Manchester City maintained their perfect Premier League record with a convincing 3-0 victory over 10-man Liverpool at Anfield, overcoming fierce hostility and a turbulent week away from the pitch.
Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku and Rayan Cherki scored in the second half to give City six wins from six and move them three points clear of Arsenal on 18 points. Liverpool, who suffered their first league defeat of the season, are ninth.
The match was City’s first since an independent commission found them guilty of 114 breaches of the league’s financial rules. Their players were met by sustained boos and angry chants from a hostile Anfield crowd before kick-off.
Enzo Maresca’s side absorbed Liverpool’s early pressure and remained composed despite the intense atmosphere. Their task became easier in the 62nd minute, when Ryan Gravenberch was dismissed after receiving a second yellow card for a foul on Doku.
City took advantage three minutes later. Doku carried the ball into the penalty area and saw his attempted shot deflect into Haaland’s path, allowing the striker to drive a left-footed finish past Alisson.
Haaland immediately ran towards the visiting supporters to celebrate, with Oasis frontman Noel Gallagher among the travelling City fans.
Doku added the second in the 68th minute with a spectacular effort from distance, curling the ball into the far top corner beyond Alisson’s reach.
Cherki completed the scoring 10 minutes later, with the goal prompting a number of Liverpool supporters to leave before the final whistle. He allowed the ball to run through to Josko Gvardiol, then moved into the box to meet his team-mate’s return pass and finish.
“It was a lovely moment that will stay with us a long time,” Haaland told Sky Sports.
“It’s time to stay strong and stick together and do what you can do something about, stick together.”
City midfielder Elliot Anderson said collective resolve had been decisive.
“We’ve shown real togetherness and fight. It’s a tough place to come and it’s challenging,” he said.
“We really stuck together out there, fought for each other and played well.”
At the final whistle, Liverpool fans directed chants of “Going down! Going down! Going down!” at City, referring to the possibility of relegation. Manchester City have denied all wrongdoing and appealed against the independent commission’s verdict.
Maresca and Haaland responded by grinning and punching the air towards the away fans, who waved inflatable bananas in celebration. The gesture is linked to the club’s time outside the top flight in the 1980s.
Maresca became only the fourth manager to win his first six Premier League matches in charge of a club, following Pep Guardiola at City in 2016, Carlo Ancelotti at Chelsea in 2009 and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Manchester United in 2018-19.
Despite their commanding position at the summit, City’s flawless start contrasts with the continuing uncertainty surrounding the club after the financial rules ruling, which has left significant questions about what happens next.
