FOOTBALL – Manchester City silenced a hostile Anfield crowd as second-half goals from Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku and Rayan Cherki secured a 3-0 victory over 10-man Liverpool yesterday and maintained the Premier League leaders’ perfect start to the season.
City were playing for the first time since an independent commission found them guilty of 114 breaches of the league’s financial rules, and were greeted by deafening boos and angry chants.
But Enzo Maresca’s side stood firm against Liverpool’s early pressure and a fevered atmosphere before taking control after Ryan Gravenberch was sent off in the 62nd minute for a second booking following a foul on Doku.
Haaland then struck three minutes later, smashing a left-footed shot past Alisson after Doku worked the ball into the box and his attempted shot was deflected into the path of the big Norwegian.
Doku doubled the lead in the 68th minute with a gorgeous long-range shot that curled into the far top corner.
Cherki completed the rout in the 78th minute when he let the ball roll through to Josko Gvardiol before turning into the box to meet his teammate’s pass and slot the ball home.
The victory gave City six wins from six and moved them three points clear of Arsenal on 18 points, providing a forceful response on the pitch after a turbulent week away from it.
Liverpool are ninth after their first league loss of the season.
City arrived at Liverpool’s Anfield stadium yesterday to find the fallout from their financial rules verdict waiting at the gates.
It was their first game since being found guilty of 114 breaches of the league’s financial rules, and Liverpool supporters had prepared a blunt welcome.
Fans drowned out the announcement of City’s team with ear-splitting boos and chants of “Going down, going down!” in reference to a possible relegation sanction.
City deny the charges and are appealing.
In a raucous atmosphere among some 60,000 supporters at Anfield, one banner read: “A Generation Of Supporters Cheated” while some fans held three balloons making the number 114.
Another two banners referenced Oasis songs, since the band’s Liam and Noel Gallagher are devoted City fans.
“All of your stars are fading away,” read one, changing a line from the song “Stop Crying Your Heart Out,” while another said “& after all, you really robbed us all,” a parody of the song “Wonderwall.”
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