Man City 3-0 Liverpool: Haaland, Doku & Cherki Punish 10 Men

Man City 3-0 Liverpool: Haaland, Doku & Cherki Punish 10 Men

Manchester City silenced a hostile Anfield by beating 10-man Liverpool 3-0 on their return to Premier League action, after Ryan Gravenberch's 62nd-minute red card. Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku and Rayan Cherki scored in a ruthless 13-minute burst that kept City perfect and left the champions nine points adrift.

• Score: Liverpool 0-3 Manchester City
• Venue: Anfield
• Competition: Premier League
• Key moment: Ryan Gravenberch sent off in the 62nd minute for a second yellow card after a foul on Jeremy Doku
• Goals: Erling Haaland 65, Jeremy Doku 68, Rayan Cherki 78
• Context: City's first game since an independent commission found them guilty of all charges related to serious breaches of Premier League financial rules; the club have appealed and deny wrongdoing

Manchester City turn the noise into a statement

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. City have since appealed the verdict and continue to deny any wrongdoing. Boos greeted the players for both their warm-ups and ahead of kick-off.

Enzo Maresca's side were run ragged early on and on the receiving end of some strong tackles as the game threatened to boil over. By half-time City had settled themselves and the crowd. But with Liverpool attacking The Kop after the break, the visitors had to weather the storm all over again.

Gianluigi Donnarumma was on his toes to keep out multiple vicious strikes before the turning point arrived. Gravenberch collected a second yellow for a foul on Doku and, almost immediately, the floodgates opened.

Two minutes and 36 seconds after the sending off, Haaland emphatically put City ahead. Doku then turned on the style and Cherki made it three, sending a message about what the Premier League leaders are still capable of on the pitch.

The numbers

• Gravenberch's red card: a second yellow after a foul on Doku in the 62nd minute
• Time from red card to Haaland's opener: 2 minutes 36 seconds
• Liverpool shots in a 51-second barrage in the 48th minute: 3
• City's winning margin: 3-0
• Liverpool's deficit after the defeat: nine points behind the leaders

Why City's control was inevitable once Gravenberch went

For an hour, Anfield did its job. City were hurried, tackles flew in and the game boiled over in the opening exchanges. Enzo Fernandez's 35th-minute effort, palmed away by Alisson, was City's first real sight of goal. That tells you how little rhythm Maresca's men had.

The second half looked worse before it looked better. Liverpool attacked The Kop and produced a three-shot barrage in 51 seconds, with Gianluigi Donnarumma denying Lewis Koumas and Gravenberch before Alexis Mac Allister dragged wide. Donnarumma's saves kept City level when the storm was at its fiercest.

Then the game turned on discipline. Gravenberch's second yellow for a foul on Jeremy Doku left Liverpool a man down, and City's structure did the rest. Two minutes and 36 seconds later, Haaland scored. Doku added a second on 68. Rayan Cherki, whose movement between the lines is becoming a signature, finished a beautiful move on 78. City did not just survive Anfield; they exploited it.

Talking points

• Was Gravenberch's second yellow a moment of naivety from a player who had already been warned, or did City's pressure manufacture the foul?
• Donnarumma's saves kept City level during Liverpool's barrage. Without them, does the red card even matter?
• Liverpool are now nine points adrift. Is that a hangover from last season or a genuine title-race problem?
• City remain the only team with a perfect start despite the off-field noise. Does that say more about their mentality or the fixture list?

What happens next

City's perfect start continues, and their next Premier League fixture is the immediate test of whether the Anfield statement was a one-off or the beginning of a run. Liverpool, nine points behind after their first defeat, must respond quickly. Andoni Iraola's side cannot afford another slip before the gap becomes a chasm.

Frequently asked questions

What was the score between Liverpool and Man City?

Manchester City beat Liverpool 3-0 at Anfield, with goals from Erling Haaland (65), Jeremy Doku (68) and Rayan Cherki (78).

Why was Ryan Gravenberch sent off against Man City?

Gravenberch was shown a second yellow card in the 62nd minute after a foul on Jeremy Doku, leaving Liverpool with 10 men.

How many points are Liverpool behind Man City?

Liverpool are nine points adrift of the Premier League leaders following their first defeat of the campaign.

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