Manchester City answered a hostile reception at Anfield with a convincing 3-0 win over Liverpool on Sunday, maintaining their perfect start to the Premier League season and consolidating their position at the top of the table amid controversy surrounding their financial rules verdict.
City played their first match since an independent commission found them guilty of 114 breaches of the Premier League's financial regulations. Liverpool supporters greeted them with loud boos, chants of “cheat, cheat” and taunts of “going down”. Banners criticising City's financial conduct were also displayed around the stadium, highlighting the anger following the verdict.
However, by the final whistle, it was City's travelling fans who had reason to celebrate. Second-half strikes from Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku and Rayan Cherki secured a comprehensive victory for Pep Guardiola's side. City took advantage of Liverpool being reduced to 10 players after Ryan Gravenberch was sent off shortly after the hour mark.
The win gave City six victories from six league matches, taking them to 18 points and putting them three points ahead of second-placed Arsenal. Liverpool, meanwhile, recorded their first Premier League defeat of the season and dropped to ninth place.
HAALAND BREAKS THE DEADLOCK
The match began amid a charged atmosphere, with Liverpool's supporters making their opposition to City's financial verdict clear. The visiting players were jeered before kickoff, while chants referring to a possible relegation punishment continued after the game began.
City absorbed the early pressure and gradually found their rhythm, remaining composed despite the hostility from the stands.
The turning point came in the 62nd minute when Gravenberch received his second yellow card for fouling Doku, leaving Liverpool with 10 players for the remainder of the match.
City quickly took advantage of their numerical superiority. Just three minutes later, Haaland opened the scoring with a left-footed finish past Alisson. Doku had driven into the penalty area, and his attempted shot was deflected into the path of the Norwegian striker, who made no mistake.
Haaland immediately ran towards the travelling supporters to celebrate, marking a breakthrough that shifted the momentum decisively in City's favour.
The goal also provided a response on the pitch for a club whose off-field controversy had dominated the build-up to the encounter. With attention focused on the financial verdict, City's players made their statement through their performance.
DOKU AND CHERKI COMPLETE THE ROUT
Liverpool's hopes of mounting a comeback suffered another setback just three minutes after Haaland's goal, when Doku doubled City's lead with a stunning individual effort.
The Belgian winger collected the ball and unleashed a spectacular shot from distance. His effort curled beyond Alisson and into the far top corner, giving the goalkeeper little chance of making a save.
The goal demonstrated City's growing dominance, as they used their numerical advantage to combine attacking quality with clinical finishing.
Cherki completed the scoring in the 78th minute. The Frenchman let the ball run through to Josko Gvardiol before moving into the box to receive his teammate's return pass and calmly finish.
The third goal effectively settled the contest, prompting some Liverpool supporters to leave Anfield with more than 10 minutes still remaining.
After the final whistle, City's players and staff celebrated alongside their travelling fans, with Haaland and manager Enzo Maresca visibly pleased with the result. The away section also displayed giant inflatable bananas, a longstanding symbol associated with City supporters dating back to the club's time outside the top division in the 1980s.
CITY SEND A MESSAGE
The victory meant more than just three points, giving City a strong response on the field after a turbulent week dominated by the independent commission's findings.
The club were found guilty of 114 breaches involving financial reporting and other regulations over a nine-year period from 2009 to 2018. City have denied wrongdoing and appealed the verdict. Potential punishments could range from a substantial fine and points deductions to expulsion from the Premier League.
The uncertainty surrounding the case followed the team to Merseyside, where Liverpool fans expressed their anger through chants, banners and jeers. City largely avoided the crowds outside the stadium by taking an alternative route to Anfield, but they faced a hostile reception when they emerged onto the pitch.
After the match, Haaland emphasised the importance of unity within the squad as the club deals with the situation.
“It's time to stay strong and stick together and do what you can do something about, stick together,” the striker told Sky Sports.
Midfielder Elliot Anderson also highlighted the team's collective determination, stressing the need for everyone to remain united during a difficult period.
City's sixth successive league victory further strengthened Maresca's start in charge. He became only the fourth manager to win his first six Premier League matches with a club, joining Guardiola, Carlo Ancelotti and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
For Liverpool, the defeat brought a disappointing end to an afternoon that began with their supporters seeking to put City under pressure over the financial case. Instead, Gravenberch's dismissal and City's clinical display after the break ensured that the visitors took all three points.
The case against City remains unresolved as the appeal process continues, but their performance at Anfield was decisive. Despite the boos, banners and taunts, City delivered their own response by preserving their perfect league record and leaving Liverpool with little to celebrate.
