Man City thrash 10-man Liverpool 3-0 at Anfield

Manchester City thrashed 10-man Liverpool 3-0 at Anfield on Sunday to maintain their perfect start to the Premier League season, winning all six of their opening matches.

Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku and Rayan Cherki scored in the second half as City overcame a hostile atmosphere, with Liverpool supporters displaying a banner accusing the club of betraying generations of football fans amid controversy over alleged financial irregularities.

The match marked City’s first appearance since an independent commission found the club guilty of financial irregularities involving more than $1.2 billion between 2009 and 2018, according to the report.

Liverpool supporters displayed a banner in the Kop stand reading, “A generation of fans have been cheated.” City fans responded with a banner backing the club’s ownership, reading, “In Khaldoon We Trust.”

The first half ended goalless, but the match turned in City’s favour when Liverpool midfielder Ryan Gravenberch was sent off in the 62nd minute after receiving a second yellow card for fouling Doku.

Three minutes later, Haaland put City ahead in the 65th minute, finishing after Doku’s effort took a deflection and fell into his path.

Doku doubled the lead in the 68th minute with a superb curling strike from outside the penalty area, finding the top corner.

Cherki sealed the victory in the 78th minute after combining with Josko Gvardiol before beating Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker.

The defeat was the first for Liverpool’s new Spanish coach, Andoni Iraola, in the dugout. Liverpool were also without Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo because of injuries.

City now have 18 points from six matches, opening a three-point lead over second-placed Arsenal.

However, the club’s financial case continues to cast a shadow over its success. City have appealed against the commission’s ruling and could face severe sanctions if the appeal fails, including a substantial points deduction, possible expulsion from the Premier League or the stripping of previous titles.