Manchester City swatted away Liverpool with ease to extend their perfect start to the Premier League season to six games on Sunday evening.
Manchester City took Liverpool to the cleaners in Sunday's second-half at AnfieldMore Videos
In what has been an eventful international break off the pitch, Enzo Maresca's side were greeted with an expectedly hostile atmosphere at Anfield.
Liverpool dominated the early stages, which saw several feisty moments, but Manchester City grew into the game before arriving at the break goalless.
The second half saw another balanced battle between the two sides with Erling Haaland going close around the hour mark.
Shortly after, Ryan Gravenberch was sent off with a second yellow card after a clumsy challenge on Manchester City's substitute Jeremy Doku.
City took the initiative following the midfielder's dismissal, and Haaland made no mistake with his second chance, volleying in the opener.
No sooner had the away side broken the deadlock than they had doubled it with Doku firing in a sumptuous curling effort into the top corner past Alisson.
Manchester City continued to dominate, and Rayan Cherki scored a beautiful goal, turning one way then another in the box and slotting the ball into the Brazilian's net.
The remainder of the game felt more like a training session as Maresca's men put their opposition to the sword, closing out an emphatic win.
Here are five things we learned from City's fiery victory against Liverpool.
1. Erling Haaland: Big Game Player
He may be criticsed for his lack of goals in finals but boy oh boy is Erling Haaland quickly becoming the biggest of big game players for Manchester City.
The Norwegian, more often than not, has an answer in these tense and cagey heavyweight games in which the slightest mistake or bit of skill can completely change the game.
Against Arsenal last season, Manchester United before the recent international break and now Liverpool, Haaland has broken the deadlock and sent City fans into delirium.
This weekend's game was very much balanced on a knife-edge and was crying out for someone to grab it by the neck.
Haaland did just this, smashing in a cracking volley to break the deadlock and send his side on their way to another famous victory.
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that if the striker stays fit and firing like this all year then it'll be a silverware laden campaign for the boys in sky blue.
2. City switch on the style
Sunday's first-half was end to end, fierce and, at times, cautious, as both sides looked to try and take a grip on proceedings.
This changed instantly in the second half with the deserved dismissal of Ryan Gravenberch, and Manchester City switched on the style to take the game to Liverpool.
Where the away side had faltered in the first half with some poor deliveries and a lack of clear-cut chances, they instead excelled after the break.
A trio of gorgeous goals emphasised the slick football those in blue were playing on Merseyside with City being utterly ruthless in their approach.
After a few wins by only a one-goal margin this season, there were some initial questions over City's attacking style of play, but these were emphatically answered at Anfield.
If Enzo Maresca's side keeps up this savage prowess throughout this season, they'll be Premier League champions. It's as simple as that.
3. We've missed you, Jeremy Doku!
Manchester City have an amazing young squad packed with quality which Pep Guardiola helped rebuild before departing.
Enzo Maresca has added to this with some quality signings in the summer, but one man has been noticeably missing even in such a star-studded line-up.
Ruled out of most of the campaign so far through injury, Jeremy Doku made sure his presence was known on Sunday, having come off the bench in the second half.
Undoubtedly one of the stars of last season with his unmatched dribbling skills, blistering pace and curling goals.
It did not take him long to get back into his usual stylish swagger, and the Belgian scored a wonderful goal to ensure the three points headed back to Manchester.
What an asset for Maresca and City to have in this year's title race; a one-of-a-kind talent with his elite dribbling abilities and, now he has unlocked finishing, Premier League defences should be scared, very very scared.
4. Maresca era excelling
Many wondered how Enzo Maresca would get on at Manchester City, replacing one of the greatest managers of all time in Pep Guardiola.
After an initial few wins, tougher tests were lying in wait for the Italian with early trips to both Manchester United and Liverpool.
The coach and his players have welcomed the challenges, appearing largely unfazed, continuing to grind out the wins.
This was particularly the case on Sunday with a very impressive victory away at Anfield, helping prove again that Maresca really is the real deal.
With the noise of recent weeks only growing louder, the Italian has also dealt well with those matters in his press conferences and interviews.
Maresca is quickly becoming a well-loved figurehead at the club who, despite all the commotion, is helping lead the club expertly with a perfect record. The era is well and truly underway.
5. Hostile reception at Anfield
Given the Premier League's statement on the charges against Manchester City, and the subsequent noise for the past three weeks, Anfield's frosty welcome was not a surprise.
City has, of course, lodged an appeal against the verdict, and the club remains confident in having "irrefutable" evidence which contradicts the decision.
While this process continues though, Enzo Maresca's side have no choice but to get used to this being the norm each matchday.
Opposition fans will sing out their full repertoire of cheating chants and songs as well as an encore of booing, but the Citizens have to learn to live with this.
Ruben Dias and his team must rise above this and focus on the football to ensure their great start to the season on the pitch isn't derailed by what's going on off it.