Manchester City secured a 3‑0 victory over Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday, with Erling Haaland opening the scoring, Jérémy Doku adding a second, and Ryan Cherki sealing the win with a late strike. The result gave City a perfect start to the Premier League campaign and handed Liverpool their first defeat under new manager Andoni Iraola.
The match was heavily influenced by the atmosphere in the Kop, where Liverpool supporters chanted “cheats” and other slogans accusing City of financial wrongdoing. The chants began before kickoff and continued throughout the game, reflecting the club’s ongoing appeal against a commission’s ruling that found City guilty of breaching the Premier League’s financial rules on more than 100 charges. City denied the allegations and said they would continue to contest the findings. The hostile environment did not deter the visitors, who focused on the task at hand.
In the first half, Liverpool struggled to create clear chances. Key players such as Dominik Szoboszlai, Cody Gakpo and Alexander Isak were sidelined with injuries, and the team lacked rhythm after the international break. Liverpool’s Lewis Koumas made his league debut, but the side failed to threaten City’s goal. The only notable moment came when Haaland had a chance from a Semenyo pass, but he missed the opportunity.
The turning point came in the second half when Liverpool midfielder Ryan Gravenberch received a second yellow card in the 62nd minute for a foul on Anderson. With Liverpool reduced to ten men, City capitalised. Haaland struck first, curling a shot past Donnarumma after a deflected cross from Doku. Doku then added a second goal in the 56th minute, turning a counter‑attack into a goal with a beautiful finish. The final goal came in the 78th minute when Cherki, after a pass from Elliot Anderson, ran onto a back‑heel from substitute Josko Gvardiol, cut past defender Jeremie Frimpong and finished calmly.
The win is a significant moment for City, who have been under scrutiny for their financial practices. The Premier League’s recent publication of the commission’s findings, which detailed misconduct and attempts to obstruct the investigation, added context to the match. City’s performance, however, remained focused and dominant, with the team maintaining a 100% start to the season.
Liverpool will need to regroup after the loss, especially with several key players unavailable for the remainder of the season. City, meanwhile, will look to build on their strong start as they continue to compete for the league title. The match at Anfield will be remembered not only for the scoreline but also for the charged atmosphere that underscored the ongoing debate over City’s financial conduct.