Manchester City silenced a hostile Anfield crowd as three second-half goals helped it secure a 3-0 victory over 10-man Liverpool on Sunday and maintained the Premier League leader’s perfect start to the season.
City was playing for the first time since an independent commission found it guilty of 114 breaches of the league’s financial rules, and was greeted by deafening boos and angry chants.
But Enzo Maresca’s side stood firm against Liverpool’s early pressure and a fevered atmosphere before taking control after Ryan Gravenberch was sent off in the 62nd minute for a second booking following a foul on Jeremy Doku. Erling Haaland then struck three minutes later, smashing a left-footed shot past Alisson after Doku worked the ball into the box and his attempted shot was deflected into the path of the big Norwegian.
AS IT HAPPENED | LIVERPOOL VS MANCHESTER CITY HIGHLIGHTS
Doku doubled the lead in the 68th minute with a gorgeous long-range shot that curled into the far top corner. Rayan Cherki completed the rout in the 78th minute when he let the ball roll through to Josko Gvardiol before turning into the box to meet his teammate’s pass and slot the ball home.
The victory gave City six wins from six and moved it three points clear of Arsenal on 18 points, while Liverpool is ninth after its first league loss of the season.
LIVERPOOL VS MANCHESTER CITY PLAYER RATINGS
Liverpool
Alisson (4.8), Araujo (6.2), Jacquet (5.7), van Dijk (5.9), Kerkez (6.0), Gravenberch (6.2), Mac Allister (6.2), Muñoz (6.8), Wirtz (6.3), Barcola (7.1), Comus (5.8)
Substitutes: Nyoni (6.0), Frimpong (5.6), Ngumoha (5.9), Gomez (No rating), Chiesa (No rating)
Manchester City
Donnarumma (8.6), Nunes (7.5), Dias (7.4), Guéhi (7.5), O'Reilly (6.7), Anderson (8.6), Ndiaye (6.6), Cherki (8.6), Fernandez (7.3), Semenyo (7.2), Haaland (7.8)
Substitutes: Doku (8.3), Guardiol (7.12, Bouaddi (6.3), Allan (6.0)
(With inputs from Reuters)
Published on Oct 11, 2026