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Manchester City reopened its three-point lead over Liverpool at the top of the Premier League table Wednesday with a 5-1 away win over Wolves courtesy of Kevin De Bruyne's hat trick inside 24 minutes before the Belgian added a fourth on the hour mark. Raheem Sterling completed the scoring for City in the 84th.
In terms of minutes on the clock, De Bruyne's hat trick was the third earliest in PL history.
Earliest Premier League Hat Tricks
#1. Sadio Mané - 16 minutes | Southampton vs. Aston Villa, May 16, 2015
#2. Dwight Yorke - 22 minutes | Man Utd vs. Arsenal, Feb. 25, 2001
#3. Kevin De Bruyne - 24 minutes | Man City vs. Wolves, May 11, 2022
Mané's hat trick against Villa is also the fastest in Premier League history with just 2:56 coming between his first and third goals. De Bruyne took 17:18 to complete his, which doesn't land the Belgian in the top 10, but it did bring him to a career high of 14 Premier League goals in 28 appearances this season.
He also became only the second player in PL history to score a left-footed hat trick away from home, following in the footsteps of Harry Kane. What a stat.
The opener might have been the best: a cushioned dink to Bernardo Silva followed by a purposeful run into the area and first-time finish into the bottom corner.
The perfect start for Manchester City!
Kevin De Bruyne's goal gives Manchester City the early lead and a three point cushion over Liverpool.: @USA_Network #WOLMCI pic.twitter.com/iv6dyNA6lU
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) May 11, 2022
Wolves quickly equalized to get the Molineux on its feet, but De Bruyne immediately responded by attempting to setup Raheem Sterling before basically getting on the end of his own through ball.
De Bruyne assisting De Bruyne.
City take the lead once again!
De Bruyne scores on the second effort for his second goal of the day. Man City lead 2-1.: @USA_Network #WOLMCI pic.twitter.com/SAhHRFBJyO
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) May 11, 2022
Then De Bruyne took possession 35 yards out, drove through one challenge and continued straight at the heart of Wolves' defense before curling a 20-yard effort inside the far post.
There was a double entendre in his celebration. It started out as three fingers for the hat trick, but then it turned into the Erling Haaland "Zen" celebration. Haaland officially joins City on July 1.
A masterclass from Kevin De Bruyne.
That's a hat trick in less than 24 minutes for De Bruyne! Manchester City lead 3-1.: @USA_Network #WOLMCI pic.twitter.com/0FjXkwXzOb
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) May 11, 2022
"I sense a Blue Moon rising" pic.twitter.com/elQd8CX1eG
— The18 (@the18com) May 11, 2022
De Bruyne then completed his four-goal haul, his double brace, his poker, his hambone, in the 60th-minute.
The 30-year-old was again both orchestrater and finisher for his 15th of the season.
De Bruyne arrives all the same.
That's FOUR goals on the day for Kevin De Bruyne. Manchester City lead 4-1.: @USA_Network #WOLMCI pic.twitter.com/SokHvqArwf
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) May 11, 2022
West Ham away on Sunday is City's most difficult remaining test, and then it's Aston Villa at home on May 22. City's goal difference is now +7 superior to Liverpool's, so we're talking about a historic collapse at this point.
