Manchester City maintained their perfect start to the Premier League season with a 3-0 victory over Liverpool at Anfield on 11 October, while Andoni Iraola’s side suffered their first defeat under the manager.
The sixth-round fixture brought together the competition’s two leading teams. Manchester City arrived as the only side to have won all five of their previous matches, while Liverpool had managed two victories in their opening five games and had not yet lost since Iraola took charge.
City are also facing the threat of an extraordinary points deduction over 114 financial breaches.
The opening half was a cautious affair, with neither side willing to commit too many players forward. Liverpool had the better of the early exchanges before Manchester City gradually took control, but the match produced only one meaningful opportunity before the interval.
Enzo Fernandez tested Alisson Becker from distance, forcing the Liverpool goalkeeper into action. Otherwise, both teams struggled to turn lengthy spells of possession into clear openings as their attacks repeatedly met well-organised defences.
The game changed immediately after half-time when Ryan Gravenberch was booked for a challenge on Anderson. The Liverpool midfielder then committed another foul on the advancing Jeremy Doku and was shown a second yellow card, leaving the hosts with 10 players.
Liverpool were already beginning to tire and Manchester City quickly exploited the numerical advantage.
Only three minutes after Gravenberch’s dismissal, Doku broke forward again. He went past Araujo before his shot struck Alexis Mac Allister, with the rebound falling perfectly for Erling Haaland. The striker made no mistake with the finish to put City ahead.
Manchester City doubled their lead three minutes later. Anderson supplied Doku, who created space against Munoz before curling a shot into the far top corner beyond Alisson’s reach.
Liverpool were unable to respond as City continued to push them deep into their own penalty area. Josko Gvardiol came close to adding a third, but his effort lacked the necessary accuracy.
Gvardiol did have a decisive role in the final goal, however, with 10 minutes remaining. Doku again started the move, before Anderson played the ball into the box. Rayan Cherki cleverly allowed it to run through and then made himself available for Gvardiol’s backheel pass.
The delivery released Ryan, who sent Jeremie Frimpong the wrong way before finishing underneath the goalkeeper to complete the rout.
The result gave Manchester City six wins from six Premier League matches. Liverpool, meanwhile, suffered their first loss under Iraola – and were beaten heavily at Anfield.