Defiant Man City issue on-field statement by beating 10-man Liverpool
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.
Report and free match highlights as Manchester City beat 10-man Liverpool 3-0 at Anfield; Merseyside trip was City's first game since guilty verdict on all charges related to serious breaches of Premier League financial rules; Ryan Gravenberch's red card proved to be the turning point
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. Up until that point, City's xG was just 0.16. From then on, 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.
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"There have been lots of statements made over the last few weeks, but the team made a statement today.
"The sending off was a big help but you still have to show your quality. The three goals were fantastic.
"It will be a big boost to City. They have had a good start to the season, great for [Enzo Maresca].
"You're thinking, 'Pep who?' at this stage. It's not even been mentioned the concerns we had when Pep left or Rodri.
"Doku made a big difference going at people. He basically changed the game [off the bench] on top of the sending off."
