LIVERPOOL, England : Manchester City maintained their perfect start to the Premier League season with a 3-0 victory over 10-man Liverpool on Sunday, with second-half goals from Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku and Rayan Cherki silencing the home crowd at Anfield.
City faced a hostile reception in their first match since an independent commission found them guilty of 115 breaches of the league’s financial rules. The club has denied wrongdoing and appealed the verdict.
Liverpool applied early pressure, but the visitors took control after Ryan Gravenberch was sent off in the 62nd minute for a second booking following a foul on Doku.
Haaland opened the scoring three minutes later, firing a left-footed shot past Alisson after Doku’s attempt was deflected into his path. The Norwegian striker celebrated with the travelling City supporters, including Oasis frontman Noel Gallagher.
Doku doubled City’s lead in the 68th minute with a curling long-range effort into the far top corner.
Cherki completed the scoring in the 78th minute, allowing the ball to run through to Josko Gvardiol before turning into the box to meet his teammate’s return pass and finish.
City midfielder Elliot Anderson praised the team’s unity after the victory.
“We’ve shown real togetherness and fight. It’s a tough place to come and it’s challenging,” Anderson said. “We really stuck together out there, fought for each other and played well.”
At the final whistle, Liverpool supporters chanted “Going down!” in reference to City’s potential relegation as the club continues its appeal against the commission’s verdict.
