Manchester City delivered a commanding performance to defeat Liverpool 3-0 in a Premier League showdown at Anfield on Sunday,capitalising on a second-half red card to secure a memorable victory.
The visitors broke Liverpool’s resistance after a tense first half before Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku and Rayan Cherki found the net to hand City all three points in a high-profile encounter.
The match remained goalless at the break, with both sides struggling to turn their attacking opportunities into goals. Liverpool showed flashes of promise, but City’s quality and attacking depth proved decisive after the restart.
The turning point came in the 62nd minute when Liverpool midfielder Ryan Gravenberch received a second yellow card and was sent off, leaving the hosts to battle with 10 men.
City wasted little time exploiting their numerical advantage, with Haaland firing the visitors ahead in the 65th minute.
Three minutes later, Doku doubled City’s advantage with a brilliant individual effort, cutting inside before curling a superb strike into the top corner to silence the home crowd.
Rayan Cherki completed the emphatic victory in the 77th minute after a slick attacking move involving Doku and Josko Gvardiol. Cherki showed composure inside the penalty area before finishing past Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker.
The result marked a significant statement from Manchester City, who overcame a hostile atmosphere at Anfield to claim a convincing win over one of their biggest rivals.
The encounter also unfolded amid intense scrutiny surrounding City’s financial-rule case, with Liverpool supporters making their displeasure known through chants and banners before and during the match. City have denied the charges and are appealing the verdict.
For Liverpool, the defeat will raise questions about their discipline and defensive resilience, particularly after Gravenberch’s dismissal changed the balance of the contest.
City, meanwhile, will take confidence from their clinical second-half display as the Premier League title race gathers momentum.
The result also strengthens City’s push at the top end of the table, while Liverpool will be eager to respond in their next league fixture.
