By ANFIELD, LIVERPOOL — Manchester City delivered a tactical and physical master-class on Merseyside, tearing up history books with a scintillating 3-0 victory over 10-man Liverpool to extend their flawless start to the Premier League season.
In what marked the return to action following the three-week international break, Enzo Maresca’s side produced a magnificent all-round display. The victory marks City’s sixth consecutive win from six league matches and secures back-to-back victories at Anfield for the first time since 1953.
A Frenzied First Half of Resilience
The fixture lived up to its heavyweight billing, unfolding amidst a febrile and frenzied atmosphere. Seeking to build on their momentum before the September hiatus, City were forced to weather a fierce early storm from the hosts.
Maresca’s disciplined back line, featuring Nico O’Reilly deployed at left-back, stood steadfast against relentless Liverpool pressure. The hosts threatened early when Victor Munoz fired a 32nd-minute effort into the side netting following a crisp exchange with Florian Wirtz, before Gianluigi Donnarumma was called into action to gather a subsequent drive from Munoz.
Backed by a noisy contingent of travelling fans armed with throwback inflatable bananas, City weathered the early barrage and began to ask questions of their own. Enzo Fernández forced Alisson Becker into a sharp, scrambling save from a 20-yard drive, while the Liverpool goalkeeper later made a vital interception to thwart a dangerous cross from Elliot Anderson.
The Turning Point: Gravenberch Sees Red
The intensity ratcheted up immediately after the interval. Donnarumma earned his keep three minutes into the second half, producing a fine double-parry to deny both Lewis Koumas and Ryan Gravenberch, before Alexis Mac Allister curled a shot narrowly wide.
At the other end, Liverpool survived a scare when Milos Kerkez made a vital block to deny Iliman Ndiaye’s finish from an Antoine Semenyo cross. Just before the hour mark, Erling Haaland ghosted onto a sublime through ball from Semenyo, only to steer his effort agonisingly wide of the post.
The match’s definitive turning point arrived when Liverpool danger-man Ryan Gravenberch was handed a second yellow card—and subsequent red—following a late challenge on City substitute Jérémy Doku.
A 13-Minute Blitz Seals the Points
City ruthlessly capitalised on their numerical advantage, tearing the game open with a devastating three-goal blitz in the space of 13 minutes.
The deadlock was broken in the 66th minute when Haaland struck in imperious fashion. Doku initially carved out space by cutting inside the box, and though his shot was blocked by Mac Allister, Haaland reacted instantly to unleash a thunderous drive that rocketed past Alisson.
Two minutes later, the advantage was doubled. Doku mirrored the sequence that led to the opener, jinking in from the right flank before curling a sublime, beautiful strike directly into the top right-hand corner.
The crowning moment arrived on 78 minutes through substitute Rayan Cherki. Running onto a pass from Joško Gvardiol, the French midfield maverick executed a brilliant step-over, sent Jeremie Frimpong spinning with a devastating drag-back, and calmly tucked his finish beneath Alisson.
It was a stunning goal that placed the exclamation point on a masterful performance, leaving Maresca’s side firmly perched at the Premier League summit with momentum firmly on their side.
