Manchester City extended their perfect start with a commanding 3-0 win at Anfield, handing Liverpool their first defeat under Andoni Iraola. Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku and Rayan Cherki were on target as City cruised past a Liverpool side that was reduced to ten men.
Haaland gave City the lead with an emphatic finish after a quiet first half and a missed chance early in the second. Doku doubled the advantage with a superb strike, with Elliot Anderson providing the assist, before Cherki capped the afternoon with a lovely goal of his own.
The turning point
Ryan Gravenberch was Liverpool’s best player until he was sent off for a second yellow card, a moment that shifted the match decisively. Liverpool struggled to cope once they were down to ten, and City’s attack, which included Antoine Semenyo, proved too much for them.
Liverpool ratings
Alisson (5) could do nothing to keep out Haaland’s strike and was then beaten by Doku’s effort and Cherki’s footwork.
Ronald Araujo (5) picked up an early yellow card and was left frustrated that the first two City goals came from his side.
Virgil van Dijk (6) was often pushed out of position to deal with being outnumbered in midfield and may have closed down Haaland more quickly.
Jeremy Jacquet (6) gave a solid display from a young talent, though the occasion was a real eye-opener against a quality City attack.
Milos Kerkez (5) battled well with Iliman Ndiaye and pushed up regularly but lacked quality in the final third.
Alexis Mac Allister (5) grew into the game and put in a good shift but struggled once Liverpool were reduced to ten men.
Ryan Gravenberch (6) came in for the injured Dominik Szoboszlai and was Liverpool’s best player until his dismissal, which was a naive mistake.
Victor Munoz (7) played with real fearlessness and was an absolute nuisance for City, causing Nico O’Reilly all sorts of problems.
Florian Wirtz (4) was largely ineffective and made some poor decisions, and must do better in games of this magnitude.
Bradley Barcola (5) was sharp on the ball and fulfilled his defensive duties but, like Wirtz, needed to offer more in the final third.
Lewis Koumas (7) made his first Premier League start and the 21-year-old got stuck in from the outset in an energetic display that was loved by the Anfield crowd.
Manchester City ratings
Gianluigi Donnarumma (7) had a shaky start but made a string of good saves early in the second half to deny Koumas and Gravenberch and keep the game level.
Matheus Nunes (7) was impressive and made a great tackle in the box to deny Barcola in the first half.
Ruben Dias (7) did well to weather the early storm and keep Liverpool out.
Marc Guehi (7) gave a strong performance at centre-half and can take satisfaction from the way he and Dias defended, especially when Liverpool attacked The Kop end.
Nico O’Reilly (6) was solid going forward but had his work cut out against Munoz and was booked for fouling him in the second half.
Elliot Anderson (7) always showed for the ball and was constantly involved, and was lucky not to be booked for pulling back Gravenberch. He also provided the assist for Doku.
Enzo Fernandez (6) forced Alisson into a good save in the first half but did not really grow into the game until Gravenberch was sent off.
Iliman Ndiaye (6) was dangerous on the ball and had a few threatening moments before he was replaced by Doku.
Rayan Cherki (8) completed a day to remember for City with a lovely goal.
Antoine Semenyo (7) threatened all afternoon and was part of an attack that was simply too good for Liverpool once City had the numerical advantage.
Erling Haaland (8) had a quiet first half and missed a huge chance early in the second but finished emphatically to give City the lead.
Jeremy Doku (8) came on in the 56th minute for Ndiaye and scored an absolute belter.