Manchester City brushed aside Liverpool 3-0 at Anfield on Sunday, delivering a commanding performance in their first match since an independent commission found the club guilty of serious breaches of Premier League financial rules.
Second-half goals from Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku and Rayan Cherki secured the victory, extending City’s perfect start under manager Enzo Maresca to six consecutive league wins.
Liverpool’s task became more difficult after midfielder Ryan Gravenberch was sent off for receiving two yellow cards. City took full advantage, scoring all three goals after the dismissal.
The result restored City’s three-point lead at the top of the Premier League table, but uncertainty remains over the club’s future as it appeals against the commission’s findings.
The commission found that City had breached financial rules over a nine-season period between 2009 and 2018, including arranging what it described as sham commercial agreements to inflate revenue and reduce costs. The club faces the prospect of sanctions if its appeal fails, although no punishment has yet been imposed.
City arrived at Anfield amid a hostile reception from Liverpool supporters, who voiced their anger over the financial ruling with chants branding the visitors cheats and calling for their relegation.
A banner displayed behind one goal read, “a generation of supporters cheated”, reflecting the frustration among Liverpool fans who believe City’s alleged financial breaches affected the title race during their rivalry with the Manchester club.
Liverpool had several key players unavailable through injury, including Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo. The defeat was also the first suffered by new manager Andoni Iraola since taking charge of the Reds.
Liverpool briefly threatened after the break when Lewis Koumas was denied a goal on his first Premier League start by City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
However, Gravenberch’s dismissal shifted the momentum. Haaland broke the deadlock after Doku’s effort was deflected, before the Belgian winger curled a superb strike into the top corner three minutes later.
Cherki completed the scoring with a composed finish after combining with Josko Gvardiol, sealing a significant win for City amid the scrutiny surrounding the club’s financial case.
The result leaves City firmly in control at the top of the table, while Liverpool must regroup after a damaging defeat at home.
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