Manchester City was in good shape on the opening day of the season and Erling Haaland helped himself two goals in Molineux.
In the hurry to Laud Tijjani Reijnders on his Premier League debut, another significant contribution from Erling Haaland under the radar on the opening day of the Premier League season.
For the fourth time in four seasons, Haaland scored during the opening weekend and for the third time in his city career, he yielded twice when the competition campaign started.
The double against Wolves took Haaland 87 in 98 games in the Premier League, a remarkable record, but a record that can now easily become a bit unobtrusive.
In terms of pure numbers, the Norwegian has declined in the Etihad since that electric season, when he scored 52 goals in 53 games for City, including 36 in 35 Premier League matches.
In his second season he scored 38 goals in 45 games in all competitions and last year he scored 34 goals in 48 games. That is hardly a poor record, but simple comparisons with his first season can lead to claims that have slipped his standards, or that defenses find ways to stop him.
But at Wolves he looked in the mood to hit the heights again. His first was the tap-in of a classic striker, but his finish for his second and the third of the city was exceptional. He did not look happy that he was withdrawn for 73 minutes with a hat trick in sight, but Guardiola had seen enough.
After the game, the City boss spoke an interesting observation about the performance of Haaland and one that may have Premier League defenses for fear of the worst of this period.
“Better than ever,” he said about his star striker. “I see the rhythm and speed of Erling, and how it helps us. It is quite similar to his first season here. We need it.”
Every prospect that Haaland is back at the level of his first season will scare teams. He could not be stopped at the time and if he stayed the best striker in the world, because if he went back to a goal, he would change a match in the Premier League, the dynamics of this title race.
Last season, City managed only 72 goals in the competition, and although that cannot be attached to Haaland, it was an important drop-off of the Talies of 99, 94 and 96 in the three years before.
Haaland received 22 in the competition last season, but if he can go back to the 36, he received an important contribution to increasing the total of the team in his first season, and City will have to do that if they want to win back their title.
The way of their victory at Wolves has them firmly in the conversation to do that, and if Guardiola is right about Haaland, that could be a game changer in the race for the first place.