Manchester City train in high spirits ahead of Wolves game

Manchester City’s star-studded squad were put through their paces during Monday’s training session after going five points clear at the top of the table.

Raheem Sterling and Bernardo Silva trained with a smile on their face while Leroy Sane shared a joke with members of City’s backroom staff. 

Key men Sergio Aguero, Kyle Walker and Ilkay Gundogan were among those present following a weekend in which City extended their lead at the Premier League summit.

Raheem Sterling was all smiles during the Manchester City training session on Monday

Sergio Aguero (centre) drew level with City's all-time goalscorer Eric Brook over the weekend

Sergio Aguero (centre) drew level with City’s all-time goalscorer Eric Brook over the weekend

City eased to a 3-0 victory over Burnley on Saturday thanks to goals from Sane, Nicolas Otamendi and Aguero.

Aguero’s first-half penalty saw him draw level with the club’s record goalscorer Erick Brook with 177 strikes for City in all competitions. 

The Argentine was handed his first start for City since late September after finding his path to the first team blocked by Gabriel Jesus in recent weeks. 

City are preparing for a Carabao Cup tie against Wolves on Tuesday night at the Etihad with Pep Guardiola likely to name a much-changed side. 

City's German star Leroy Sane gets a head rub from assistant kit manager Michael Clitheroe

City’s German star Leroy Sane gets a head rub from assistant kit manager Michael Clitheroe

Kyle Walker started the win over Burnley as his side extended their lead at the top of the table

Kyle Walker started the win over Burnley as his side extended their lead at the top of the table

And Guardiola insisted he wasn’t taking his opponents lightly with Wolves currently top of the Championship table after a strong start to the season.

‘The only thing as a manager I said since my career started is think about the next one,’ he said. ‘The next one is Wolves. It doesn’t matter where or if they are in the top five or six, any team can beat us.

‘Only we can see in every single game, and Tuesday is another game, to try to be so serious and play as good as possible to deserve the respect from our opponents’. 

City’s weekend was made even better when title rivals Manchester United lost 2-1 at newly-promoted Huddersfield, getting overtaken by Tottenham in the process.

Bernardo Silva escaped a retrospective ban for diving

Ilkay Gundogan was an unused substitute against Burnley.

Bernardo Silva (left) and Ilkay Gundogan trained as City prepare to face Wolves on Tuesday

(L-R) Danilo, Sterling, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Aguero were all put through their paces

(L-R) Danilo, Sterling, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Aguero were all put through their paces

The set of results meant that City have opened up a five-point gap between themselves and second-placed Spurs after eight wins and a draw from their first nine league matches of the campaign.

Guardiola was handed a further boost after an independent panel decided Bernardo would not face retrospective punishment for an alleged dive against Burnley.

Bernardo won a penalty, which was converted by Aguero, after going down under a challenge from opposition keeper Nick Pope but Burnley boss Sean Dyche cried foul accusing the summer signing of cheating. 

However an three-man panel could not unanimously agree on the incident, with Bernardo escaping the ignominy of becoming the first player to receive a retrospective two-match ban for simulation.

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