Haaland inspires Man City as Liverpool suffer first league defeat
LIVERPOOL - Manchester City delivered a commanding performance to defeat 10-man Liverpool 3-0 at Anfield on Sunday, maintaining their perfect start to the Premier League season with a sixth consecutive victory. Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku and Rayan Cherki scored in the second half as City overcame Liverpool’s early pressure and a hostile atmosphere to strengthen their position at the top of the table. The visitors faced a challenging reception following an independent commission’s finding of 114 breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules. City have denied wrongdoing and appealed the verdict, but their players responded with a convincing display on the pitch.
The contest turned decisively in City’s favour in the 62nd minute when Liverpool midfielder Ryan Gravenberch was sent off after receiving a second yellow card for a foul on Doku. Haaland broke the deadlock three minutes later, firing home with his left foot after Doku’s effort was deflected into his path. The Norwegian striker celebrated with the travelling City supporters. Doku doubled the advantage in the 68th minute with a superb long-range strike that curled into the far top corner, leaving Liverpool with an uphill battle. Cherki completed the scoring in the 78th minute, combining with Josko Gvardiol before finishing clinically inside the penalty area to seal an emphatic victory.
City manager Enzo Maresca praised his players for remaining composed amid the intense atmosphere, emphasising the importance of unity and responding to criticism through performances. Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola, meanwhile, expressed frustration with the refereeing, particularly Gravenberch’s dismissal, arguing that the first yellow card was unwarranted. The result lifted City to 18 points from six matches, moving them three points clear of second-placed Arsenal. Liverpool, who suffered their first league defeat of the campaign, dropped to ninth.
Maresca became only the fourth manager to win his first six Premier League matches in charge of a club, joining Pep Guardiola, Carlo Ancelotti and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.