Manchester City shut out all the noise and controversy to overcome a hostile Anfield atmosphere and beat 10-man Liverpool 3-0 on their return to Premier League action.
The trip to Merseyside was City’s first game after an independent commission found them guilty of all charges related to serious breaches of Premier League financial rules. The club have since appealed the verdict and continue to deny any wrongdoing.
The City players were welcomed by a chorus of boos for both their warm-ups and ahead of kick-off as they settled into the Anfield cauldron. However, they would end up silencing the crowd after a Ryan Gravenberch red card shortly after the hour mark allowed them to seize control.
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The game mirrored the atmosphere in the early stages – frantic. The visitors were run ragged and on the receiving end of some strong tackles as the game threatened to boil over in the opening exchanges.
By half-time, City had managed to settle themselves and the crowd down. However, with Liverpool attacking The Kop in the second half, Enzo Maresca’s men had to weather the storm all over again.
Gianluigi Donnarumma was on his toes to keep out multiple vicious strikes, but then came the turning point. Gravenberch was shown a second yellow card for a foul on Jeremy Doku and, almost immediately, the floodgates opened.
Two minutes and 36 seconds after the sending off, Erling Haaland emphatically put City ahead before Doku and Rayan Cherki turned on the style as the Premier League leaders sent a message about what they are still capable of on the pitch.
City’s ruthlessness means they remain the only team to make a perfect start to the league campaign, with Andoni Iraola’s Reds already nine points adrift following their first defeat.
The key moments from Anfield…
1: WELCOME TO ANFIELD – Man City players are booed as they emerge for kick-off.
11: BOILING POINT! First signs of agitation on the pitch as both sets of players involved in heated exchanges.
35: SAVE! EnzoFernandez has City’s first effort as Alisson palms away.
48: LIVERPOOL BARRAGE! Three shots in 51 seconds as Donnarumma denies Lewis Koumas and Gravenberch before Alexis Mac Allister fires wide.
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60: HAALAND MISSES! City’s talisman gets his moment but his attempt goes agonisingly wide.
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62: RED CARD! Gravenberch is sent off following a second yellow card after a foul on Doku.
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65: GOAL! Haaland punishes 10-man Liverpool to give City the lead.
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68: GOAL! City are relentless as Doku doubles their lead.
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74: OVER! JoskoGvardiol fires over the bar as City press for more.
78: GOAL! City now at their best as Cherki makes it three after beautiful move.
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