Gary O’Neil, the Wolverhampton Wanderers manager, was serving a one-match touchline suspension at The Etihad. As he sat in the relative anonymity of the stands, watching his side being demolished by Erling Haaland, O’Neil may have reflected that it was probably the best place to be.
City were simply majestic as they swept Wolves aside 5-1. If they were feeling any pressure after Arsenal had beaten Bournemouth earlier in the day to move into a four-point lead at the top of the table, they did not show it. There was no sign of nerves at all.