Manchester City demolished Liverpool 3–0 at Anfield, ending a hostile night for the Reds and keeping their Premier League run unbeaten. The win, the first at Anfield since the club’s recent sanction over financial rule breaches, saw City’s visitors take control early and never look back.
The match began in a tense atmosphere. City’s Ryan Gravenberch received a second yellow just after the hour, reducing Liverpool to ten men and exposing a fragile defence. In the 65th minute, Erling Haaland broke the deadlock with a clinical finish, his first goal of the season. Three minutes later, substitute Jérémy Doku added a spectacular strike, and Rayan Cherki sealed the result with a quick finish in the 78th minute. The visitors’ three goals left Liverpool unable to respond, despite a spirited second half.
Liverpool’s first half was largely a defensive exercise, with neither side creating clear chances. The Reds pushed forward after the break, forcing City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma into two saves and seeing Lewis Koumas and Gravenberch miss from distance. Alexis Mac Allister’s curling effort also went wide. Haaland’s early goal was almost squandered when his first touch in Liverpool’s box missed, but the Norwegian quickly recovered to score again. Doku, who came on for Iliman Ndiaye, saw his shot parried before Haaland collected the rebound and slotted it home. City then doubled their advantage with Doku’s second goal, a bent shot into the top corner. Cherki’s third came from a clever move behind the defence, finishing from close range.
The win keeps City at the summit of the table, having won all six of their Premier League games. Liverpool, meanwhile, fall to ninth after the defeat, their first league loss at Anfield since February’s 2–1 loss to the same opponents. The match was a stark reminder of the growing gap between the two clubs, with City’s performance leaving Liverpool’s supporters frustrated and the stadium’s hostile atmosphere gradually easing as the game progressed.