The in-form striker struck in the 10th and 39th minute, with the visitors reduced to ten men after just 18 minutes.
Kevin De Bruyne’s cross was glanced past Rui Patricio by Conor Coady on 78 as the champions moved on to 99 goals in all competitions this season and complete a 3-0 win.
What happened?
Wolves arrived at the Etihad with a reputation of ruffling the Premier League top six’s feathers.
Well-organised and disciplined, the visitors set their stall out from the word go to contain and try and catch the Blues on the counter-attack.
But City had other ideas and on 10 minutes, the champions were ahead.
The move began with a sublime 30-yard pass from Aymeric Laporte that set Leroy Sane in behind the Wolves defence and the German winger’s inch-perfect low cross was slid home by Gabriel Jesus – his sixth in three games.
The visitors could have levelled almost instantly as a well-worked move saw Matt Doherty with time inside the box, but he elected to power a high ball across the box when he had a number of team-mates well-placed.
The next major talking point came on 19 minutes and it saw Wolves reduced to ten men.
Bernardo Silva skipped towards the ball on the right flank only to be met by a forceful challenge from Willy Boly that left the Portuguese clutching his ankle on the turf.
Referee Craig Pawson took his time before issuing a straight red card to the defender.
The visitors retained their shape and came close to levelling on 35 minutes when a swift counter-attack saw Jonny Otto’s dangerous low cross evade the outstretched boot of Diogo Jota by inches.
With a man advantage, the champions needed to turn the screw – and five minutes before the break, that’s exactly what they did.
Raheem Sterling chased a ball into the box and was behind defender Doherty – then ahead in the blink of an eye – before being felled by a clumsy challenge.
The referee pointed to the spot and man-of-the-moment Gabriel Jesus calmly slotted home the spot-kick to double City’s lead.
City looked for a contest-ending third goal after the resumption and Sane came close a couple of times, but Wolves were intent on damage limitation and packed bodies behind the ball to try and keep the scoreline respectable.
Bruyne replaced skipper David Silva just past the hour and the Belgian was soon in the thick of the action, sending a howitzer of a drive inches over the bar from 20 yards on 67 minutes.
But the Belgian wouldn’t be denied and on 78 he whipped in a trademark curling cross that Coady glanced into his own net to complete an impressive home win for the champions.
What it means…
City once again move to within four points of leaders Liverpool and five clear of third-placed Spurs.
Star man: Gabriel Jesus
Seven goals in three games for the in-form Brazilian who was lively and alert throughout.
Pep reaction:
“The game 11 v 11 was quite similar to 11 v 10. We made a fantastic first goal with the action – the movement and the pass.
“It’s so difficult to defend our opponents. It’s so tough when they have five at the back but the quality (to break down the defence) – KDB came in and has this quality; Riyad Mahrez also.
“Cesc Fabregas for example was one of the best players I saw do that. Our wingers have these qualities.
“After that (the first goal), we forgot to move the ball more into the box. We arrived in the final third quite easily but we didn’t make movements to attack the ball.
“In that last few minutes, with Kevin De Bruyne and his special quality, we played the way we have to play. We have to keep doing it over and over, winning the second balls.
“We didn’t concede many counter attacks and Wolves put in incredible fast players for the last 20 minutes. They can punish you - we’ve seen it against Tottenham and Chelsea.
“I’m very pleased and I’m pretty aware how tough it is.”
What’s next?
More Premier League action as the Blues travel to the now-managerless Huddersfield Town this Sunday, kick-off 1.30pm.
