cold blooded best.
The visitors stunned the champions by taking a 19th minute lead, Dominic Calvert Lewin punishing some uncharacteristically slack defending to slot home. But the lead lasted just 13 minutes. Kevin De Bruyne, orchestrating everything, fizzed in a cross that wasn’t cleared, and Haaland pounced to smash in the leveller.
The Norwegian hitman then put City ahead before the break, expertly guiding Bernardo Silva’s clever pass into the bottom corner. He completed his hat trick from the penalty spot in the 67th minute after Phil Foden was tripped, a decision upheld by VAR after a lengthy check. De Bruyne added a glorious fourth late on, bending a classic curler into the far corner to cap a dominant display.
For City, it was a chilling reminder of their firepower. For Everton, it was another lesson in the gulf between survival scraps and title contention. Sean Dyche’s side worked hard but were simply picked apart once Haaland found his range.
Chelsea Edge Molineux Mayhem After VAR Fury
At Molineux, Chelsea’s 3-2 victory over Wolves had everything: stunning goals, nervous collapses, and a stoppage time VAR decision that’s sparked outright fury.
The Blues raced into a two goal lead. Nicolas Jackson rounded the keeper to slot home a cool opener from Cole Palmer’s pass, before Palmer himself lashed in a second from the edge of the box. Wolves halved the deficit just before half time through a moment of individual brilliance, Pedro Neto cutting inside and unleashing an unstoppable rocket into the top corner.
Chelsea looked to have sealed it late when substitute Christopher Nkunku headed in Palmer’s cross. But deep into added time, Wolves were awarded a penalty after Rayan Aït Nouri went down under minimal contact from Levi Colwill. After an interminable VAR review, the decision stood sparking wild protests from Chelsea’s players and bench. Hwang Hee chan converted to set up a frantic finale, but Chelsea clung on.
The win papers over clear defensive cracks for Mauricio Pochettino, but the three points are massive for their European hopes. For Wolves, and most neutrals, the late penalty call will be the talking point, a soft award that turned a comeback into a controversy.
What It All Means
City’s victory keeps them firmly in the title conversation, applying pressure at the top. Haaland’s return to hat trick form is a ominous signal to their rivals.
Chelsea’s gritty, if messy, away win provides a crucial boost in their chaotic season, moving them within touching distance of the European places. For Wolves, it’s a bitter defeat marred by a sense of injustice, but also by the defensive lapses that cost them early on.
The real fallout will be in the headlines: Haaland’s relentless efficiency, and a VAR call at Molineux that’s set to dominate the back pages and the phone ins for days.
