Manchester City defeated Liverpool 3-0 at Anfield on Sunday, October 11, to maintain their perfect start to the 2026/27 English Premier League season despite facing a hostile reception following a financial misconduct verdict against the club.
Gatekeepers News reports that Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku and Rayan Cherki scored in the second half to secure all three points for Enzo Maresca’s side, who have now won their opening six league matches.
The victory came in City’s first match since an independent commission found the club guilty of 114 breaches of Premier League financial rules. Manchester City have appealed the verdict and continue to deny wrongdoing.
The first half ended goalless, with both teams creating opportunities but failing to break the deadlock. Liverpool threatened after the restart, but City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma kept out efforts from Lewis Koumas and Ryan Gravenberch.
The match changed in the 62nd minute when Liverpool midfielder Gravenberch received a second yellow card for a foul on Doku, leaving the hosts with 10 players.
City capitalised on their numerical advantage three minutes later. Haaland opened the scoring with a powerful finish after Doku’s effort was blocked and the ball fell into his path.
Doku doubled the visitors’ lead in the 68th minute with a superb curling strike into the far top corner, leaving Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker with little chance of making a save.
Cherki completed the scoring in the 78th minute, finishing from close range after Josko Gvardiol provided the final pass in a well-worked attacking move.
The result handed Liverpool their first league defeat of the season and left the club in ninth place with nine points. City remained top of the table with 18 points, three ahead of second-placed Arsenal.
City’s players had faced boos and chants from Liverpool supporters throughout the encounter following the financial ruling. However, the visitors responded with a commanding performance to leave Merseyside with their sixth consecutive league victory.
Speaking after the match, City manager Maresca acknowledged the difficult atmosphere and said his team needed to learn to deal with the criticism that would accompany their away fixtures.
Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola, meanwhile, criticised the decision to send off Gravenberch, arguing that the referee’s first yellow card against the midfielder was unwarranted.
